Shoulder Pain & Injury
About shoulder pain: The shoulder is the most movable joint in the body. However, it is an unstable joint because of the range of motion allowed. It is easily subject to injury because the ball of the upper arm is larger than the shoulder socket that holds it. To remain stable, the shoulder must be anchored by its muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Some shoulder problems arise from the disruption of these soft tissues as a result of injury or from overuse or underuse of the shoulder. Other problems arise from a degenerative process in which tissues break down and no longer function well.
Shoulder pain is an extremely common complaint. It is important to make an accurate diagnosis of the cause of your symptoms so that appropriate treatment can be directed at the cause. If you are unsure of the cause of your shoulder pain, or if you do not know the specific treatment recommendations for your condition, you should seek medical attention. Treatment of these conditions must be directed at the specific cause of your problem.
You should consider medical evaluation if your have any of the following symptoms:
Inability to carry objects or use the arm
Injury that causes deformity of the joint
Shoulder pain that occurs at night or while resting
Shoulder pain that persists beyond a few days
Inability to raise the arm
Swelling or significant bruising around the joint or arm
Signs of an infection, including fever, redness, warmth
Any other unusual symptoms
Shoulder Care: Shoulders are very complex. Rehabilitation is a team effort between the patient and the therapist. The therapist provides expertise and guidance. The patient supplies the sweat. There are a myriad of conditions that can be causing your symptoms. Our shoulder program will be tailored to your specific problem and will include the following:
Rapid pain relief
Patient education with proactive patient involvement
Development of home treatment program
Joint and soft tissue mobilization to restore motion
Graded stretching and strengthening