physiotherapy for shoulder pain orillia

Are you experiencing shoulder pain? You’re not alone. It is a prevalent problem that affects millions of people every year. Dealing with shoulder pain can be frustrating and debilitating, but the good news is that there are simple, effective solutions to help you overcome it. In this post, we’ll show you how physiotherapy can be a beneficial course of action to get you back to feeling your best.

Common Causes of Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain can be attributed to various causes, such as:

  • Rotator cuff tear 
  • Rotator cuff tendinopathy
  • Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder)
  • Glenohumeral anterior instability
  • Arthritis in the shoulder joint
  • Bursitis (inflammation of a fluid-filled sac in the shoulder)
  • Shoulder dislocations
  • Superior labral anterior-posterior (SLAP) lesions
  • Calcific tendinitis

It is important to note that a diagnosis alone may not always explain the pain that you may be experiencing. It’s not uncommon for people to have rotator cuff tears or arthritis in their shoulders without any pain at all. Therefore, while your symptoms may be related to a specific condition, it’s possible that they may not be. It is crucial to understand that the origin or structure of the pain itself is often less important than the reason for the onset of that particular diagnosis or condition. Physiotherapists have a deep understanding of these causes and how to treat them effectively.

Treating the underlying causes of the problem can be more beneficial towards resolving your shoulder pain in both the short and long term than just having a diagnosis itself. It’s important to seek professional help from a physiotherapist who can conduct a thorough physical examination, review your medical history, and develop a personalized treatment plan to address your specific needs. 

There are many possible causes and risk factors for developing either of these conditions to result in shoulder pain. Some of the most common reasons and risk factors for shoulder pain may include: 

  • Overhead activities and people who do overhead work: Tennis players, Baseball pitchers, Painters, Carpenters, and Plumbers
  • Incorrect training loads (especially baseball pitchers or other throwing sports)
  • Insufficient strength, motor control or general conditioning of the shoulder muscles
  • Repetitive daily actions cause repetitive stress on the same structures 
  • Diabetes
  • Thyroid conditions
  • > 40 years old
  • Smoking
  • Genetics
  • High cholesterol
  • History of previous trauma like previous shoulder dislocations
  • Traumatic injury 

By addressing the root cause of your shoulder pain, you can prevent future injuries and live a pain-free life.

Symptoms of Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain can make the simplest of daily activities become monumental tasks in our lives. Things like brushing your hair, putting your bra on, getting dressed or undressed, reaching behind your back to tuck in your shirt, brushing your teeth, putting plates away in the upper cupboard or even slimy lying on your side to go to sleep can all become painful and difficult.

Shoulder pain can have a variety of symptoms that can differ based on the underlying cause. These symptoms commonly include stiffness, weakness (heaviness of your arm), swelling, limited range of motion, and pain or tenderness. 

Don’t worry you are not alone, shoulder disorders are a common problem causing pain and functional loss for many people.

How Can I Tell if My Shoulder Pain Is Serious?

Your shoulder pain should be considered serious if:

  • Your shoulder joint looks deformed
  • Pain is preventing you from performing functional movements 
  • The pain is intense
  • The pain persists longer than 48 hours after an unaccustomed activity
  • If there is sudden redness, bruising or swelling around the shoulder or upper arm
  • Your arm or hand is weak or feels heavy
  • You experience numbness or pins & needles in your arm or hand
  • The pain wakes you up at night time and prevents a good night’s sleep

In any of the above scenarios, you should seek medical advice and go to see either your family doctor, local physiotherapist or chiropractor. 

In most cases, physiotherapy is the most effective treatment option for shoulder injuries. Treatment will often include exercises designed to strengthen the muscles surrounding the shoulder joint, as well as manual therapy techniques and other modalities depending on the individual and the injury. 

Exercise is the cornerstone of conservative management for all shoulder problems with the main goal of reducing pain and improving shoulder function. Thus exercise is the primary and preferred treatment of choice. If you want to stop your shoulder from hurting, you should consider starting a shoulder exercise program. 

To decrease the risk of hurting your shoulder further by attempting an exercise program unsupervised, seek the advice of your local physiotherapists for a customized program.  In addition to providing treatment, your physiotherapist can also provide valuable advice on how to prevent future injuries. 

This may include ergonomic assessments of your workplace or daily activities, as well as tips on how to maintain proper posture and form during exercise and other physical activities. By working with a physiotherapist, you can improve your shoulder mobility, reduce pain and inflammation, and ultimately get back to your daily activities with confidence.

Final Thoughts

Booking an appointment at Miller Health is the first step towards a healthier, happier you. Not only will you have access to an expert team of health professionals, but you’ll also receive effective care, thorough education on your injury, and quick results. What are you waiting for? Don’t wait any longer to start seeing the results you deserve. Book your appointment with Mike now.

About the Author

Michael Gwilliams is a physiotherapy resident with a Masters in exercise science and sports physiotherapy. Michael has been working in private practice since 2008. During this time he also worked with professional cricket players for 9 years where his special interest in treating shoulder conditions started. 

His experience exposed him to treating a wide variety of different shoulder conditions from acute and overuse injuries in elite athletes to many various post-operative conditions of the general population. If you’re looking for a highly skilled and passionate physiotherapist to help you with your shoulder pain, look no further than Mike. With his experience and qualifications, he’s the perfect choice for anyone seeking expert care and support.

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