How Physiotherapy Helps With Shoulder Pain and Injury
Your shoulder joint is one of the largest and most flexible in your body. This joint lets you complete tasks like throwing a ball or reaching for items on a tall shelf. Unfortunately, you can sustain an injury to your shoulder and experience pain. Sometimes, this pain may resolve itself; other times, it may persist and lead to a disability if it is not treated properly.
Causes Of Shoulder Pain And Injury?
Shoulder pain and injury may result from any of the following;
- Poor posture
- Dislocation
- Fracture
- Arthritis
- Bursitis
- Tendinitis
- Frozen shoulder
- Impingement
- Rotator cuff injury
When Should You Get Physiotherapy For Shoulder Pain?
Shoulder pain can cause discomfort and limit your range of motion. Sometimes, the pain may be mild and go away within a few days to weeks. However, if it doesn’t, it may be a sign of an underlying medical condition.
You should see your physiotherapist if you experience the following symptoms alongside your shoulder pain;
- Difficulty breathing
- Excessive sweating
- Tightness in your chest
- Radiating pain in your arm or neck
- Numbness or tingling
- Redness, warmth, or swelling around shoulder joint
- Persisting pain for more than 2 to 4 weeks
- Difficulty performing simple daily activities
Benefits Of Physiotherapy For Shoulder Pain
Although there are several treatments for shoulder pain, physiotherapy is drug-free and focuses on helping you regain strength and preventing a future occurrence of the injury. Other benefits of shoulder pain physiotherapy in Orleans include;
Pain Relief
Shoulder pain physiotherapy includes techniques that improve blood circulation, relax muscles, and stimulate the body’s natural healing response. This treatment helps alleviate pain and reduce inflammation.
Improved Range Of Motion
Shoulder pain physiotherapy includes strengthening and stretching exercises that can improve your mobility. Your physiotherapist may also use hands-on techniques to loosen tight muscles around your shoulder joint to improve your range of motion.
Improved Strength
You may not use your shoulder as often to reduce the severity of the discomfort. However, not using your muscles frequently may lead to a loss in muscle mass. Physiotherapy for shoulder pain in Orleans may include exercises that stretch and strengthen your shoulder muscles.
Education
Your physiotherapist will educate you on proper posture and ergonomics to reduce shoulder pain. You will also learn proper lifting techniques and lifestyle modifications to prevent future occurrences.
Physiotherapy For Shoulder Pain
Physiotherapy for shoulder pain involves several techniques for pain relief and preventing a recurrence of your injury. Some techniques used in shoulder pain physiotherapy include;
Therapeutic Exercises
Therapeutic exercises include stretching and strengthening exercises to restore your mobility and relieve pain. Your physiotherapist will recommend exercises of varying intensities depending on your symptoms. These exercises are usually easy to do and will improve your strength.
Some of the best shoulder pain physiotherapy exercises include arm circles, pendulum, doorway stretch, and chest expansion. Your physiotherapist will show you how and how often to do these exercises.
Manual Therapy
Manual therapy is a hands-on treatment for improving shoulder joint and soft tissue mobility. Your physiotherapist will apply pressure to the joint and soft tissues of your shoulder joint to improve blood flow and reduce pain.
Electrical Stimulation
Your physiotherapist will apply electric pulses to your sore muscles to contract them and improve blood flow. This treatment technique is safe and effective.
Postural Training
Your physiotherapist will teach you proper techniques for maintaining good posture while sitting, walking, standing, or performing daily activities. Proper posture distributes weight optimally through your body, reducing your risk for injuries.
How Does Physiotherapy For Shoulder Pain And Injury Work?
When you visit your physiotherapist for shoulder pain and injury, they will first examine your symptoms and ask about your medical history. This information is used to diagnose and create a tailored treatment plan.
The treatment plan may consist of one or more physiotherapy techniques discussed above. Because the treatment is customized, the techniques will be unique to your condition. Therefore, your treatment will differ from that of someone with the same condition and symptoms.
During your treatment, your physiotherapist will monitor your progress and make changes to your treatment plan if necessary.
After your treatment, your physiotherapist will provide you with essential knowledge on proper posture and ergonomics to prevent a recurrence of your injury. You will also receive a customized treatment program that you can do at home to stretch and strengthen your muscles.
Conclusion
Experiencing shoulder pain can make normal activities more difficult, which can be devastating and affect your quality of life. If the pain persists for a few weeks or radiates to your neck and arm, you should visit your physiotherapist in Orleans, Ontario. Your physiotherapist can examine you and create a treatment plan.
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