When you have shoulder pain, even buttoning a shirt or picking up a cup of coffee becomes a difficult task. And the worst part is the constant ache that just won’t stop! Thus, getting rid of it on an immediate basis becomes very important. Such a pain starts gradually, and then one day the joint will just no longer cooperate. With physical therapy for shoulder pain, you can get rid of shoulder pain using natural methods and without the need for any kind of medicines or drugs.
Research has indicated that about 20% of all adults age 60 and above have at least a partial rotator cuff tear. This may increase even more rapidly with age. Even people with no apparent symptoms often show wear and tear on imaging scans. It doesn’t mean pain is something to be simply accepted. It needs the proper care and attention, and a trained therapist can do that appropriately.
Why Does Your Shoulder Hurt? Common Causes in Older Adults
The shoulder is the most mobile joint and also one of the least stable joints in the body. With age, the tendons, cartilage, and muscles that keep it intact begin to break down gradually. However, there are many other causes of shoulder pain.
Some of the most common causes of shoulder pain among older men and women include:
- A rotator cuff tear or tendinitis: Due to repeated stress on the shoulder, the tendons that stabilize the joint thin out and tear. Hence, causing severe pain.
- Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis): In this condition, the joint capsule becomes tight and drastically reduces the range of motion. Thus, causing pain.
- Impingement syndrome: This condition describes the tendons being caught between bones while moving overhead.
- Injuries that didn’t heal properly: A fall or strain years ago now results in chronic discomfort, as it did not heal properly at that time. Hence, causing a lot of pain.
But, strangely, these issues don’t always announce themselves with pain. Sometimes it is a persistent, painless dull ache or a weakness when trying to lift.
Understanding Shoulder Pain in Older Adults
After sleeping in an awkward position, you can experience stiffness for a day or two, which is normal. But if this stiffness involves other concerning symptoms, get it checked by a professional as soon as possible.
Symptoms like:
- Persistent pain that stays for two weeks and doesn’t go away.
- Obvious decrease in movement, such as reaching behind the back.
- Pain that wakes you up at night.
- Sudden loss of strength following an injury or fall
- Redness, warmth, or visible deformity around the joint
By ignoring these signals, you simply make matters worse. Further, if there is a small unclosed tear, it will increase in size. Thus, leading to a bigger issue. Hence, early treatment is best.
Visit the Back 2 Health clinic for top-notch therapy services!
If you live near Warren, Troy, Shelby Township, or Clinton Township, consider visiting the Back 2 Health clinic in Sterling Heights for convenient access to care.
There’s also another Back 2 Health location in Brownstown, making it a convenient option for residents of Woodhaven, Trenton, Riverview, Flat Rock, Gibraltar, Southgate, and Taylor. With two convenient locations, you can choose the clinic that’s closest to you.
How Physical Therapy Helps Cure Shoulder Pain
Yes, physical therapy often excels at this. Therapy works on the underlying issue, whether it be weak or imbalanced muscles, bad posture, or the faulty movement pattern that has formed over years. It involves the following steps:
A licensed physical therapist begins by evaluating the motion of the shoulder, the areas where there is weakness, and the tasks the patient is unable to accomplish. From there, they design a plan that is tailored to the lifestyle of that person. Further, this plan specifically depends on a person’s lifestyle.
Shoulder pain in older people is often viewed as a natural part of aging. A lot of functions are possible to restore without surgery. But sometimes, when patients switch their attitude from merely coping with the illness to treating it, it can be a turning point in their lives.
The course of treatment varies and may involve some of the following:
| Approach | What It Does |
| Manual Therapy | Manual therapy involves hands-on techniques for relaxing tight tissues and improving the gliding joints. |
| Targeted Stretching | This treatment restores the range of motion that is limited by stiffness or scar tissue. Hence, making you more flexible. |
| Strengthening Exercises | It rebuilds support around the joint to avoid re-injury. Prevention is better than cure. |
| Posture Correction | This treatment reduces strain caused by rounded shoulders. |
| Activity Modification | Under activity modification, there are safer ways taught to perform daily tasks. |
Panic-free, simple physical therapy exercises for shoulder pain may be implemented in the early stage, such as pendulum swings, wall slides, and resistance band external rotation. They are soft to help develop strength in stiff or sore joints. Hence, healing you timely.
A Case Study
This is illustrated through the following case study: A client aged 72 years was struggling to reach high shelves to put dishes away in the kitchen. They initiated the implementation of a strengthening and stretching regimen targeting greater flexibility and strengthening the rotator cuff. However, after 8 weeks she could move her head and neck comfortably to an 18” shelf. She felt as though that would never happen to her.
When Shoulder Pain Won’t Go Away: Can Physical Therapy Help?
For someone with chronic or persistent pain, physical therapy for shoulder pain could still be a primary treatment strategy for doctors before injections or surgery. There have been some positive results from the research conducted among older individuals who experience rotator cuff issues with regard to structured physical therapy. Over several months, patients experienced better sleep and improved range of motion. Thus, physical therapy an ideal treatment before surgery, after surgery, or to replace surgery in some cases.
Further, to help the shoulder, therapists advise short exercise sessions at home most days instead of longer sessions occasionally, as steady and progressive loading aids the shoulder.
Conclusion:
Getting older doesn’t mean suffering from pain. In fact, older people should embrace their bodies and take care of them more to stay active and happy! Hence, make physical therapy a part of your lifestyle rather than just a natural remedy for healing. And still, if discomfort appears, remember that, from rotator cuff tears to arthritis and more issues, physical therapy for shoulder pain provides a helpful solution that’s not an invasive or surgical procedure. Most patients can reach, lift, and move normally without wincing and stay that way for years.
FAQs
Q1. What is the average time taken to recover from shoulder pain using physical therapy?
For rotator cuff tears, the process takes 2-3 months per case (on average); however, it’s essential to note that every shoulder pain case is different, thus the timing differs too.
Q2. Will you need surgery if you take physical therapy?
In many cases, there is no need for surgery if you start physical therapy in a timely. This is because many cases show that physical therapy naturally and gradually starts fixing the posture, muscle movement, and overall body health. Hence, no need for drugs or surgery.
Q3. Is self-directed shoulder therapy exercise safe?
Your home workouts are an important component of the recovery journey. However, it’s essential to note that they should be done under the guidance of a professional and in a safe manner so as not to exacerbate the condition.
Q4. Is experiencing pain in your shoulder just a normal part of aging?
No, pain in the shoulder is not normal. While stiffness is possible, it should never be ignored. Further, an individual of any age experiencing shoulder pain should get it evaluated by a healthcare professional. As. early action always supports long-term health!
Q5. What to expect during my first physical therapy visit?
Your first physical therapy visit will start off with a comprehensive evaluation of your shoulder’s pain triggers, strength, and range of motion. Further, there will be a discussion of personalized treatments that suit your unique body! Thus, visit the Back 2 Health clinic today!
Tags: Physical therapy for shoulder pain, physical therapy exercises for shoulder pain
