How to Manage Shoulder Pain with Physiotherapy

Most people experience shoulder discomfort at some point in their lives; it affects between 80 and 90 percent of all men and women.

Fortunately, shoulder pain isn’t something that suddenly appears out of nowhere; its causes are typically widely known and often relate to pinched nerves, overused muscles, or an abnormality of the bones in your shoulder joint.

Pain in the shoulder can be relieved in many ways. 

Physiotherapy is one of the most common and natural methods to treat shoulder pain, but not everybody understands how it works or what they need to do to begin. 

Our goal in this article is to provide you with a better understanding of what physiotherapy is and how effectively it can help you with your shoulder pain.

What is Physiotherapy?

Physiotherapy uses a holistic approach that focuses on the treatment and recovery of musculoskeletal conditions. Musculoskeletal conditions are mainly caused by tissue damage, swelling, or both.

Physiotherapy works by re-educating your nerve system, muscles, and connective tissues to alleviate discomfort and improve motion.

Once your nerve system and muscles get the message that discomfort is no longer an element, they can communicate more effectively and move with less disturbance from the brain.

Physiotherapy can likewise help ease discomfort triggered by conditions like low back stress, neck stress, shoulder stress, and other conditions that affect the musculoskeletal system.

How Does Physiotherapy Work?

Physiotherapy is a very personalized treatment approach that uses adjustment, muscle energy methods, and movement re-education to treat conditions like low back pain, neck pain, and shoulder discomfort.

The physical therapist will work with you one-on-one to evaluate your discomfort, range of motion, flexibility, and other signs and symptoms. They may then use a mix of manual therapy, electrotherapy, exercise and other treatments to help relieve your discomfort and restore movement. 

While there is not just one way to eliminate shoulder pain with physiotherapy, you’ll more than likely see a physiotherapist near you with proficiency in the treatment of conditions that impact the musculoskeletal system.

Physiotherapy Treatments For Shoulder Injury

Physiotherapy treatments for your shoulder pain will depend on the condition you’re experiencing and what is causing your signs and symptoms. Treatments might involve:

Manual therapy – Manual treatments involve the physiotherapist manually re-aligning your muscles and ligaments, removing knots, and restoring them to their correct positions so that they’re not under undue stress or tension.

Strengthening exercises – These exercises focus on strengthening the specific muscles that are impacted by shoulder pain. Strength can be built up by direct contact with the resistance, by using weights, resistance bands, or by using your own body weight. Exercises that reinforce your agonist muscles, which trigger your discomfort, decrease pain, and increase strength.

Stretching exercises – Stretching is essential to prevent injury and improve mobility. Stretching routines can be done actively or passively. Progressing your workouts should be done routinely to improve your range of motion and avoid injury.

Active Rest – Active Rest is a type of pain management that concentrates on decreasing discomfort and increasing the range of movement by increasing mobility through physiotherapy exercises. Active Rest allows you to take part in daily activities while you’re experiencing shoulder discomfort. 

When Should You Book a Physio Session?

The majority of people can begin physiotherapy treatments on their own without the need to see a doctor; if you need to see a therapist for a shoulder injury, you should contact your nearby physiotherapist for a visit.

What Are The Common Conditions And Causes That Can Result In Shoulder Pain?

• Poor posture
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Joint mobility issues
• Nerve pain
• Acute injury
• Sports injuries
• Frozen shoulder
• Abnormal movement causing shoulder impingement
• Damaged tissue
• Weak neck muscles
• Soft tissue injuries
• Core weakness
• Muscle tension
• Overuse injuries
• Tendonitis due to excessive overuse of tendons
• Motor vehicle injuries
• Rotator cuff injuries

How Often Should You Have Physiotherapy?

The frequency of your physiotherapy sessions depends on the seriousness of your signs and symptoms, the length of time you’ve been experiencing them, and how impacted your daily activities are. Your physiotherapist will work with you to create a personalized treatment plan that works best for your symptoms and your schedule. You may have as many as 3 sessions weekly, and will likely need 4-5 weeks.

Tips on Relieving Shoulder Discomfort After Physiotherapy is Over

Following the recommendations and stretches prescribed by your physiotherapist is important for maximizing their efficiency. You should also follow these simple suggestions for pain relief after physiotherapy is over:

Rest – be sure to relax when you’re experiencing discomfort or pain after your treatment. If you need to lift or pull something, ask a buddy to help out. Do not rush or press through your symptoms. They will only get worse if you do.

Heat – to increase blood flow and promote healing

Activity – While avoiding painful activities is necessary  you must stay away from totally resting your shoulder. Resting your shoulder completely will just enable the muscles to re-tighten, leading to discomfort and swelling.

Try a New, Low-Intensity Workout – If an exercise isn’t working for you or is triggering pain, have a go at a fresh one. If you’ve been doing a workout that triggers discomfort, try a distinct variation. You can always alter the workout after you’ve done it for a couple of weeks.

Do Not Overdo It – Working out too regularly or too forcefully can wear out your body and cause injury. Therefore, it’s always advisable to listen to your body and stay clear of pushing yourself too hard. If you’re experiencing pain, keep away from it. 

Last Thoughts

Physiotherapy is a highly effective treatment that uses a variety of services such as manual therapy techniques, joint mobilizations, muscle energy therapeutic exercises, and movement re-education to help with medical conditions like low back pain, neck pain, and shoulder pain. 

Physiotherapy treatments depend upon the severity of your symptoms, the length of time you’ve been experiencing them, and how much impact your pain is having on your life.   At Maximum by Body ‘n Balance Physio, our experienced physiotherapists will guide you through each step when treating your condition and advise you on anything that would aggravate your signs and symptoms. Proudly serving Collingwood and surrounding areas.

Contact us today and we can begin easing your shoulder pain!