How Physical Therapy Can Help With Shoulder Pain and Shoulder Injuries

Physical Therapy for shoulder pain Aug9th 2024

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.

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Best Physical Therapy exercises for Treating Shoulder Pain

Nov4th 2022

Many millions of people dealing with shoulder pain will see a physical therapist at some point in their journey toward shoulder pain relief.

Get the most out of your physical therapy | News | UW Health

The main aim of physical therapy is to upgrade your daily quality of life by reducing your pain and raising your strength and mobility. If you have pain or difficulty reaching for something on a high shelf, getting dressed, tucking in a shirt, or going into your back pocket, or have been avoiding some of these activities due to pain, stiffness, or weakness, it is likely that physical therapy can help. 

Shoulder pain causes and risk factor 

Common shoulder injuries: 

  • Dislocation: If your shoulder is pulled back too hard or rotated too far, the top of your arm might extend out of its socket. You will feel pain and weakness in your shoulder. You may also have swelling and numbness. 
  • Separation: This injury affects the joint where your collarbone and shoulder blade come together. It’s called the acromioclavicular joint. If your collarbone gets pushed out of place, you will have a collided top of your shoulder.
  • Fracture: A bone can crack if you fall or take a hard hit. The most common breaks are clavicle and humerus. If your collarbone is broken, you might not be able to lift your arm. 
  • Cartilage tear: You can injure the cartilage that goes around the rim of your shoulder joint. It can happen after making the same motion over and over. You can also hurt it in a fall, or anytime your shoulder absorbs a lot of force. 
  • Rotator cuff tear: Your rotator cuff is the group of muscles and tendons that hold your arm in place and let you lift your arm overhead. You can damage it through overuse or fall. Your shoulder may hurt at night, and you may try to steal things. 
  • Frozen shoulder: This condition restricts how much your joint will move. Abnormal bands of tissue build up in the joint and keep your shoulder from moving freely. Your shoulder might “freeze” because pain or surgery has made you use it less, allowing the adhesions to build up. 
  • Impingement: This happens when the tendons of the rotator cuff get pet pinched in the bones of the shoulder. It can cause swelling and pain. It can set off if you lift your arms over your head. 
  • Bursitis: The bursa can get swollen and irritated if you repeat the same motions repeatedly. But it can also be caused by a fall or another injury. You may notice the pain most when you move your shoulder if you have bursitis. 
Other causes of shoulder pain: 
  • Osteoarthritis: Also called degenerative joint disease, is the most common form of arthritis. It can affect any joint, including your shoulders. The cartilage between bones breaks down, and they rub together. 
  • Rheumatoid arthritis: This disease causes your body’s immune system to attack the protective lining in your joints. It can also cause pain and stiffness in your shoulder. 
  • Heart attack: If your shoulder hurts and you have trouble breathing or your chest feels tight, you might need emergency medical help immediately.  

Physical Therapy for Shoulder Pain

If your doctor recommends physical therapy, your therapist will examine your strength and range of motion, check your functional abilities, ask you about your goals and then come up with a personalized physical therapy for shoulder pain and restore your mobility. 

Physical Therapy for Shoulder Pain - Desert Edge Physical Therapy

Therapy treatments for shoulder pain may include stretching, strengthening, and joint mobilization. Heat, ice, ultrasound, or athletic taping may also be part of your physical therapy program. 

Your physical therapist can also provide advice on activity modification and workplace ergonomics. Your physical therapists will also work with you to create a comprehensive home physical therapy exercises for shoulder pain to help you maintain your quality of life beyond your therapy sessions. 

When can shoulder pain patients benefit from physical therapy? 

Depending on the extent of your shoulder pain and your unique medical history, physical therapy may be a very effective non-surgical treatment. For issues like shoulder impingement, small rotator cuff tears, and mild to moderate osteoarthritis, studies have shown that physical therapy can improve your quality of life and, in some cases, prevent surgical intervention. 

However, suppose you and your doctor decide that surgery is the best option for you. In that case, physical therapy can still be an essential part of your road to recovery both before and after surgery. Your physician may choose to send you to physical therapy before surgery for a variety of reasons. 

After any shoulder surgery, whether it is an arthroscopic procedure, a rotator cuff repair, or a partial or total joint replacement, you may be referred to a physical therapist for a short duration to help you regain your strength and flexibility, advance your home exercise program and get back to your daily activities.

How do I get started with physical therapy for Shoulder Pain? 

Almost all insurance plans cover outpatient physical therapy, but you should check with your insurance provider to be sure your does. In addition, you will need a prescription from a physician. This can be your primary care provider, a physical medicine, a rehabilitation doctor, or an orthopedic surgeon. 

Physical therapy clinic closest to you and call for an appointment. We’d love to play a role in helping you overcome shoulder pain and get back to doing what you love.