Shoulder Pain

Shoulder Pain

Symptoms

  • Avascular necrosis (bone tissue death from limited blood flow)
  • Brachial plexus injury
  • Broken arm
  • Broken collarbone
  • Bursitis (joint inflammation)
  • Cervical radiculopathy
  • Dislocated shoulder
  • Frozen shoulder
  • Heart attack
  • Impingement
  • Osteoarthritis (disease-causing the breakdown of joints)
  • Polymyalgia rheumatica
  • Rheumatoid arthritis (inflammatory joint disease)
  • Rotator cuff injury
  • Separated shoulder
  • Septic arthritis
  • Spains
  • Tendinitis
  • Tendon rupture
  • Thoracic outlet syndrome
  • Torn cartilage

There are numerous reasons why someone may experience shoulder pain, and the severity can range from the temporary discomfort of a pulled muscle to the agonizing bone-on-bone friction of arthritis. The type of pain you feel in your shoulder can vary, depending on what is causing it. Pain from tendon impingement, for example, typically occurs as you raise your arm up, but stops before the arm is raised completely skyward. Pain resulting from a degenerated shoulder may create persistent aches every time you move your arm in certain directions. Acute injuries can result in sudden and intense pains that make it impossible for you to move your shoulder at all.

Physical therapyoccupational therapy, and acupuncture are natural, easy, and comfortable ways to find relief for shoulder pain, without the need for harmful drugs or invasive surgery. Our practitioners have treated several conditions resulting in shoulder pain, with patients finding improvement and relief after just a few short sessions.

Our physical therapists, occupational therapists, & acupuncturists are movement experts, trained to pinpoint the cause of your pain through a variety of diagnostic techniques. Once we have established the cause of your shoulder pain, we can create a specialized combination of physical therapy, occupational therapy, and acupuncture methods to manage and relieve your pain. These may include exercises, which have proven to ease the pain of osteoarthritis and reduce the stiffness of a frozen shoulder. They may also include more specialized techniques, such as ice and heat therapies, ergonomics, or athletic training. Strengthening programs may also be implemented to rehabilitate injured muscles or help stabilize a shoulder that is prone to dislocation.

Don’t let your shoulder pain limit your physical abilities any longer! Vineyard Complementary Medicine will get you the help you need to start living your normal life once again. Contact Vineyard Complementary Medicine, at our Edgartown, MA location on Martha’s Vineyard location on Martha’s Vineyard to schedule your appointment and get started on your path toward pain-relief.

FAQs

What is the best exercise for shoulder pain?

While there is no one-stop solution for shoulder pain, there are many exercises that can be done to help strengthen the rotator cuff region and ease the pain you are expereincing. Our physical therapists are highly trained to help improve the flexibility and range of motion in your shoulder, in addition to relieving your pain and discomfort. This will be done through an individualized treatment plan designed specifically for you, including therapeutic modalities and targeted pain-relief exercises. A couple common rotator cuff-strengthening exercises that physical therapists prescribe are wall push-ups and chair push-ups. Resistance bands can also be used to increase the strength in your shoulder and help relieve pain. However, it is important to note that if your pain is serious, these exercises should not be performed without the aid of a physical therapist.

How many types of shoulder pain exist?

When it comes to your upper extremities, injuries typically fall into two categories: acute or overuse. Acute injuries are caused by a single specific incident, such as a strain or tear. Overuse injuries are caused by excessive repetitive movements over time. Both acute and overuse injuries can range from mild to severe and can have a significant impact on daily life function. Shoulder pain can also be chronic, meaning it has persisted for 3 months or longer, despite efforts to relieve it. If you have been living with chronic shoulder pain, it is in your best interest to consult with a physical therapist as soon as possible, so they can get to the root of the problem and treat you accordingly.

Can physical therapy help shoulder pain?

Two of the biggest goals of physical therapy are 1) to alleviate your pain and 2) to improve your function. Your physical therapist will work with you to make sure that both of these are achieved throughout your physical therapy sessions. Physical therapy has been proven to manage the pain of several conditions, and in many cases, it has even been proven to eliminate shoulder pain altogether, thus making the need for harmful drugs or surgical intervention obsolete.

Can occupational therapy help with shoulder pain?

Yes, occupational therapy is beneficial for addressing shoulder pain, focusing on two primary goals: 1) alleviating pain and 2) improving function. Your occupational therapist will collaborate with you to ensure both objectives are met during your sessions. Occupational therapy has demonstrated effectiveness in managing pain associated with various conditions, and in many instances, it has successfully eliminated shoulder pain entirely. This can potentially eliminate the need for potentially harmful drugs or surgical interventions, highlighting the positive impact of occupational therapy in promoting shoulder health and well-being.

What are the causes of shoulder pain?

There are several underlying causes that could result in shoulder pain. For example, a sudden injury or trauma to the shoulders can cause them to become painful. Repetitive motions can also cause shoulder pain, as your muscles, joints, and tendons are working in overdrive. While there are multiple factors that could be causing your shoulder pain, some of the most common include sprains, strains, a torn cartilage, dislocation, frozen shoulder, tendinitis, and arthritis.

Your Next Steps…

  1. Request An Appointment

  2. Receive A Custom Treatment Plan

  3. Work Hard and Progress In Your Recovery

  4. Recover & Enjoy Life Pain-Free!

Your Health And Recovery Is Our Priority!