Shoulder pain and injuries can significantly impact your daily life, challenging even simple tasks. Physical therapy offers a non-invasive, effective solution to alleviate pain, restore mobility, and prevent future injuries. In this blog, we will explore how physical therapy can help with shoulder pain and injuries, when to start physical therapy for shoulder pain, and what to expect from a physical therapy appointment.
Understanding How Physical Therapy Can Assist with Shoulder Pain and Injuries
Physical therapy is a successful non-surgical treatment for shoulder pain, including rotator cuff tears or other muscle injuries. It focuses on strengthening the shoulder muscles to improve function and mobility. Your doctor may advise seeing a physical therapist if you indicate shoulder pain. The therapist will assess your injury and determine your most effective treatment plan.
The treatment will be custom-designed to assist you in recovering from your injury and your mobility. Your therapist may advise you to alter your everyday activities to support your shoulders better to avoid re-injury. You may also be assigned a unique home exercise routine to help you maintain your mobility once your therapy sessions are complete.
In some instances, physical therapy may prevent the need for surgery, which is especially beneficial for older adults who may have lower success rates with surgery. Studies indicate that most patients find physical therapy for shoulder injuries compelling, although the healing time can vary from person to person. Even in cases where surgery is unavoidable, physical therapy is a beautiful way to train and strengthen the body before and after surgery.
When to Start Physical Therapy for shoulder pain
Identifying when your shoulder pain is bad enough to warrant professional medical attention can be tricky. Your doctor may suggest seeing a physical therapist, but you don’t have to wait for their guidance if you feel you could benefit from professional physical therapy. In that case, you won’t be doing any damage if you at least meet with one so they can examine the scope of the injury.
It is better to see a physical therapist and initiate physical therapy for shoulder pain. This is particularly crucial if you imagine you may be suffering from an overuse injury, which often doesn’t become evident until the injury is more severe. The longer you leave a potential shoulder injury without good treatment, the worse it is likely to get.
Leaving the injury too long may always cost you more money in the long run since a more severe injury will require more treatment. Plus, seeing a professional physical therapist well-versed in human anatomy is an ideal way to help you resolve complex activities or habits, allowing you to recover and stop future injuries. So, as soon as you imagine you may be dealing with shoulder pain or injury, seeking medical advice is a good idea.
What to Expect From a Physical Therapy Appointment
If you’ve never been to a physical therapist for shoulder pain, you may feel a bit nervous, especially if you don’t know what to expect. The first physical therapy appointment likely won’t be like subsequent appointments. The therapist will also discuss any physical limitations resulting from your injury and the goals you aim to achieve through treatment.
The initial appointment will involve the physical therapist assessing the limitations of your injury, including checking your range of motion and for any structural damage. It’s a good idea to wear comfortable, casual clothes for the appointment so you can move quickly and the physical therapist can conduct their examination correctly.
After conducting a physical examination, the physical therapist might suggest additional tests to eliminate the possibility of other conditions. For instance, if you visit a physical therapist for shoulder pain, they might also propose tests for your back or hands. The goal is to ensure the physical therapy targets the right injury and avoids the opportunity to potentially miss a more significant issue, of which shoulder pain may only be one symptom.
All these inquiries and reviews will help the physical therapist understand your injury and determine the appropriate treatment techniques for you. The treatment plan will consist of several types of physical therapy to help your shoulder injury heal most effectively. It can combine several therapies, but each treatment plan includes some at-home exercises. You’ll rarely visit the physical therapist daily, so it’s essential to stick to the schedule for at-home exercises to avoid undoing any progress you have made in sessions.
All-around
Physical therapy provides a comprehensive and practical approach to addressing shoulder pain and injuries. This holistic strategy focuses on alleviating immediate symptoms while preventing future injuries and improving overall shoulder function. For those suffering from shoulder issues, physical therapy provides a non-invasive, evidence-based solution that promotes long-term health and well-being.
Tags: Physical therapy for shoulder pain, Therapy for shoulder pain