Health Articles

Your shoulders are a complex part of your body - they are your most flexible and movable joints, consisting of multiple bones, muscles, and tendons. They provide you with a great amount of mobility, allowing you to perform many of your daily tasks, in addition to several exercise regimens. However, this also means that there are many ways that the shoulders can become injured, resulting in pain and lack of mobility. 

Shoulder pain can be experienced due to a multitude of different causes, and there are several steps you can take to ease your discomfort. Physical therapy is a natural, easy, and effective way to ease shoulder pain. To find out how physical therapy can benefit you, give  High Desert Osteopractic Physical Therapy a call today!

Why am I experiencing 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:

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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. 
• 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.

How will I benefit from physical therapy?

A physical therapist works hard to provide improvement to your flexibility and range of motion, in addition to relieving the pain and discomfort you are feeling. They may implement any combination of treatment methods, such as cold and hot therapies to ease pain and increase mobility; massage therapy to relieve pressure on your muscles, joints, and tendons; or an exercise regimen to promote movement and healing of the affected area. Other treatment methods may include aquatic therapy, ultrasound, or electrical nerve stimulation.

Whatever type of pain you’re experiencing, a trained physical therapist can create a specialized program to treat your particular condition. Physical therapy has been proven to help with several conditions, and in many cases it has eliminated the need for harmful drugs and invasive surgeries altogether. Contact our office today to schedule a consultation with one of our physical therapists, and get started on your journey toward long-lasting relief!