Shoulder tightness or pain is a common issue. Shoulder pain can affect tendons, nerves, muscles, ligaments, or cartilage. Sometimes shoulder pain can be irritating and frustrating. It can also affect your active life and decrease your ability to complete routine work.
The shoulder is a main and essential part of the human body. It has the most range of motion of our entire joint.
Our shoulder joints are made up of 3 essential parts: scapula, clavicle, and humerus. These bones are held together by ligaments, tendons, and muscles.
Shoulders allow us to do our regular activities and work. Pain in the shoulder can ruin your day and mood. So a long-lasting solution for your shoulder pain is essential. Different things can help you to relieve discomfort in your shoulder. You can do some physical exercises and activities to reduce shoulder pain. If your pain is unmanageable, please consult with your local doctor.
Causes of shoulder pain
In many cases, shoulder pain occurs when the rotator cuff tendons become trapped under the bony part in the shoulder. It can occur due to damaged or inflamed tendons. This condition is known as bursitis or rotator cuff tendinitis. Various factors and conditions also can develop shoulder pain in your body, including:
- Impingement
- Osteoarthritis (disease-causing the breakdown of joints)
- Polymyalgia rheumatica
- Rheumatoid arthritis (inflammatory joint disease)
- Rotator cuff injury
- Dislocated shoulder
- Frozen shoulder
- Heart attack
- Separated shoulder
- Septic arthritis
- Sprains
- Tendinitis
- Avascular necrosis
- Brachial plexus injury
- Broken arm
- Bone spurs in the shoulder area
- Dislocation of the shoulder
- Broken shoulder bone
- Shoulder separation
- Frozen shoulder
- Tears of the rotator cuff tendons
- Overuse or injury of nearby tendons
- Poor shoulder mechanics and posture
- Broken collarbone
- Bursitis (joint inflammation)
- Cervical radiculopathy
- Tendon rupture
- Thoracic outlet syndrome
- Torn cartilage
Sometimes, shoulder pain may occur due to an issue in another part of your body, like the lungs or neck.
Symptoms of shoulder pain
You may experience various symptoms and signs depending on the cause of your shoulder pain, including:
- Decreased movement
- Pain when moving hand
- Shooting pain in the shoulder joint
- Redness and swelling around shoulder joint
- Burning pain
- Fever
- The sensation of pins and needles
- Weakness of upper arm
- Stiffness and pain in the shoulder
- Sudden pain without any movement
Visit a physical therapist to get relief from shoulder pain
If you are unable to move your shoulder, see a physical therapist or doctor. You should also seek medical help if:
- Your shoulder pain worsens or doesn’t improve after three weeks.
- You have shoulder pain with swelling, fever, or redness
- You have the blue or red color of the skin around the shoulder
- You are experiencing difficulty in moving your hand
If you have a fever, pain in both shoulders, or pain in both thighs, it can signify other conditions such as polymyalgia rheumatica. Your physical therapist or doctor can help you find the root cause of your shoulder pain through different tests. Many doctors suggest physical therapists deal with shoulder pain or injury.
Physical therapists are movement experts who can treat a wide range of physical disabilities, illnesses, and conditions through a wide range of therapy treatments.
Experienced and skilled physical therapists can help you to reduce or ease your shoulder pain from the root. Your PT can develop a personalized physical therapy plan to offer the best rehabilitation care and treat your condition effectively. Whether it is your shoulder injury or rotator cuff tears, your PT can treat your shoulder without any use of invasive surgical procedures or medication treatment. A physical therapist can help you to:
- Decrease the level of shoulder pain
- Prevent from injuries
- Improve the posture and function
- Improve the quality of life
- Improve mobility
- Work on balance
- Decrease stiffness and pain
- Find the root cause of your shoulder pain
- Improve the ability and movement
- Increase blood circulation
- Improve your posture
- Allow you to understand the actual health condition
- Rehab after surgery, injury, and accident
- Prevent your condition from getting worse
- Build dynamic strengthening of muscles
- Allows you to stay fit
- Offer an active life
- Improve the independence
- Enhance the range of motion
- Build strategies to avoid pain from recurring
- Improve the flexibility
