Physical Therapy for Shoulder Pain in Norwood

The shoulder is a complex, mobile joint. Shoulder pain can impact many aspects of daily life, such as reaching for a coffee mug in the morning, putting on a jacket, throwing a ball, or carrying grocery bags. Some people experience shoulder pain due to a specific injury, such as a strain of their rotator cuff muscles or a tear in the shoulder labrum, while other people develop pain over a longer period of time, perhaps due to conditions like frozen shoulder, shoulder impingement, or shoulder osteoarthritis.

About Your Shoulder

Your shoulder is composed of three joints: the glenohumeral joint between your arm (humerus) and shoulder blade (scapula); the acromioclavicular, or AC, joint between your shoulder blade (scapula) and collarbone (clavicle); and the sternoclavicular joint between your collarbone (clavicle) and sternum. The glenohumeral joint is a ball-and-socket joint that is the most mobile joint in the body.

The shoulder is supported by various muscles, tendons, and ligaments as well as a labrum, which is a structure in the glenohumeral joint between your humerus and scapula that helps to stabilize the joint. Some examples of the muscles that work to move your shoulder include the rotator cuff, biceps, pectoralis minor (pecs), and trapezius (traps), amongst other muscles.

What are Common Symptoms of Shoulder Pain?

Some people experience shoulder pain due to a specific injury, such as a strain of the rotator cuff muscles or a tear in the shoulder labrum, while other people develop pain over a longer period of time, perhaps due to conditions like frozen shoulder, shoulder impingement, or shoulder osteoarthritis.

Some symptoms of shoulder pain may include:

• Pain, which can be in the shoulder and/or can refer down the arm or up to the neck
• Stiffness and limited range of motion
• Weakness
• Difficulty performing functional activities such as dressing, brushing your teeth, washing your hair, reaching overhead, carrying groceries, or pushing/pulling doors

Treating Shoulder Pain with Physical Therapy

Whether you are seeking treatment for a recent injury, dealing with chronic shoulder pain, or recovering from shoulder surgery, at Powered Up Physical Therapy, you will always work one-on-one with a Doctor of Physical Therapy who will create an individualized treatment plan catered specifically to your needs.

Your Initial Evaluation

During your first visit, you will receive a thorough initial evaluation, which will include a discussion of the history of your shoulder pain or injury as well as a physical examination to determine your range of motion, strength, movement patterns, posture, etc. Your physical therapist will also evaluate whether your shoulder pain is coming from your shoulder or whether your pain is from other areas such as your neck. Based upon the findings of your evaluation, your physical therapist will use their clinical expertise and the best evidence available to devise a treatment plan for you.

Follow Up Treatments

Each visit will entail one hour of personalized treatment. Your physical therapist will track your progress and adjust your treatment plan as needed. Your treatment plan may include services such as manual therapy, therapeutic exercises, posture and ergonomic education, or other services to help you achieve your goals. You will always receive a targeted home exercise program at the end of each session to perform in between sessions so you’re constantly working on improving your symptoms and addressing your strength and mobility. When done regularly, these exercises will help lead to a faster and stronger recovery!

Below are a few strategies that we may use at Powered Up Physical Therapy to help rehabilitate your shoulder:

• Manual therapy such as joint mobilization and soft tissue mobilization (massage)
• Therapeutic exercises
• Education on posture and ergonomics
• Home exercise programs