Common symptoms of shoulder pain

The shoulder is a mobile and flexible joint that is capable of lifting large loads. Pain and injury in the shoulder can be the result of several different conditions, including impingement syndromes, rotator cuff injury, shoulder instability or dislocation, frozen shoulder, or general wear and tear from sports or overuse.

Some common shoulder pain and injuries:

• Frozen Shoulder: A painful shoulder condition that reduces normal movement in the joint and can sometimes prevent movement.
• Rotator Cuff Disorders: Damage on a group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint.
• Shoulder Instability: The shoulder is unstable and has an unusually large range of movement.
• Impingement: a collision of the structures in the shoulder, causing damage to the tendons from repeated movement.

What causes shoulder pain/injury?

The most common cause of shoulder pain and neck pain is injury to the soft tissues including the muscles, tendons, and ligaments within these structures. Shoulder injuries are often the result of over-head throwing/swinging sports and activities, repetitive or awkward lifting, or wear and tear.

How can physiotherapy and rehabilitation help to relieve shoulder pain/injury?

A shoulder with impingement pain needs a full and careful correction of rotator cuff muscle balance to prevent compression in the sub-acromial space. Treatment of the shoulder complex requires an experienced physiotherapist who can test the movements and structures of the shoulder and come to an accurate diagnosis of the problem. At Profusion Rehab, our physiotherapist will work with you using ice packs and ultrasound treatment to reduce inflammation and relieve pain, as well as providing education on activity modification to avoid aggravating the symptoms any further.