Shoulder Pain in Concord, MO. If you live with shoulder pain, you know how debilitating it can be. It can make everything from pouring a cup of coffee to playing volleyball painful and, sometimes, unfeasible. But you do not need to live the rest of your life with pain and limited shoulder movement. At Axes Physical Therapy in Concord, MO, our professional physical therapists are experts at creating personalized treatment modalities, proven to work through research, to get you back to striking out opponents, or just combing your hair pain-free. Trust in us to safely and effectively treat your shoulder pain. Request an appointment online or reach out to the location nearest you.

The Human Shoulder | Shoulder Pain in Concord, MO

The shoulder is among the largest and most intricate joints we have. In reality, what we call the shoulder joint is made up of four different joints:

1. The glenohumeral (GH) joint is a ball and socket joint responsible for connecting the upper extremity to the trunk. Given the relatively shallow dish, it has the widest range of motion as any other human joint.
2. The acromioclavicular (AC) joint is formed by the junction of the collarbone the acromion, the part of the shoulder blade that is the highest part of the shoulder. A gliding joint, it allows your shoulder blade to follow the movements of the other shoulder joints.
3. The sternoclavicular (SC) joint is a plane-style synovial joint located where the clavicle meets the sternum at the base of the neck. This joint is where the arm and body meet, it it ensures your arm and body move in tandem.
4. The scapulothoracic (ST) “joint” is more of a “floating” joint as it does not have typical joint characteristics. It attaches and allows movement between the shoulder blade and the part of rib cage at the back of our bodies.

The shoulder is supported and surrounded by:

• the four muscles of the rotator cup covering the head of the upper arm bone, which power movement and stabilize and protect the GH joint
• the shoulder capsule, a a fluid-filled sac that surrounds and lubricates the joints in the shoulder
• the ligaments of the shoulder which attach bones together and provide stability for the capsule
• the biceps tendon and rotator cuff tendons which affix muscle to bone
• the brachial plexus nerves that allow for the brain and muscles to communicate with each other
• the blood vessels that supply nutrient-rich blood to the shoulder

Proper shoulder strength, flexibility, and movement depends on every part of the system being healthy and working together. Sufficient blood must reach to the shoulder efficiently to maintain healthy soft tissue and stimulate the body’s natural healing processes. The muscles strong enough to move and flexible enough to safely make those movements, the tendons attaching bone and muscle must be strong, flexible, and free of rips or tears, the ligaments that attach our bones need to help support proper structure, and messages most be able to be sent and received between the brain and shoulder. When any one of the parts of the shoulder is damaged, inflamed, or otherwise irritated, it can lead to a disruption of the whole complex, and anywhere from nagging to debilitating shoulder pain or loss of function. If if shoulder pain or poor shoulder movement is part of your daily life, contact Axes’ physical therapists for a no-risk, no-obligation injury screening.

What Causes Shoulder Pain?

As the shoulder has so many moving parts, shoulder pain can have any of a number of root causes, from sports injuries to being struck by an object, a work injury from repeated activities to old age. Below are the most common underlying conditions that lead to shoulder pain in Concord, MO:

• Bursitis — The bursae are small, fluid-filled sacs that cushion bones, tendons, and muscles in and around your joints. Bursitis the result of the bursae becoming swollen after overuse, often occurs at the same time as rotator cuff tendinitis, and can make daily tasks like carrying groceries tremendously painful.
• Tendinitis — Tendinitis is typically caused by a tendon becoming irritated. There are two causes of tendinitis:
  • Acute: The result of a sudden blow, excessive throwing, or other overhead activities common in some sports and occupations, such as volleyball or lifting and lowering objects.
  • Chronic: This can happen because of degenerative conditions or the body becoming weaker as we age.

  Symptoms include aching, tenderness, and mild swelling.

