The shoulder is considered to be one of the most complex joints within our body that has compromised on stability in favour of mobility, thus making it an area which is commonly injured.
Shoulder pain strikes people of all ages and ranges from minor tendon problems to complex injuries involving fractures and dislocations. The bottom line factor is that one must understand that our body is a mechanical structure that needs to be supported and that the support available within the shoulder complex comes from bones, ligaments, tendons and muscles. When one of these structures fails, pain will result.
Attending to shoulder pain when it kicks in is very important to avoid the problem from getting worse. A simple tendon or ligament strain may start off with mild pain which comes and goes. However, if unseen to over a prolonged period of time, it may intensify and make the problem worse and more difficult to treat. Early onset examination and treatment will help identify the actual structure at fault and deal with the pain.
Tendinitis, frozen shoulder, capsulitis, shoulder dislocation, shoulder arthritis, bursitis and rotator cuff injuries are but a few of the common terms one may encounter when they are told they are suffering from shoulder pain.
People who suffer from shoulder pain are often told that they have an inflammation. Inflammation, the body’s natural response to injury, causes pain and is the reason why many people are started on anti-inflammatory medication.
Relieving the pain does not imply that the damage has been healed. It is in this fresh, painful, inflammatory stage that physiotherapy can really help with the healing of the damaged structure as well as reduce pain through the use of ice, acupuncture, electrotherapy or ultrasound, thus avoiding injuries from getting worse, at which stage it would be much harder to solve the problem.
Attending to shoulder pain when it kicks in is very important to avoid the problem from getting worse
Initial contact by a physiotherapist can help deal with shoulder injuries through detailed examination to identify the underlying shoulder structure causing the pain. One must also keep in mind that shoulder pain may originate from other areas of the body such as the neck, chest or abdomen.
If the source of pain is identified to be coming from the shoulder, treatment could commence immediately. Early recourse to a physiotherapist can decrease or even avoid the need of medication and other invasive procedures, as well as correct postural issues which may be causing shoulder pain.
Exercise therapy forms an integral part of any shoulder treatment/rehabilitation programme.
A good exercise programme tailored for the individual aims at achieving the ideal muscle and postural balance with the ultimate goal of avoiding recurrent injuries.
pacejosef@gmail.com
Josef Pace is a physiotherapist.