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Neck Pain & Shoulder Pain

The shoulder has a broad and adaptable range of motion. When your shoulder fails, it restricts your ability to move freely and can cause substantial pain and discomfort. The shoulder is a ball and socket joint made up of three major bones: the humerus, clavicle, and scapula.

A layer of cartilage cushions these bones. The acromioclavicular joint is located between the scapula and clavicle. The shoulder is the body’s most movable joint. It causes the shoulder to move forward and backward. It also enables the arm to move in a circular pattern.

Shoulder Pain - Symptoms and Causes

Several variables and conditions can cause shoulder pain. The rotator cuff is the most common culprit. Swollen tendons characterize this. Another common reason is impingement syndrome, which occurs when the rotator cuff becomes stuck between the acromion and the humeral head.

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Shoulder pain is frequently caused by an injury to another part of the body, most commonly the neck or biceps. This is referred to as pain. When you move your shoulder, your referred pain usually does not worsen.

Other causes of shoulder pain include: 

  • Spinal cord injury
  • Dislocated shoulder 
  • Frozen shoulder 
  • A pinched nerve in the neck or shoulder
  • Torn rotator cuff
  • Arthritis 
  • Torn cartilage 

Shoulder Pain Conditions and Treatments

If you have a fever, cannot move your shoulder, have bruises, heat, and discomfort around the joint, or have pain that persists after a few weeks of home treatment, you should seek medical attention. If your shoulder pain is sudden and unrelated to an incident, you should see your doctor immediately since it could be a heart attack. Other symptoms of a heart attack are:

  • Trouble breathing 
  • Chest tightness 
  • Dizziness
  • Excessive sweating 
  • Pain in the neck or jaw 

The origin and severity of the shoulder discomfort will determine the course of treatment. Physical or occupational therapy, as well as surgery, are other therapeutic possibilities. Your doctor may also prescribe medication.

Physical Therapy Benefits for Shoulder Pain

Depending on the extent of your shoulder pain and your unique medical history, physical therapy may be a very effective non-surgical treatment. For issues like shoulder impingement, small rotator cuff tears, and mild to moderate osteoarthritis, studies have shown that physical therapy can improve your quality of life and, in some cases, prevent surgical intervention.

However, if you and your doctor decide that surgery is the best option for you, physical therapy can still be an essential part of your road to recovery after surgery.  

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If you suffer from painful shoulders due to overuse or traumatic injury, your doctor may include physical therapy in your treatment plan. It is a common misconception that physical therapy is only needed after surgery. 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. 

Studies show physical therapy can effectively treat shoulder conditions that cause pain. Such as rotator cuff injuries, shoulder arthritis, and shoulder impingements. It can even help delta or eliminate the need for shoulder surgery.

Common shoulder injuries and problems

The following are some of the most frequent shoulder ailments and injuries that can be treated with physical therapy:

  • Rotator cuff tendonitis- Rotator cuff problems are some of the most common and painful people experience. The rotator cuff supports and moves the shoulder, and its primary role is to hold the ball of the arm bone in the socket when it moves. When this muscle group sustains an injury, it can be detrimental to a person’s range of motion and quality of life. 
  • Shoulder bursitis- The bursa is the fluid-filled sac that allows the body’s various components to work smoothly with one another. When the bursa between the humerus bone and the shoulder blade becomes pinched, it can be pretty painful. 
  • Frozen shoulder- Also referred to as adhesive capsulitis, occurs when the shoulder gradually loses motion. In some instances, the patient will not have movement in the shoulder for upwards of 18 months. 
  • Shoulder fracture- This is one of the most painful and traumatic injuries a person can sustain to their shoulder. One of the most common accidents resulting from this injury is when someone falls on an outstretched arm. 

Physical Therapy for Shoulder Pain in Cincinnati

Baker Chiropractic focuses on non-surgical neck pain relief and recovery therapies. We take pleasure in providing the best physical treatment possible and going above and beyond for our patients. Our highly skilled physical therapist will collaborate with you to improve your function and alleviate your pain.

We begin by evaluating the entire body. The source of pain or injury frequently extends beyond the body part or muscle in question. We would be doing you a disservice if we did not take a comprehensive look at your entire self to assist you in healing and preventing future limits effectively.

We then move on to fixing your areas of limitation. Not all diagnoses are created equal. One person with neck pain may have completely different restrictions than the next. Your recovery program needs to be specific to what your body needs and not just the typical exercise program you can find online. 

Just because your pain decreases or you can walk longer doesn’t mean it is enough to get you functioning at the level you want. While this often signifies the end of care at your typical physical therapy clinic, we don’t stop guiding you until we help you successfully meet every goal you set for yourself with us on day one. Contact us today to schedule your appointment.