Shoulder Pain

You Don’t Have To Live With Shoulder Pain Forever: Find Relief Through Physiotherapy 

Many of us have felt shoulder pain before. It can manifest itself as a dull ache when you turn over in bed, or when you reach for something on the highest shelf in your kitchen. It can show up after surgery or as the result of an injury. No matter what form it takes, shoulder pain can literally make you feel as if you can’t use your shoulder! Pain levels can vary depending on the presence of a pulled muscle or arthritis caused by bones rubbing against each other. There are so many reasons why you might be experiencing shoulder pain! Regardless of what your specific condition entails, ProActive Physiotherapy is dedicated to offering you natural pain management modalities.

Where is my shoulder pain coming from?

Your shoulder has the greatest range of all the joints in your body, and is capable of accomplishing many things! But like all complex parts of the body, there is the possibility of something going wrong and causing you to become extremely uncomfortable. Let’s look a little bit into what makes up the shoulder, and what causes shoulder pain.

Your shoulder is a “ball-and-socket” joint, which means that the top of the upper arm bone, or the “humerus,” fits in the space corresponding within the shoulder blade, or “scapula”. The ends of the bone are protected by a dense layer of cartilage, which assists with keeping the bones from rubbing against each other. Sacs filled with fluid, also known as “bursae” protect the tendons from rubbing against the bones as well. Tendons work to attach shoulder bones to another set of bones referred to as the “rotator cuff”. 

If you receive an injury or are in some sort of accident and something goes haywire with the complex aspects that make up the shoulder, it’s a no-brainer that pain will be the ultimate result of your experience! Our Edmonton, AB physiotherapist’s can help relieve your pain and get you back to doing the things you love.

Types of shoulder pain

The kind of shoulder pain you experience can differ depending on what the underlying cause of it is. For example, pain from impingement begins at a certain point in the range of motion. It often happens when you raise your arm up in the air. Pain that is a result of a degenerative shoulder condition might create consistent aches whenever you move your arm in certain directions. You may also experience sudden and intense pains as a result of acute injuries. These can make it impossible for you to even move your shoulder at all.

Causes of shoulder pain

Because it is so incredibly complex and intricate, there are tons of opportunities in the shoulder joint  for pain-causing conditions!  Here are just a few:

Tendonitis

Tendonitis happens if the shoulder joint gets overused. This is typically the result of daily demands of an overhead activity, laborious job, or sport. Poor posture can also be a cause of tendonitis, because it changes the normal forces on the tendons, and can set you up for tendon injury. This particular condition causes the tendons to experience persistent inflammation, resulting in swelling and painful impingement when raising your arm.

Rotator cuff tear

The rotator cuff is made up of tendons, muscles, and soft tissue that surrounds the shoulder joint. Rotator cuffs are meant to properly guide the movement of the shoulder joint. However, with overuse, injury, poor posture, and age, the rotator cuff can be partially or completely torn. Some people with this condition might even need surgery, depending on the severity and situation. Thankfully, physiotherapy treatments are often very successful with reducing pain and restoring strength to the rotator cuff to make up for for the partial tear. However, even if surgery is necessary, physiotherapy is still an important part of the rehabilitation process and having a full recovery!

Impingement

Impingement happens because of abnormal movement and tracking of the humeral head as you lift your arm up in the air. Pain typically occurs when lifting your arm at or above 90 degrees.

Frozen shoulder

This is a condition also known as “adhesive capsulitis.”  Frozen shoulder can happen if your arm has been in a sling or cast for a while, or if you have been bedridden and unable to move freely for a long time. There are also some ethnicities that are more predisposed to developing this condition, and women tend to experience this pain more than men. Frozen shoulder results in the painful loss of motion as well as the tightening of the shoulder joint that can be severely limiting to your physical activity.

Arthritis

Arthritis is a very common ailment affecting people of all ages. The two main forms of arthritis that affect the shoulder are rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the immune system begins to attack the membranes surrounding the shoulder joint, resulting in pain and swelling. Osteoarthritis happens when the cartilage in the shoulder joint experiences excessive “wear and tear,” typically due to age or overuse. These conditions result in weakness to the shoulder muscles, difficulty performing normal, daily tasks and painful loss of motion.

How physiotherapy can help you heal

 If you’re struggling with shoulder pain, know that physiotherapy is a natural, easy, and comfortable way to find relief for shoulder pain, without the need for harmful drugs or invasive surgery.  Our Edmonton, AB physiotherapists at ProActive Physiotherapy have treated tons of underlying conditions that show themselves as shoulder pain. It’s very common in our clinic for patients to find improvement and relief after just a few appointments!

Here at ProActive Physiotherapy our physiotherapists are specialists in movement and know exactly how to find the root cause of your pain through various diagnostic tests and techniques. During your initial appointment, your therapist will take a look at your range of motion, coordination, strength, medical history, and joint mobility. Your therapist will figure out the cause of your shoulder pain. They will create a special combination of physiotherapy methods that will reduce or relieve you of your issues!

Techniques may include gentle manual therapy to help restore normal joint movement, promote blood circulation and ease soft tissue limitations. Some exercises work to restore strength, and the correct sequence of muscle activation around the shoulder joint. Your therapist will also educate you about exercises you can do at home.  These will enhance your strength and to prevent recurrence of future shoulder problems!

Schedule your appointment today

There is no reason for you to live in pain anymore. If you are ready to get your old life back, contact us today. Our Edmonton, AB physiotherapy practice will get you the help you need to start living your normal life once again. Call ProActive Physiotherapy today to schedule your appointment and get started on your path toward pain-relief.