Frequent appointments with a physical therapist are suitable for people of all ages!
Physical therapy is a non-invasive, safe, and effective treatment choice intended to improve movement and alleviate pain arising from a wide variety of work and sports injuries, musculoskeletal disorders, age-related conditions, and more.
Usually, patients undergo physical therapy to help relieve symptoms of chronic pain and avoid potential injuries. One of the most important reasons for new patients to visit our physical therapy clinic is to identify and treat the cause of their chronic shoulder pain.
Several common causes give rise to chronic pain in the shoulder. However, one thing is certain: coping with shoulder pain will make it difficult to complete everyday tasks if left untreated.
To learn how physical therapy can help alleviate (or even eliminate) your problem, contact our office in Austin, TX today! If you or a loved one is experiencing shoulder pain, we can help.
5 common conditions of shoulder pain
1. Impingement
Shoulder impingement is a condition that occurs when the tip of the shoulder blade (the acromion), and the upper arm bone (the humerus) pinch the soft tissues between them.
As the arm lifts, the structures between the two bones pinch the tendons and bursa that run in between them. If this condition goes untreated, an impingement in the shoulder can result in bursopathy and/or tendinopathy.
2. Frozen Shoulder
Adhesive capsulitis, also known as frozen shoulder, is a condition that occurs following an injury, surgery, or alongside another shoulder condition.
This condition leads to stiffening of the joint capsule of the shoulder, which leads to limited range of movement, and pain with shoulder motion.
The limited range of movement can cause increased stiffness of the shoulder musculature as well, and also can lead to compensatory movements of the shoulder complex that can lead to other sorts of shoulder issues.
3. Bursitis
The shoulder is made up of a very complex network of moving parts. This makes it a pretty complicated joint! One of the main components that make up the shoulder is called the “bursa.”
The bursa contains small fluid-filled sacs that work to keep the joint lubricated. If the bursa becomes inflamed or irritated in any way, you could develop bursitis. This will call for a physical therapist’s touch, as soon as possible!
4. Tendinitis
Tendinitis is a very common condition that often sends people straight to a physical therapist for pain relief. It causes inflammation and usually affects people who take part in many physical activities, or work at a job that requires them to use lots of repetitive motions every day.
Take this, for example, if you are an athlete who plays tennis or a professional painter, you could be at high risk for developing tendonitis in your shoulder. This is because you make the same repetitive motions every day to play your sport or do your job.
Those who are at high risk for developing this condition should be aware of how important it is to not only visit a physical therapist regularly but also rest their shoulders often to prevent chronic pain.
5. Tendon Tears
If you experience an acute injury or have a degenerative condition, the result can be a torn tendon in your shoulder. The natural aging process, overuse, and random injuries can often cause split or torn tendons as well.
Tendon strains (aka “tears”) occur very often, and are present in a large majority of the population, both in symptomatic and asymptomatic shoulders. The presence of a tear does not always mean there will be pain, but if there is persistent pain, the best place to start the rehab process is with a PT.
What can physical therapy do for me?
Seeing a physical therapist as soon as possible if you have encountered persistent shoulder pain may be a good idea!
Physical therapy is a safe and natural recovery choice that will enable patients of all ages to recover from their shoulder injuries effectively. In fact, a study published by the National Library of Medicine examines the use of physical therapy for patients with this condition, stating “Physical therapy has been found to be effective in reducing pain and disability in patients with shoulder impingement. Effective interventions include therapeutic exercises focusing on strengthening the rotator cuff and scapular stabilizing musculature, stretching to decrease capsular tightness, scapular taping techniques, and patient education of proper posture.”
Regardless of what your condition is, your physical therapist will analyze your body, find the cause of your pain, and develop a detailed, specialized treatment plan for your individual needs.
To get relief from shoulder pain, there’s no justification in spending loads of money on costly operations or over-the-counter drugs. Physical therapy could help you get back on the pain-free road.
Contact us today!
To learn more about the benefits of physical therapy for shoulder pain, call our offices today and begin your journey towards living a pain-free life. We’re here to support you in any way that we can, and look forward to seeing you through your physical therapy treatment.
