SHOULDER PAIN
Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain results from many factors including overuse, poor posture, scapular weakness, altered shoulder mechanics, and capsular hypo- and hypermobility. It is an incredibly widespread complaint, which can be characterized by pain localized in the shoulder or deferred to other areas of the arm. Whether you have a mild injury such as a muscle strain or shoulder impingement, or if you have a more serious pathology such as a labral or rotator cuff tear, physical therapy can help rehabilitate you to your previous level of activity.
TREATMENTS:
At PT Solutions, we use manual therapy (joint and soft mobilization, trigger point release, dry needling, etc.) to regain full glenohumeral range of motion and spinal mobility necessary for proper shoulder mechanics. A specific strengthening program is used to re-establish dynamic rotator cuff stability and fully restore strength and local muscular endurance in the rotator cuff and scapular stabilizers. Achieving full mobility and strength will allow us to successfully implement sport specific drills and functional activities to allow a return to sport and activity.
We include education on activity modification and proper posture for during work, sleep, and even your morning commute. These small adjustments can make a world of difference for people suffering from adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) and other chronic and pain conditions.
We have many return to sport progression for varying competition levels. One of the more common progressions we use is return to throw for overhead athletes who may suffer from little league shoulder, rotator cuff tendinopathy, AC joint sprain, or other shoulder pathology. Our therapists use the most up-to-date research to devise a throwing program in conjunction with an appropriate strengthening program to ensure timely return to sport while minimizing risk for future injury.
Manual therapy
Manual therapy is used to decrease pain and improve the mobility of patients experiencing pain. This approach uses a combination of thoracic and cervical joint manipulation/mobilization, which play a large role in the function of the shoulder. Localized techniques targeted at the shoulder joints and soft tissue are used as well to help patients reduce pain restore their functional movement.
Therapeutic exercise programs
Therapeutic exercise programs are developed and tailored to the patient’s specific diagnosis. These long-term programs are designed to address pain and limitations and to increase the likelihood of future injury prevention. Therapeutic exercise will focus on strength control of the arm, scapula, and spine to reduce pain and irritability while improving function.
Dry Needling
PT Solutions utilizes a variety of evidence-based techniques to alleviate pain and eliminate dysfunction necessary for functional movement and activity. One of these techniques is dry needling (where allowed by state law). Dry needling uses a thin filoform needle for stimulating myofascial trigger points and homeostatic points. It can be used in combination with exercise and manual therapy to treat many conditions causing pain and dysfunction.
EVIDENCE:
Manual therapy (including manipulation) can be used to reduce pain and tone in muscles, improve muscle activation, and restore proper motion in joints. A rehabilitation program, combined with sport-specific drills and functional activities can quicken the time to return to sport and activity. Dry needling has been shown to be an effective adjunct therapy that can reduce pain and subjective impairment scores. Following a specific exercise program developed by a physical therapist has been shown to prevent the need for surgery to correct the shoulder dysfunction.
