Rotator Cuff & Shoulder Pain Relief Physical therapy Lansdowne, VA

Shoulder Pain Relief & Rotator Cuff

The shoulder provides a versatile range of motion and is comprised of three bones: the humerus, the scapula and the clavicle. Its joint is the most mobile in the human body and allows circular, forward and backward movement. This wide range of motion is due to the rotator cuff, which is four tendons that connect the muscle to the bone. Feel free to contact our highly trained physical therapist at Nova Rehabilitation.

What Causes Shoulder Pain?

There are a number of conditions that can cause shoulder pain. The most common cause is a rotator cuff injury. A rotator cuff injury can be due to tendinitis, bursitis or tears. Those who have to reach overhead repeatedly usually incur a rotator cuff injury like painters and tennis players. Bursitis is caused by an inflammation of its fluid-filled sacs. Rotator cuff tears or strains can occur after a fall or car accident. Any type of shoulder injury will typically cause a lot of pain.

Other causes of shoulder pain include a pinched nerve, frozen shoulder or a dislocated shoulder. A pinched nerve is when another structure is impinging on a nerve. It’s quite painful. A frozen shoulder is where muscles, ligaments and tendons stiffen and become difficult to move. Activities are generally limited. With a dislocated shoulder, the ball of the humerus comes out of the shoulder socket. And with age, the soft tissues around the shoulder can degenerate and cause pain. Most people will incur some type of shoulder pain in their lifetime.

Diagnosing The Cause of Pain In The Shoulder and Treatment

Your physician will take a medical history and do a physical exam to determine the cause of your shoulder pain. An assessment of joint stability and range of motion will also be performed. An MRI or an X-ray may also be done to help with the diagnosis.

A physical therapist can help evaluate and treat a shoulder injury. The initial evaluation will be a thorough assessment about the nature of your pain. A goniometer may be used to measure shoulder motion, range of motion and strength of the shoulder. Specials tests will also be done to determine which structure is causing the pain. For example, the Yergasons’s test is done to diagnose bicipital tendonitis, and the Empty Can test is a screening tool for injury to the shoulder’s tendons or muscles.

A physical therapist uses different treatments and modalities to treat shoulder conditions. Exercises generally consist of active shoulder motion, passive range of motion, using shoulder pulleys, shoulder scapular stabilization and rotator cuff strengthening. Other modalities of treatment include ultrasound, heat therapy, electrical stimulation, massage, joint mobilization and cold therapy. These treatment modalities are a perfect adjunct to exercise. Ultrasound and electrical stimulation help decrease pain and improve mobility. With joint mobilization, the joints are moved in specific directions. It’s a gliding motion that is relaxing. The physical therapist also uses massage and kneads the injured tissues of the body to enhance healing. All of these treatment modalities help decrease pain, reduce swelling, improve circulation and decrease muscle tension. Your physical therapists will also instruct you in home exercises to enhance recovery from a shoulder injury. With physical therapy, healing is faster, and you won’t have to rely so much on pain meds.

Have you suffered a shoulder injury? Do you have shoulder pain and don’t know why? Get the answers and treatment you need to get on the path to recovery. Contact us at Lansdowne, VA center for a personalized consultation and effective treatment plan. Our certified and skilled physical therapists have helped many others recover from a shoulder injury and can help you too. Recovery is just a phone call away.

FAQs

What is the best exercise for shoulder pain?

While there is no one-stop solution for shoulder pain, there are many exercises that can be done to help strengthen the rotator cuff region and ease the pain you are expereincing. Our physical therapists are highly trained to help improve the flexibility and range of motion in your shoulder, in addition to relieving your pain and discomfort. This will be done through an individualized treatment plan designed specifically for you, including therapeutic modalities and targeted pain-relief exercises. A couple common rotator cuff-strengthening exercises that physical therapists prescribe are wall push-ups and chair push-ups. Resistance bands can also be used to increase the strength in your shoulder and help relieve pain. However, it is important to note that if your pain is serious, these exercises should not be performed without the aid of a physical therapist.

How many types of shoulder pain exist?

When it comes to your upper extremities, injuries typically fall into two categories: acute or overuse. Acute injuries are caused by a single specific incident, such as a strain or tear. Overuse injuries are caused by excessive repetitive movements over time. Both acute and overuse injuries can range from mild to severe and can have a significant impact on daily life function. Shoulder pain can also be chronic, meaning it has persisted for 3 months or longer, despite efforts to relieve it. If you have been living with chronic shoulder pain, it is in your best interest to consult with a physical therapist as soon as possible, so they can get to the root of the problem and treat you accordingly.

Can physical therapy help shoulder pain?

Two of the biggest goals of physical therapy are 1) to alleviate your pain and 2) to improve your function. Your physical therapist will work with you to make sure that both of these are achieved throughout your physical therapy sessions. Physical therapy has been proven to manage the pain of several conditions, and in many cases, it has even been proven to eliminate shoulder pain altogether, thus making the need for harmful drugs or surgical intervention obsolete.

What are the causes of shoulder pain?

There are several underlying causes that could result in shoulder pain. For example, a sudden injury or trauma to the shoulders can cause them to become painful. Repetitive motions can also cause shoulder pain, as your muscles, joints, and tendons are working in overdrive. While there are multiple factors that could be causing your shoulder pain, some of the most common include sprains, strains, a torn cartilage, dislocation, frozen shoulder, tendinitis, and arthritis.