Shoulder Pain Relief

Shoulder Pain Relief Is Closer Than You Think

Physical Therapy Can Provide Long-Lasting Pain Relief

At least once in our lives, most of us will deal with shoulder pain. Shoulder pain can show up at the most inopportune times, such as when you’re reaching toward the top shelf in the store to grab an item, or when you’re struggling to find a comfortable position to sleep in without feeling a dull aching pain in your shoulder and neck.

It can also manifest itself as a result of an injury, leaving you feeling as if your shoulder is useless or immobile. There are several reasons why someone may experience shoulder pain; the severity of which can range from the temporary discomfort of a pulled muscle to the agonizing bone-on-bone friction of arthritis.

Whatever the case may be with your shoulder pain condition, know that Skillz Physical Therapy in Evanston, IL is dedicated to providing you with natural pain management modalities. Contact us to make an appointment with us today!

Where Did Your Shoulder Pain Come From?

The shoulder joint is complex, to say in the least! This presents many opportunities for pain-causing conditions. Some of the most common causes of shoulder pain include:

Impingement

Impingement can happen as a result of abnormal movement and tracking of the humeral head as you lift your arm up. Pain typically occurs when lifting your arm at or above 90 degrees.

Arthritis

Arthritis is very common unfortunately, and can affect anyone at any age. The two main forms of arthritis that affect the shoulder are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the immune system decides to attack the membranes surrounding the shoulder joint, resulting in pain and inflammation. Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage in the shoulder joint experiences significant “wear and tear,” typically due to age or excessive overuse. Both of these conditions can result in a painful loss of mobility, weakness to the shoulder muscles, and difficulty performing normal, daily tasks.

Frozen shoulder

This condition is also known as “adhesive capsulitis,” and is the result of your arm being in a case or sling for a while. It can also occur if you have been bedridden for a long time, unable to get up and move around. Women from the ages of 40 to 60 tend to experience this condition more than men, and some ethnicities are more predisposed to than others as well. Frozen shoulder results in a painful loss of motion in the shoulder with a tightening of the shoulder joint that severely limits motion.

Tendinitis

When the shoulder joint is overused excessively, tendinitis can occur. It’s typically due to the demands of a laborious job, overhead activity, or sport. Furthermore, poor posture can also be a major factor, because it alters the normal forces on the tendons, and causes a tendon injury. Poor posture causes tendons to experience painful inflammation, resulting in swelling and impingement when raising your arm.

Rotator cuff tear

The job of the rotator cuff is to correctly guide the movement of the shoulder joint. The rotator cuff is composed of 4 muscles, tendons, and soft tissue that surround the shoulder joint. If you receive an injury, have poor posture, or overuse your shoulder incorrectly, your rotator cuff can be partially or completely torn. Depending on the severity and situation, you may need surgery, but physical therapy at Skillz Physical Therapy can drastically help reduce pain, restore strength and range of motion to the rotator cuff to compensate for the partial tear.

How Does Shoulder Pain Happen?

Your shoulder is a very complex part of your body. It is capable of accomplishing many physical tasks, and also has the greatest range of all the joints you have!. It is a “ball-and-socket” joint, meaning the head of the upper arm bone, or “humerus,” fits perfectly in the corresponding space within the shoulder blade or “scapula.” The ends of the bone are protected by a thick layer of cartilage, protecting the bones from rubbing together.

Fluid-filled sacs called “bursae” also protect the tendons from rubbing against the bones. Tendons attach the bones in the shoulder to a set of bones, known as the rotator cuff. If something goes wrong with the intricacies that make up the mechanical interplay of the shoulder, pain can be a lasting result unless physical therapy treatment is sought out.

The type of pain you feel in your shoulder can vary, depending on what is causing it. Pain from impingement, for example, begins at a certain point in the range of motion as you lift your arm up in the air. 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 next to impossible to even move your shoulder. Thankfully, our skilled and attentive physical therapists at Skillz Physical Therapy in Evanston, IL know exactly how to treat this kind of pain and will have you back into your normal routine in no time.

Contact Our Office Today For More Information

Physical therapy is a natural, non-invasive, and comfortable way to find relief for shoulder pain, without the need for harmful drugs or invasive surgery. Our Evanston, IL physical therapists have treated a number of shoulder pain conditions, and we find that our patients experience improvement and relief after just a few short sessions with us.

Our physical therapists at Skillz Physical Therapy are trained movement experts when it comes to pinpointing the cause of your pain through a variety of diagnostic techniques. During your evaluation, your therapist will examine your stamina, strength, range of motion, coordination, your medical history, and joint mobility. Once he or she has established the cause of your shoulder pain, they can create a customized treatment full of different physical therapy methods to relieve or eliminate your pain. Don’t let your shoulder pain control your life! Our Evanston, IL physical therapy practice will get you the help you need to go back to your daily routine once again. Contact Skillz Physical Therapy today to request your appointment and get started on your path toward full shoulder pain-relief.