Physical Therapy for Shoulder Injuries

We talk about “carrying a weight on our shoulders” for good reason. The shoulders are some of our most-used parts of our musculoskeletal system. A shoulder injury can keep you away from work or recreation for too long – but if you get the right treatment at the right time, it doesn’t have to.

JAG PT is NY, NJ, and PA’s physical therapy expert at treating shoulder injuries and pain – our empathetic PT staff will customize the right treatment plan for you and put your shoulders in their capable hands.

If you suffer a shoulder injury or the onset of pain, delaying treatment can result in worsening the damage or furthering other symptoms such as inflammation – and there are interventions that can help right away.

Is Physical Therapy Good for Shoulder Pain?

Physical therapy is one of the best ways to get immediate symptom relief for any musculoskeletal condition. This includes shoulder pain – a variety of physical techniques are beneficial for the muscles of the shoulder, the scapula and humerus themselves (the bones that meet in the shoulder joint), and even the synovial fluid capsule within the shoulder.

What Causes Pain in the Shoulder?

The shoulder joint, when healthy, has the greatest range of motion of any joint in the body. But this high mobility makes the structure of the joint unstable – shoulders are prone to injuries of various kinds, and only about a third of doctor visits from shoulder pain are directly related to injury, so many other conditions can also arise. For example, the shoulder joint is the most frequently-dislocated part of the skeleton, and shoulder separation, in which ligaments tear and the clavicle slips away from the scapula, is also common. Conditions elsewhere in the body can also cause referred pain to be felt in the shoulder.

Physical Therapy Before and After Shoulder Surgery

Many orthopedic surgeons recommend that their patients seek out both pre- and post-operative physical therapy in order to have a better recovery outcome. It’s especially a good idea if you’re planning to undergo shoulder surgery. The everyday range of motion required in the shoulder joint is high – so maintaining strength and flexibility is paramount. And you should make sure to maintain mobility in your shoulder muscles, ligaments, and tendons, as the entire musculoskeletal surroundings of the shoulder will be affected no matter what kind of surgery you’re receiving. Physical therapy treatments before and after your shoulder surgery are critical to getting the best outcome.

Shoulder Injury Signs and Symptoms

The symptoms of shoulder injuries may range from pain and numbness to stiffness and weakness, and all of them have the potential to be very disruptive to your life. Some of the most common shoulder conditions include the following:

Frozen Shoulder

Frozen shoulder is the common name for a condition called adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder. It begins with slow onset of pain, progressing to a gradual loss of motion in the shoulder, and eventually complete immobility, due to abnormal adhesions of tissue within the joint capsule. No direct cause has been identified for this condition, but risk factors include autoimmune diseases and Dupuytren’s contracture, which is caused by adhesions in the finger.

Shoulder Impingement Syndrome

Also known as swimmer’s shoulder and thrower’s shoulder, from the types of athletes who often contract this condition, shoulder impingement syndrome is caused by inflammation of the rotator cuff tendons. This results in weakness, a grinding and popping sensation, and pain that gets worse at night or with overhead shoulder movement.

Rotator Cuff Tear

Rotator cuff tears are common in athletes and people over 40. The muscles and tendons of the rotator cuff can be torn by sudden trauma or by wear over time. The most common symptoms include pain worsened by movement, weakness, and an irritating clicking sensation. An injury to the rotator cuff is especially convenient because it interferes with the movements needed to put on clothes and care for one’s hair.

Subacromial Bursitis

The subacromial bursa separates one of the rotator cuff tendons from the ligament above it. When it becomes inflamed, usually as part of other shoulder impingement syndrome symptoms, it can cause highly localized pain and weakness along the front side of the shoulder running into the neck.

Dislocation and Subluxation

A dislocation of the shoulder occurs when the head of the humerus moves away from the shoulder joint, and a subluxation is when this detachment is partial and there is still some contact. While dislocations are more severe, both types of injuries usually occur during athletic activity. Both can cause significant pain, a slipping sensation, and resistance to any kind of movement, and after promptly getting treatment to replace the bone into the joint, physical therapy is the best choice to restore full functioning.

Fractures

The shoulder is susceptible to fractures in both the clavicle and scapula. Clavicular fractures often occur due to hard falls onto the shoulder or outstretched arm, and scapular fractures are more often due to high-speed vehicle crashes or other very forceful injuries, since the scapula is considerably sturdier and more protected by surrounding tissue. Both types of shoulder fracture can be extremely painful and can cause movement problems even after healing.

SLAP (Superior Labrum Anterior and Posterior) Tear

The glenoid labrum is the structure that is attached to the rim of the shoulder joint’s socket. Usually, a tear to the labrum, which is made of cartilage, is due to athletic activity. Symptoms of a SLAP tear usually include a dull, throbbing ache, a loss of perceived arm strength, and a sensation that the motion of the arm is “catching” or slowing midway.

Physical Therapy Methods in NJ, NY, and PA

At JAG PT, our multispecialty treatments combine different methods to give you a better outcome than simply receiving those treatments individually. When we treat injuries and other conditions affecting the shoulder, we find a wide range of methods are effective. These can include the Graston technique to break up adhesions associated with frozen shoulder and help the synovial capsule gradually heal, manual therapy on the scapula and shoulder muscles, and pre- and post-operative physical therapy for people whose shoulder conditions will require surgery.

See a Physical Therapist to Start Your Shoulder Injury Recovery

With over 100 locations across the tri-state area, we’re sure to be able to provide you shoulder treatment at your local JAG PT office. Don’t delay getting your mobility back and reducing your pain – find your nearest JAG PT location or book an appointment.