Health blog Category: Shoulder Pain
Shoulder Pain can Disrupt your Everyday Life
Shoulder pain can present itself in many different ways. We may first notice pain and/or tightness when moving our arm in certain directions. Then, it may progress to where we start to lose range of motion. Range of motion loss is often first seen when trying to tuck in a shirt, fasten a bra or reach into a cabinet. Sometimes, shoulder pain can manifest itself further down the arm as well.
Read full blogFeel a Pinching Sensation in Our Shoulder…
One common shoulder issue we may have experienced is called impingement. This is when the muscles of our rotator cuff become subjected to repeated pinching in between the rounded head of the humerus bone and the acromion process, a bony prominence from the shoulder blade that forms a roof over top of the ball and socket joint. Initially, this pinching may only be a discomfort or may not even produce pain, but with repetition, our rotator cuff muscles will become inflamed.
Read full blogHow to Cure Shoulder Discomfort
If you have shoulder impingement some discomfort you may experience include:
- Restricted ranges of motion
- Muscle weakness
- Pain when raising your arms, sleeping, or with overhead movements.
It is important to get this condition treated as soon as possible when symptoms are present, to avoid more significant injuries such as rotator cuff tears.
Shoulder impingement syndrome is a condition that occurs when the rotator-cuff tendons, ligaments, and bursa in the shoulder are pinched or compressed, resulting in pain and impaired movements.
How shoulder impingement occurs:
- Repetitive overhead movements, such as golfing, throwing, or swimming, or frequent overhead reaching and lifting
- Should injuries such as a fall or contact injury
- Poor posture and muscular weakness
- Joint tightness or structural abnormalities
- Osteoarthritis
Physical therapy is a great way to address these impairments and restore function if you suffer from shoulder impingement.
Ways that physical therapy can help with shoulder discomfort:
- Pain management
- Manual Therapy
- These techniques may include joint mobilizations, soft tissue massage, passive range-of-motion, and stretching.
- Range of Motion Exercises
- Strengthening Exercises
- Patient Education
- Patients will be educated on proper posture and mechanics that will decrease shoulder impingement.
- Function
- Patients will be educated and instructed on proper mechanics of specific functional activities such as throwing of lifting an object on a shelf.
Do not wait until your shoulder problems get worse to get treated.
Read full blogStrengthening Weak Shoulders
Repetitive overuse of muscles in your shoulders can lead to irritation of tendons. Some examples of common repetitive activities include:
- Gardening
- Yard work
- Throwing a baseball with your kids
- Carrying or lifting things
Shoulder irritation and discomfort can also be a result of falls, forceful contact with a person or object, or other sports related injuries.
Protecting and strengthening your shoulders:
- Keep your shoulder aligned: The number one reason for injury and pain in your shoulders is from poor posture.
When Washing Our Hair is Uncomfortable…
Shoulder discomfort such as, general tightness, achiness, sharp pain with specific movements, or inability to lift the weight of our arm comfortably or at all may limit our ability to do everyday things. We may have trouble doing things such as reach an overhead shelf, wash our hair, reach behind our back to tuck in our shirt, or even lift something simple like a grocery bag or throw a ball at practice. However, physical therapy could help to reduce that pain and discomfort you may be experiencing.
Read full blogHaving Trouble Lifting Your Arm to Brush Your Hair?
Some of the most common ailments related to the shoulder include tight/overworked muscles, tendonitis, impingement and, joint stiffness. All of these can cause pain, weakness, and decrease ability to perform everyday activities. It can limit our ability to get dressed because it may be difficult to raise your arms in order to pull a shirt over your head and brush your own hair.
Common Causes of Shoulder Injury
- Traumatic injury/dislocation
- Poor shoulder mechanics
- Post Surgery Posture, and muscle use imbalances can contribute to micro trauma and tendinitis, spasm, or the development of trigger points of the shoulder muscles.
Protect Your Shoulder when Swimming and Gardening
More and more of us are planning to spend an increased amount of time outdoors. This also means that we need to be more cognizant of our bodies when participating in outside activities such as gardening and swimming. It is important to protect your shoulder when enjoying outdoor activities such as swimming and gardening this summer.
Some common injuries that are associated with the shoulder is due to overuse or improper lifting techniques. A great example is when working outside in the yard or swimming for competition or everyday exercise during the summer months. Whether it’s picking up heavy bags of mulch or planting flowers, or preparing for the upcoming swimmers meet, it is important to be mindful of your body mechanics as well as repetitive movements.
Trouble Turning the Steering Wheel while Driving?
“My shoulder is killing me! I can’t even get my arm up to wash my hair!” Shoulder pain, whether it be sharp and stabbing, or dull and achy, causes a significant amount of discomfort and inability to perform everyday activities. It can make it difficult to reach in the overhead cabinets while cooking or putting away dishes and turning the steering wheel while driving.
The shoulder is a complex region of the body made up of three joints, four muscles of the rotator cuff (a group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint that keeps the head of your upper arm bone firmly within the shallow socket of the shoulder) and over 10 other muscles that attach around the bones/joints that make up the shoulder.
Trouble Turning the Steering Wheel while Driving?
“My shoulder is killing me! I can’t even get my arm up to wash my hair!” Shoulder pain, whether it be sharp and stabbing, or dull and achy, causes a significant amount of discomfort and inability to perform everyday activities. It can make it difficult to reach in the overhead cabinets while cooking or putting away dishes and turning the steering wheel while driving.
The shoulder is a complex region of the body made up of three joints, four muscles of the rotator cuff (a group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint that keeps the head of your upper arm bone firmly within the shallow socket of the shoulder) and over 10 other muscles that attach around the bones/joints that make up the shoulder.
Trouble Lifting Our Arm
The shoulder is a common region in which people complain of pain and discomfort and trouble lifting their arm. Shoulder discomfort and pain can commonly affect our ability to get a good nights’ sleep, carry groceries, shower, wash clothes, reach into overhead cabinets, and to tuck in our shirt.
Don’t let shoulder discomfort and pain limit you these activities or anything else!
Minor inflammation or minor tears can become worsened if aggravating factors are not addressed and prevent you from playing tennis, reaching that plate from the upper cabinet or scratching that itch in the middle of your back. The sooner treatment is initiated, the better.
