| People of all ages suffer from shoulder | | | | physical therapy program can alleviate |
| pain. The causes are many and can range | | | | shoulder pain and you won't have to |
| from an unknown onset to a traumatic | | | | consider having an injection. |
| event. Many people develop shoulder | | | | Physical therapy treatment can consist |
| pain from performing repetitive type | | | | of the following interventions: |
| activities for prolonged times. Others | | | | 1. Therapeutic exercises: this will |
| will experience pain in the shoulder | | | | consist of range of motion, |
| following a fall onto the shoulder or on | | | | conditioning, and strengthening |
| the outstretched arm. Sometimes the | | | | exercises. The goal here is to maximize |
| reason for pain is not as obvious. I | | | | and restore any loss of range of motion, |
| see many cases where a person cannot | | | | improve the overall endurance of the |
| identify what caused the pain in the | | | | shoulder blade and shoulder muscles and |
| shoulder. Often times this pain for | | | | to improve the strength of these same |
| unknown reasons can occur when someone | | | | muscles. Adequate strength of the |
| bumps their shoulder against the door | | | | shoulder blade muscles is just as |
| jam in the middle of the night when | | | | important as having strong rotator cuff |
| going to the bathroom. This rather | | | | muscles. These two groups must work |
| benign action sets off a chemical | | | | together in order to restore normal |
| process in the shoulder that will build | | | | biomechanics and to prevent further |
| up over several days. Eventually this | | | | injury. |
| will cause pain in the shoulder. Since | | | | 2. Manual therapy: this will consist of |
| the injury occurred several days earlier | | | | hands on treatment that the physical |
| the person cannot recall any event that | | | | therapist would perform on you. This |
| started the process. Regardless of the | | | | might consist of joint mobilization |
| cause of the pain in the shoulder the | | | | (i.e. techniques designed to improve |
| treatment is often similar from case to | | | | joint motion and relieve pain), or soft |
| case. | | | | tissue massage (i.e. techniques designed |
| Treatment of the shoulder can encompass | | | | to improve muscle and connective tissue |
| several different areas. Conservative | | | | flexibility and to relieve pain). |
| measures include medication such as | | | | 3. Modalities: this consists of machines |
| anti-inflammatories or pain medications, | | | | that the physical therapist may apply to |
| rest, cortisone injections, and or | | | | your painful shoulder to assist in pain |
| physical therapy. All of these methods | | | | relief and healing along with the other |
| can be effective in helping relieve a | | | | treatments mentioned above. Some of |
| painful shoulder especially when they | | | | these machines are ultrasound, |
| are performed in combination with each | | | | electrical stimulation, TENS, or |
| other. | | | | iontophoresis. |
| Often times when you present to your | | | | All of these interventions can be used |
| medical doctor with complaints of | | | | in the treatment of a painful shoulder. |
| shoulder pain they will prescribe some | | | | It is common in clinical practice to use |
| medication as described above. It is | | | | a combination of these interventions. |
| easy to recommend that a person rest the | | | | It has been my experience in treating |
| painful shoulder but it may be difficult | | | | hundreds of shoulder patients over the |
| to do depending on their occupation or | | | | years that therapeutic exercise is an |
| responsibilities at home. Injections | | | | absolute in the treatment of the painful |
| for the painful shoulder are sometimes | | | | shoulder. Well rounded exercises that |
| given right away depending on your | | | | target the shoulder blade and shoulder |
| medical doctor's philosophy. Some MD's | | | | muscles are the mainstay of any good |
| would rather you attend physical therapy | | | | physical therapy regimen for the |
| before considering injecting the painful | | | | treatment of shoulder pain. A painful |
| shoulder. Injections are not the end | | | | shoulder can persist for years. With |
| all beat all and they do not offer | | | | the right education you won't have to |
| relief to all patients that receive | | | | suffer any longer! |
| them. Often times a well rounded | | | | |