• Rotator Cuff Tear — These can also be acute, such lifting an incredibly heavy object, or more chronic in nature. They usually start with fraying and then tear. People often live with partial thickness tears obliviously. Full-thickness tears, which go all the way through the tendon, often require surgery. Symptoms include pain with specific motions, pain when sleeping, and a popping feeling with certain movements.
• Shoulder Impingement — Impingement is the result of the rotator cuff and bursae rubbing against your shoulder blade. It often occurs in combination with an injury that causes inflammation in the rotator cuff. Shoulder impingement occurs the most in people who play sports or are otherwise active.
• Shoulder Instability — This happens when the humerus is allowed to move out of the socket when the capsule or ligaments become damaged, and also can be the result of injury or overuse. Dislocations can be repeated and partial or the entire bone coming out of the socket. It often happens in combination with injury to the supporting soft tissue of the shoulder. Long-term instability will cause shoulder pain and unsteadiness when performing certain motions.
• Arthritis — While arthritis refers to a range of diagnoses, osteoarthritis is the form that typically affects the shoulder. Osteoarthritis is the degeneration of joint cartilage and the underlying bones. It can be the result of old age, repeated injuries, and wear and tear. Arthritis cannot be cured, but effective pain management can be found with Concord, MO physical and occupational therapists.
• Shoulder Fractures — The humerus, clavicle, and scapula are the bones in the shoulder most vulnerable to breaking. They usually happen as the result of falling a significant distance or onto a hard surface or high-energy collisions such as a car accident. The shoulder pain is immediate and obvious, and the shoulder will experience considerable inflammation and bruising.
• Axillary Nerve Injuries or Brachial Plexus Injuries — Nerve damage in the shoulder can occur when nerves are stretched, when scar tissue blocks signals between the brain and shoulder, or the nerves are otherwise damaged. These injuries can cause shoulder pain, stingers, tingling, and loss of sensation in your shoulder, arm, or hand. They are usually the result of high-impact trauma but can also occur because of overuse.

Sometimes, injuries are connected, such as instability that leads to impingement. If you’re experiencing shoulder pain, one of our no-risk, free injury screenings in Concord, MO may help you discover why you’re experiencing the pain. To diagnose shoulder pain a physician in Concord, MO may use a physical examination, an X-Ray, an MRI, a CT scan, arthrogram, and/or arthroscopy. Most people who experience shoulder pain can experience recovery with a personalized treatment plan with licensed physical therapists that specialize in movement health in Concord, MO can be a great way to return to the things you love to do the most.

How Do Concord, MO Physical Therapists Treat Shoulder Pain?

Your tailored and evidence-backed physical therapy treatments may include:

• Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization to detect and treat any problems with your muscles, ligaments, or tendons
• Pre- and post-surgical rehabilitation, based on a plan with come up with alongside your surgeon, if you need surgery to relieve your shoulder pain
• Kinesio Taping® to provide support for your shoulder and allow you to participate in physical activity or work while you are still recovering
• Blood flow restriction training to offer your shoulder a low-intensity exercise with high-intensity benefits
• Trigger point dry needling to attack harder-to-reach damaged muscles, ligaments, and tendons to stimulate blood flow
• Posture correction to ensure you do not contribute to your injuries or heal improperly
• Injury prevention so you do not lose your active lifestyle in the future
• Other safe, effective techniques to optimize your mobility

Missouri Revised Statute §334.506 states that you need a prescription for physical therapy, so it’s important to speak to your Concord, MO primary care physician to see if physical therapy is safe and an effective treatment option for your shoulder pain. Our professional physical and occupational therapists form a team with your primary care physician to ensure you are getting the care that is safe for your condition.

Other services we offer in Concord, MO include:

• Physical Therapy Clinic
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment
• Sciatica Treatment
• Sports Medicine
• Hand Pain Physical Therapy
• Foot & Ankle Pain Treatment
• Hip Pain Treatment
• Plantar Fasciitis Treatment
• Stroke Rehabilitation
• Hip Replacement Physical Therapy

Concord, MO Shoulder Pain | Axes Physical Therapy

Optimal movement health is essential to not only carrying out daily tasks with ease, but to doing the things we love. At Axes, we focus on patient results for Concord, MO residents by implementing evidence-backed treatment plans based on your injury, pain level, age, and how physically active you need to be. Do not wait to get back to the things you love doing most and a pain-free life. Make an appointment through our website or find our location most convenient for you.