Relieve Your Shoulder Pain the Natural Way With Physical Therapy
Your shoulders are your most movable and flexible joints. They are an incredibly complex part of your body, consisting of several tendons, muscles, and bones. Your shoulders also provide you with a wide range of mobility, allowing you to perform physical tasks throughout the day. While your shoulders are capable of accomplishing a lot, their complexities also mean they are susceptible to many injuries.
There are a large number of reasons why you may be experiencing shoulder pain, but physical therapy can, fortunately, help manage whatever you may be feeling. Contact Focus Physical Therapy today to learn more about how you can relieve your shoulder pain the natural way with physical therapy!
What’s causing my 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. Physical therapy can treat several specific conditions that may be contributing to the pain or discomfort that you are feeling in your shoulder. Some of the most common conditions resulting in shoulder pain include:
- Strains and sprains. A strain occurs when a muscle or tendon is stretched too far or torn. A sprain occurs when a ligament is stretched too far or torn. Strains and sprains can result in an ongoing shoulder pain that may make it difficult to partake in exercise or even daily tasks. If the strain or sprain is minor, it can sometimes be iced at home and healed with rest. More severe strains and sprains will often require physical therapy treatments.
- Torn cartilage. When a cartilage tears, you may experience a number of painful symptoms. You may experience decreased strength and a limited range of motion in the affected shoulder. You may also experience pain when moving your arm in certain ways. If you are suffering from a torn cartilage, physical therapy can provide relief.
- Arthritis. Arthritis is a joint disease that causes pain and stiffness. There are several different types of arthritis, but the most common are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage between your bones begins to break down, causing the bones to rub together. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when joints become swollen and inflamed. For both of these conditions, physical therapy can provide pain relief and mobility improvement.
- Bursitis. Bursitis is an inflammation of the joints, and it affects the fluid-filled sacs surrounding the bones, muscles, and tendons. It often occurs in areas of the body that are used for repetitive motions. If you are experiencing bursitis, you may feel stiff or achy in the affected area, which could also become red or swollen. Physical therapy can help ease the inflammation, as well as your painful symptoms.
- Tendonitis. Tendonitis occurs when a tendon becomes irritated or inflamed. It can appear in several parts of the body, and colloquial terms such as “tennis elbow,” “swimmer’s shoulder,” and “jumper’s knee” are usually used to describe it. A physical therapist can treat different types of tendonitis and relieve the inflamed area.
- Frozen shoulder. Frozen shoulder is a painful condition that typically occurs after extended periods of inactivity, such as being contained to a sling or cast after an injury. This condition will gradually worsen over time, resulting in pain and stiffness. It typically corrects itself after a couple of years, but physical therapy can help provide relief while you are recovering. It could also help to speed up the recovery process.
The benefits of physical therapy:
Your physical therapist will work hard 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, and may include any combination of treatment methods as your physical therapist deems fit, including manual therapy, ice and heat therapies, electrical nerve stimulation, ultrasound, or aquatic therapy. Your physical therapist will also prescribe targeted exercises and stretches to help regain your optimal shoulder function.
Physical therapy has been proven to manage the pain of several conditions, and in many cases, it has even been proven to eliminate pain altogether, thus making the need for harmful drugs or surgical intervention obsolete. If you are living with shoulder pain and you are looking for relief, don’t hesitate to contact Focus Physical Therapy today – we’ll help you relieve it the natural way.