Shoulder pain is one of the most common disabling forms of pain that people experience every year. In mild cases of soreness, the shoulder can recover on its own with a little rest and time. However, if you have an injury or a chronic condition, such as tendinitis or arthritis, you should visit a health care professional for treatment.
There are a few different options for who to see about treating your shoulder pain. What will be best for you depends on the severity and cause of your shoulder pain. However, in many circumstances, people with shoulder pain can benefit from physical therapy.
How physical therapy helps for shoulder pain
Physical therapists are licensed health care professionals who are highly skilled in a wide range of treatments for conditions and injuries that affect your muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones and joints. In other words, they specialize in treating exactly the types of issues that cause shoulder pain.
Physical therapists approach treatment from a unique perspective with each patient. Your physical therapist will carefully examine your shoulder to identify the underlying cause of your pain. They’ll use what they learn from this examination and other details from your medical history to formulate a treatment routine.
Many physical therapy treatments for shoulder pain include techniques like:
- Exercising and stretching — Physical therapists can guide you through gentle exercises and stretches designed to target muscles that are crucial to your recovery. Improving the strength and flexibility of these muscles helps reduce pain and improve your range of motion.
- Manual therapy — Using manual techniques like soft tissue mobilization and joint mobilization, physical therapists can help reduce tension and pain and break up scar tissue that may be creating issues in your shoulder.
- Posture guidance — Poor posture can affect your shoulder, leading to long-lasting pain and other issues. Your physical therapist can help you address issues with the way your sleeping, sitting and standing posture affect your shoulder.
Visit SOL Physical Therapy today for shoulder pain treatment
Are you suffering from shoulder pain that keeps you from using your arm for daily activities? Our team at SOL Physical Therapy wants to help. We can examine your shoulder and guide you through a personalized treatment routine to help you manage your pain and other challenges. Contact our team today for more information about shoulder pain treatment or to schedule an appointment.
