Shoulder pain can be miserable and affect your daily activities and reduce your quality of life. Whether it’s a sharp twinge or a dull ache, understanding the root cause of your shoulder pain is crucial for effective treatment and long-term relief. Here we will look at some common causes of shoulder pain and how physiotherapy can help you.
1. Rotator Cuff Injuries
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint, providing stability and allowing for a wide range of motion. Injuries to the rotator cuff, such as tears, tendinopathies, tendinitis or strains, can cause pain, weakness, and limited mobility. They usually show up when getting dressed, opening doors or pouring water from the kettle onto your brew!
2. Frozen Shoulder
Also known as adhesive capsulitis, frozen shoulder is characterised by stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint. It often develops gradually and can be extremely painful, making it difficult to perform simple tasks like reaching overhead or behind your back.
3. Shoulder Impingement Syndrome
Shoulder impingement occurs when the tendons in the shoulder become irritated and inflamed as they pass through the narrow space between the bones in the shoulder joint. This can cause pain, swelling, and limited range of motion, particularly when lifting your arm or reaching overhead.
4. Arthritis
Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can affect the shoulder joint, causing pain, stiffness, and inflammation. These conditions can worsen over time and may require ongoing management to alleviate symptoms and maintain mobility.
5. Shoulder Dislocation or Instability
Shoulder dislocations or instability can result from traumatic injuries or repetitive strain, causing the shoulder joint to become unstable and prone to dislocation. This can lead to pain, weakness, and a sensation that the shoulder is slipping out of place.
What can you do to help shoulder pain?
- Protect it. If there’s something that’s aggravating the problem, avoid that task to allow it to settle down.
- Self-care. If you’re able to take ibuprofen or use topical anti-inflammatory cream/gel such as Voltarol, Ibulieve or arnica, then do so. And either heat or ice – NOT BOTH! If it’s a new injury then ice, if it’s older than 2 weeks then heat – 20 mins, twice a day.
- Stop guessing and get it looked at. A qualified physiotherapist will conduct a thorough assessment to identify the underlying cause of your shoulder pain and diagnose the problem and develop a personalised treatment plan to address your specific needs.
What can we do to help shoulder pain?
- Manual therapy, such as joint mobilisations and soft tissue massage, reduces pain, improves mobility, and restores normal function.
- Exercise rehabilitation addresses tight and weak muscles to help improve stability, reduce pain, and prevent future injuries.
- Acupuncture, Dry Needling, and Electrotherapy, can all help to settle pain and inflammation down so that you can get your teeth into rehab exercises.
- Kinesiology taping provides pain relief, support, and complements the treatments that we’ve done in clinic.
- In addition, we will provide you with valuable education and advice on posture, ergonomics, and lifestyle modifications to help you manage your shoulder pain more effectively and prevent reoccurrence.
Take the first step towards relief! If you’re experiencing shoulder pain that’s affecting your daily life, don’t wait any longer. Book a free consultation with our experienced physiotherapists. We’ll work closely with you to identify the root cause of your shoulder pain and develop a personalised treatment plan to help you get back to doing the things you love.
Call us today on 0116 2162333 or book your appointment online to get started on your journey to recovery. Don’t let shoulder pain hold you back any longer – we’re here to help!