Had enough of frustrating Shoulder Pain?
Why painkillers and visits to your GP are not the answer!
Shoulder pain is one of the more common issues we see at Recover Physio, however, the extent of the pain can make a big difference between something irritating and a debilitating condition. This is because of how crucial shoulder movement is to our everyday lives and how many tasks it is needed for..
The shoulder is a very complex joint as it has the most movement of any in our body and relies on a balance of this mobility with stability from the muscles and ligaments that surround it. Any issues that affect the mobility or stability of the shoulder can therefore be very debilitating and often result in changes in the way the shoulder is used, which just exacerbates the issue.
If you are experiencing stiffness, weakness, or painful movements with your shoulder it is therefore best to get it checked and treated as soon as possible as, If left untreated, these issues could lead to chronic pain, with the potential of a reduced quality of life.
Physiotherapy offers effective treatment for your shoulder pain through forming a thorough diagnosis and providing specific hands-on treatment alongside corrective exercises to offload or rebalance the joint.
Read more to find out how Physiotherapy for shoulder pain could work for you.
Common Shoulder Injuries
There are many potential causes for your shoulder pain, but all can significantly impact daily activities due to the shoulder's complex structure and extensive range of motion. Common shoulder injuries include the following:
- Arthritis: Where the cartilage within the shoulder joint deteriorates over time, leading to pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. Rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune condition, can also affect the shoulder, causing inflammation and joint damage.
- Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis): Stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint. This condition develops gradually and can last for several months to years. The cause itself is often unknown, but it can occur after prolonged immobilisation due to injury or surgery.
- Rotator Cuff Injuries: The rotator cuff consists of the muscles and tendons of four different muscles that give the shoulder mobility and stability. Injuries range from inflammation of the tendons to partial or complete tears of the tendons or muscles. Rotator cuff injuries are common in athletes and individuals performing repetitive overhead activities or can gradually happen over time. Symptoms include pain, weakness, and limited shoulder movement.
- Bursitis: The inflammation of the bursa, a small fluid-filled sac, that reduces friction between shoulder tissues. Shoulder bursitis often results from repetitive movements or prolonged pressure on the shoulder. Symptoms include pain with movement and swelling.
- Dislocations: When the upper arm bone (humerus) comes out of the shoulder socket. This injury is usually the result of a traumatic event, such as a fall or impact. Symptoms include intense pain, swelling, and an inability to move the shoulder. The shoulder can go back in by itself or require medical attention, either way Physiotherapy is required to restore function and help prevent it from happening again.
Understanding these common shoulder injuries and their treatments is crucial for effective management and recovery, which is why we ensure we have the time and knowledge to provide you with a comprehensive diagnosis of what is causing your issue. Once we have a diagnosis we can then work with you to create an individualised treatment programme to address the problems.
Can Physiotherapy Help My Shoulder Pain?
Physiotherapy treatment for shoulder pain could include soft tissue massage, mobilations, biomechanical control, specific strengthening exercises and much more.
The important thing is the diagnosis as only then can the correct treatment approach be implemented. We therefore recommend booking an initial assessment as soon as possible in order to find your diagnosis and start a personalised treatment plan at Recovery Physiotherapy.
While we recommend getting the assessment as soon as possible, it doesn’t mean that physiotherapy can’t help if you have had symptoms for some time. It’s never too late to start your treatment.
We also offer other treatments to manage any chronic pain in your shoulder, where the methods used to treat it would slightly differ from treatment of an acute injury.
Shockwave Therapy is used to stimulate the body’s natural healing response that is no longer present with a chronic injury and can therefore be an excellent starting point for some shoulder issues.
What Exercises Can I Do at Home for Shoulder Pain?
We recommend that you seek advice from a physiotherapist before performing and strengthening exercises for shoulder pain, but there are a collection of exercises that may help in the initial stages, these include:
Scapular setting:
To "set" your shoulder blades, imagine you are wearing a V-neck t-shirt back to front. Now pull your shoulder blades downwards and inwards and hold this position. Keep your chin up and maintain good posture.
Contrast therapy:
Apply an ice pack wrapped in a tea towel to the shoulder for 1 minute followed directly after by heat from a hot water bottle or wheat bag, also wrapped in a tea towel, for 2 minutes.
Repeat this 6 times, resulting in 18mintes of treatment, ensuring you finish with the heat.. Focusing on applying the cold and heat to the shoulder itself, even if some of your pain is in the top of your arm.
Self massage:
Side-bend your neck by moving your ear towards your shoulder opposite to the pain. Hold a ball over your shoulder and neck on the painful side and gently massage the area by moving it up and down with a little downward pressure. Work further into tight and tender areas using a circular motion with the ball. This will help reduce muscle tension in the neck and shoulder.
Please seek the professional advice from a Physiotherapist for a diagnosis before progressing past these exercises.
How Recover Physiotherapy Can Help
Speak to a Therapist
Depending on your diagnosis, treatment for your shoulder pain can be solved very quickly or may take a little longer based on the complexity of the cause of the symptoms. This will be discussed with you after your Initial Assessment so you have a good understanding of your prognosis and possible time frames to recovery.
If you would like to ask any questions about your specific shoulder issues and how Physiotherapy could help you, please request a free call back from one of our friendly Physiotherapists. Click below to request a callback from a member of our team!
At Recover Physiotherapy, we are committed to helping you overcome shoulder pain to improve your quality of life. Our experienced team combines advanced physiotherapy techniques with a personalised approach to provide effective and lasting solutions.
Our physiotherapists have been trained by world leading experts in shoulder pain and developed a systematic approach for the shoulder. This gives us confidence in diagnosing the reason for your shoulder pain and to create a treatment plan for your recovery.
Book an Appointment
If you'd like to book an Initial Assessment to find out what is causing your shoulder pain, you can book online at either of our branches.
Princes Street, Norwich City Centre
Our Princes Street clinic is the flagship clinic of Recover Physio, situated in the heart of Norwich city centre in Tombland.
The Nest, Holt Road
Our clinic at The Nest serves customers in Norwich and surrounding areas of North Norwich and Norfolk.