Shoulder Pain
Why Can't I Figure Out How to Treat my Shoulder Pain?
Shoulders: We carry the weight of the world on them, but don’t spend a lot of time trying to figure them out. Yet our shoulders are each incredibly complicated joint systems. The positive aspect of this complexity is that your shoulders allow your body to undertake an amazing range of activities. On the down side, when something goes wrong with one or both of them, it can be complicated to treat on your own.
​
Specifically, each one of your shoulders is made up of four joints which are connected not only to one another, but form the connecting unit to your shoulder blades, collarbone, and upper arms. Because of this interdependence, any problem with your shoulder often means trouble performing functions that require almost any kind of upper-body mobility.
What Causes Shoulder Pain?
The causes of shoulder problems can stem from a sudden injury, a lifetime of poor posture, or conditions which weaken joint tissue. These conditions include various forms of arthritis and other inflammatory disorders.
Aggravating injuries include shoulder dislocation and broken arms, rotator cuff tearing, and falls or blows to your torso. In addition, shoulders tend to carry problems with other parts of your body so that even heart disease or gallbladder problems can show up as “referred pain” in your shoulders.
What Does Physical Therapy do to Stop Shoulder Pain and Stiffness?
Our highly trained Physical Therapist's work with you on a variety of stretching and rehabilitation exercises to bring pain-free mobility back to your shoulder. A complete evaluation will verify exactly where the problem is as well as its severity.
To be most effective, most Physical Therapy for shoulder pain will incorporate strength and flexibility in entire shoulder moves. Stretching is key for improving flexibility. Your physical therapist will likely talk you through stretching moves, as well as gently manipulate your muscles.
​
For building strength, your Physical Therapy will probably involve some form of resistance training such as with free weights, long rubber bands, or even cycles that you pedal with your hands.
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 experiencing. Our Physical Therapist's 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.
WHAT IS THE BEST EXERCISE FOR SHOULDER PAIN?
FAQ'S
Ready To Get Started?
Whether you’re in need of post-surgical rehab or are hoping to avoid surgery, our comprehensive treatment plan is designed to both target the various parts of your complex shoulder system and to keep you motivated throughout the session.
Contact us today at our Lewiston, ID center or inquire an evaluation to learn how we can help you quickly relieve your shoulder pain.