Healthy shoulders work with you to complete many of your day-to-day activities. Self-care, housework, lifting, reaching, driving—even giving a hug—all require shoulder mobility. When your shoulders start working against you, causing pain and limited or loss of function, everyday tasks can become daunting.
It’s a common misconception that physical therapy for shoulder pain is only needed after a surgery. Shoulder pain may occur at any stage of life for many reasons. Just as patients recovering from shoulder surgery can benefit from physical therapy, so can those with chronic shoulder pain due to injuries or health conditions. Whatever the cause, Professional’s physical therapists are dedicated to helping you find relief and improvement through physical therapy treatment. Don’t let your shoulder pain limit your life any longer!
Understanding Shoulder Anatomy & Function
You probably don’t think about your shoulders very often. Maybe not even at all, until they start to hurt. Whether you’re aware of it or not, your shoulder accomplishes many physical feats each day, which means it has many opportunities to lead to shoulder pain. To understand why pain happens, it helps to understand the anatomy. The shoulder is a complex “ball-and-socket” system made up of:
The bones: Your upper arm bone (humerus), shoulder blade (scapula), and collarbone (clavicle).
The joint: The head of your upper arm bone fits into the glenoid, a rounded socket in your shoulder blade.
Soft tissue: The bones are joined together by muscles, ligaments, and tendons (like the rotator cuff) that support and stabilize the shoulder.
All these moving parts, so to speak, make the shoulder the most mobile joint in your body with the greatest range of motion. Unfortunately, it is also the least stable joint. This means it is more susceptible to injuries, degeneration, and other conditions that can cause shoulder pain. Our physical therapists are specialists and experts in evaluating, treating, and managing patients with an array of shoulder pain problems.
Signs You Need Physical Therapy for Shoulder Pain
If you are experiencing shoulder pain, when can you benefit from physical therapy? The answer: Any time! You don’t need to wait until you can’t move your arm to seek help. The main goal of physical therapy is to improve your daily quality of life by providing care that helps decrease your pain and increase your strength and mobility. We recommend scheduling an evaluation if:
Your shoulder pain wakes you up at night or prevents you from sleeping on your injured side.
You have been experiencing pain for more than two weeks without improvement.
You struggle with basic movements, such as dressing, washing your hair, or reaching behind your back.
Your arm feels “heavy” or weak when lifting objects.
Professional’s physical therapists work with you to assess and address your specific needs to create a personalized treatment plan for your shoulder pain.
Diagnosing the Root Cause of Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain can show up in a variety of ways and it can be tricky to identify when it is time to seek medical attention. A good rule of thumb is to seek attention as soon as the pain is noticeable, especially if it starts to interfere with your everyday activities.
Figuring out the source of your shoulder pain is the first step to treating it. Tools that can be used to diagnose shoulder pain and refer you to PT include a clinical exam, MRI, X-Ray or Orthopedic Specialist.
Professional’s physical therapists will discuss your concerns with you, examine the physical limitations caused by your shoulder pain, and create a plan to address your pain.
Taking into consideration the extent of your shoulder pain and your medical history, physical therapy may be a very effective non-surgical means of treatment. If you suffer from issues like shoulder impingement, mild to moderate osteoarthritis, or small rotator cuff tears, physical therapy can help better your quality of life and, in some cases, it can delay or even prevent future surgical intervention.
A skilled physical therapist trained on shoulder pain and injury treatment and pain relief management can help prescribe the right treatment program for your shoulder pain.
Some of the shoulder pain treatment options used by Professional’s expert PTs include:
Rest, Physical Therapy, Medications, Surgery
Ultrasound, Electrical Stimulation
Education on posture and ergonomics
Activity/sport modification
Common Causes of Shoulder Pain
These are some of the most common injuries, diagnoses, and conditions affecting the shoulder. They are unique in both their causes, and the methods we use to help manage them.
Click on the conditions below to see detailed information about how physical therapists at Professional treat these frequent causes of shoulder pain:
Shoulder pain, AC joint sprain, shoulder bursitis, dislocation/subluxation
Tendonitis, cervical radiculopathy
Do you have pain in your shoulder?
Our physical therapists will customize a shoulder pain treatment plan just for you. We will work in an effective way to get you back on your feet, focused on your wellness before, during and after therapy.
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Insurances We Accept
Below is a condensed list of insurances we participate with throughout our network of physical therapy clinics. Find your particular provider below based on your area. For a complete listing of all insurance providers and individual plans by name: CLICK HERE FOR OUR FULL INSURANCE PAGE.
If your shoulder pain is caused by an injury, muscle activation, mobility, and strength-building exercises are essential to the recovery process. Our certified physical therapists can guide you through a treatment plan targeting the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in your shoulder that have weakened after a period of immobility.
When surgery, such as a shoulder replacement, cannot be avoided, research shows that physical therapy is a vital part of your road to recovery – both before and after your procedure.
Pre-Surgical Rehab: Before a shoulder surgery, physical therapy allows you to strengthen your muscles, educate yourself on what to expect post-surgery, and develop a home exercise routine to prepare for the journey ahead.
Post-Surgical Rehab: Post-surgery physical therapy may feel similar, with treatment targeted toward regaining strength, mobility, and flexibility to help you heal properly and recover most effectively.
our evidence-based shoulder treatment methods.
Shoulder Pain Treatment Techniques
No matter the cause of your shoulder pain, Professional’s physical therapists will work with you to create and facilitate a safe and effective treatment plan. Below are just a few of the skills and techniques we deploy to treat shoulder pain or rehabilitate you after a shoulder injury or surgery:
Therapeutic Exercise
Occupational Manual Physical Therapy
Soft Tissue Mobilization (Massage)
Job or sport simulation/training
Functional lifting
Plyometrics
Your Path to Long-Term Shoulder Wellness
When it comes to finding shoulder pain relief, we ensure that our treatment is comprehensive, manageable, and customized to fit your specific symptoms and concerns. We don’t just help you treat your shoulder pain one time and send you on your way. Our therapists make sure to completely educate you on the how and why of your shoulder pain and put you on a path to ongoing wellness and prevention of more serious conditions.
Your physical therapist will create a personalized continuing wellness and prevention plan that includes ongoing shoulder pain relief methods such as:
Maintenance of HEP/continue conditioning program independently
Regular communication with your provider (PT)
Customized home exercise program or gym program
Postural awareness, symptom recognition, and continued pain management
At Professional Physical Therapy, our mission is to improve the lives of every client as we help them get back to what moves them. We promise to remain committed to every patient. If you are suffering from shoulder pain, we want to help. Find the clinic nearest you to speak with a Professional Physical Therapist who specializes in shoulder pain today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Shoulder Pain
How do I tell if my shoulder pain is a muscle strain or a torn rotator cuff?
While only a professional exam can confirm a diagnosis, a muscle strain usually feels like a dull ache or stiffness. A rotator cuff tear often causes specific weakness when lifting the arm across the body or sharp pain deep in the shoulder, especially at night.
Do I need a prescription to start shoulder physical therapy?
In many cases, no. Through Direct Access, you can see a physical therapist directly without a doctor’s referral. This allows you to start treatment sooner, saving you time and potentially preventing the need for expensive imaging or medication.
What happens during my first visit?
Your physical therapist will perform a comprehensive evaluation to determine the cause of your shoulder pain by assessing your range of motion, strength, and posture. Based on this exam, the physical therapist will prescribe a personalized plan to help you achieve your recovery goals.
We provide treatments for shoulder pain and shoulder injuries from our clinics throughout New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. Fill out the form above, or contact a clinic near you to speak with a Professional Physical Therapist and shoulder pain specialist today.
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