Sometimes shoulder pain is not serious; other times, it is a cause of concern. When shoulder pain persists, it can affect your capacity to work and even cause psychological stress. Unfortunately, ignoring the pain increases damage to your joints and tendons.
Although there are several treatments for shoulder pain, physical therapy is non-invasive and customized. It also seeks to restore your range of motion. This article explores the common causes of shoulder pain and how physical therapy in Bedford helps.
Causes of Shoulder Pain
Table of Contents
Dislocation
The upper arm’s ball joint sits in a shallow socket, making dislocating easy. A dislocation occurs when the upper arm pops out of the shoulder socket. This injury causes excruciating pain and has a high risk of recurrence. Athletes, especially those who play contact sports, are at a high risk of developing shoulder dislocation.
Arthritis
Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are significant causes of shoulder pain. Osteoarthritis results from the wear and tear of the shoulder joint’s cartilage. Age and overuse are risk factors for osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis results from the immune system seeing the joints as a threat. Therefore, it attacks the shoulder joint, resulting in inflammation and pain.
Bursitis
The bursa is a sac-like structure located in areas with friction in the body, including between the bones and tendons. In addition, the bursa work to keep the joints lubricated. However, bursitis occurs when the bursa becomes irritated and inflamed due to too much friction. Age, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis are risk factors for bursitis.
Tendinitis
Tendinitis occurs from the overuse of the shoulder joint. Therefore, people who engage in many physical activities or work a job that requires a lot of repetitive motions are at risk of developing inflammation in their shoulder joints. Swimmers, baseball players, and tennis players use repetitive shoulder movements during play. They are, therefore, at risk of developing tendinitis.
Frozen Shoulder
Frozen shoulder is also known as adhesive capsulitis. This condition occurs when the connective tissue surrounding the shoulder joints thickens and tightens. Frozen shoulder results in stiffness and pain, often developing after an accident or in connection to another shoulder problem.
People with frozen shoulders are at risk of having scar tissue in the shoulder. And unfortunately, the scar tissue around the shoulder may make the muscles eventually freeze up, limiting the range of motion and resulting in persistent pain.
Impingement
When the tendon inside the shoulder rubs on nearby tissue and bones when you lift your arms, it leads to impingement and pain. Impingement often affects the rotator cuff tendon and puts pressure on underlying soft tissues in the arm. Without early treatment, impingement can lead to bursitis or tendinitis.
Tendon Tears
Acute injuries and degenerative conditions are causes of tendon tears in the shoulder. In addition, accidents may cause sudden tendon tears in the shoulder, resulting in immediate and intense pain. Although a tendon tear may be partial or complete, it is always present with excruciating pain that requires multiple visits to the physical therapist.
When Do You Need Physical Therapy for Shoulder Pain?
Rest and over-the-counter medications treat shoulder pain. But there are instances where they are not enough to relieve shoulder pain. Shoulder pain physical therapy in Bedford, TX, is necessary if you have difficulty performing your daily tasks due to pain and shoulder stiffness.
Physical Therapy for Shoulder Pain
Depending on the cause and severity of the pain, your physical therapist will prescribe a treatment. Some physical therapy treatments for shoulder pain include;
Ice Therapy
Ice therapy reduces inflammation and swelling, especially from bursitis and tendonitis. The ice constricts blood flow to the area, limiting inflammation. After removing the ice, the blood vessels in the injured area slowly open, increasing tissue temperature. It is essential to apply ice for not more than 20 minutes at a time when using ice therapy.
Heat Therapy
Heat therapy reduces pain and stiffness to restore mobility. In addition, applying heat to inflamed shoulders relaxes the muscles and increases blood circulation. However, it is best not to place the heat source directly on the skin when using heat. That may worsen inflammation. Also, apply heat for only 20 minutes at a time.
Stretching Exercises
Stretching exercises gently push the muscles into place to restore the range of motion. Your physical therapist in Bedford will recommend stretches of varying intensities depending on your injury.
Strengthening Exercises
Strengthening exercises reduce pain at the injury site and strengthen other muscles, including your core. Your physical therapist will recommend these exercises to improve your strength and prevent a recurrence.
Ultrasound
Therapeutic ultrasound uses deep heating to ease the shoulder’s muscles, tendons, and soft tissues. Physical therapy in Bedford uses therapeutic ultrasounds to increase your muscle’s elasticity, allowing you to stretch your shoulders easily and improve your range of motion.
Get Physical Therapy for Shoulder Pain in Bedford, TX
Barkman & Smith Physical Therapy offers customized treatments for treating shoulder pain. Professional and highly-trained physical therapists in Forth Worth and Bedford, TX evaluate your condition and use passive and active treatment methods to relieve your pain and reduce the recurrence risk.
