Shoulder Pain in Cottleville, MO. If you live with shoulder pain, you know the limitations it can place on your life. It makes everything from pouring a cup of coffee to making a breakaway layup frustrating and, in some cases, unfeasible. But you do not need to live the rest of your life with pain and limited shoulder movement. At Axes PT in Cottleville, MO, our licensed physical therapists specialize in tailored treatment plans, backed by proven research, to get you back to the activities you love most. Allow us to turn your shoulder pain from a daily occurrence into a thing of the past. Request an appointment through our website or find our location most convenient for you.

The Anatomy of the Shoulder | Shoulder Pain in Cottleville, MO

The shoulder is one of the the largest and most complex joints we have. In reality, it is a multiplex of four joints:

1. The glenohumeral (GH) joint is a ball and socket joint where the humerus (upper arm bone) fits into the socket of the glenoid. Given the relatively shallow socket, 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 bony tip on the outer edge of the scapula. A plane joint, it allows you to outstretch your arm.
3. The sternoclavicular (SC) joint is a gliding joint formed by the clavicle the breastbone at the base of the neck. This joint is where the arm and body meet, it it ensures your arm and body act in tandem.
4. The scapulothoracic (ST) “joint” is not a true anatomical joint as it does not have ligaments connecting it to bone. 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 that surround the head of the upper arm bone, which are responsible for movement and keep the head of the upper arm bone firmly within the shallow socket of the shoulder
• the shoulder capsule, a a fluid-filled sac that surrounds and lubricates the shoulder
• the four shoulder ligaments which provide passive stability while still allowing for movements in different planes
• the tendons in the biceps and shoulder which allow muscles to power the bones
• the brachial plexus nerves that send motor messages from the brain to muscles and sensory information (like pain) from the joints back to the brain
• the blood vessels that pump nutrient-rich blood to the shoulder

In order for the shoulder to function properly every joint, ligament, tendon, muscle, artery, capsule, and nerve must function well. Blood must flow freely to the shoulder maintain healthy soft tissue and stimulate the body’s natural recovery processes. The muscles must have adequate strength and flexibility, the tendons attaching bone and muscle must be intact and strong, the ligaments that attach our bones need to help maintain structure, and the nerves need to have a strong and secure connection to the brain. When any of these parts are not at optimal health, it can lead to a breakdown of the whole complex, and anywhere from nagging to severe 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 complimentary injury screening.

What Causes Shoulder Pain?

As the shoulder is complex, shoulder pain can have many root causes, from sports injuries to a car accident, a work injury from repeated activities to our bodies just getting weaker as we get older. Below are common causes of shoulder pain that our team see in Cottleville, MO:

• Bursitis — The bursae are small, fluid-filled sacs that cushion bones, tendons, and muscles in and around your shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, and other joints. Bursitis occurs when the bursae because swollen after overuse, often occurs in association with rotator cuff tendinitis, and can make basic activities like carrying groceries incredibly painful.
• Tendinitis — Tendinitis generally occurs because of a tendon becoming irritated. It typically falls into one of two categories:
  • Acute: This can happen because of a sudden blow, repeated throwing, or other overhead activities common in some sports and fields of employment, such as throwing overhead or moving objects overhead.
  • Chronic: This can happen because of wear and tear or the body becoming weaker as we get older.

  The condition causes pain and tenderness just outside the joint.

• Rotator Cuff Tear — These can also be acute, such falling on an outstretched arm, or repetitive movements or old age. They usually start with fraying and then tear. A partial tear often goes unnoticed. Complete tears, which go all the way through the tendon, often require surgery. Symptoms include pain with specific motions, pain when sleeping, and a clicking feeling when performing certain movements.
• Shoulder Impingement — Impingement is the result of the rotator cuff and bursae rubbing against your shoulder blade. It is often the result of rotator cuff swellings after an injury. Shoulder impingement is rarely caused by overuse, but rather by physical activity.
• Shoulder Instability — This occurs when the head of the humerus is forced out of the shoulder socket, and also can be the result of injury or overuse. A dislocation can be partial, coming in and out of the socket, or complete when the bone completely comes out of the socket. It often causes or is the result of injury to the surrounding areas of the shoulder. Chronic instability will cause shoulder pain and unsteadiness when performing certain motions.
• Arthritis — While arthritis refers to a range of diagnoses, the shoulder most typically suffers from osteoarthritis. It occurs when the cartilage cushioning the ends of your bones breaks down. It can be the result of old age, repeated trauma, and wear and tear. Arthritis cannot be cured, but you can find effective pain management methods with Cottleville, MO physical and occupational therapists.
• Shoulder Fractures — The upper arm bone, clavicle, and scapula are the most commonly broken bones in the shoulder. They usually happen as the result of falling a significant distance or onto a hard surface or high-impact collisions such as being tackles in a football game. The shoulder pain is usually significant, along with considerable inflammation and bruising.
• Axillary Nerve Injuries or Brachial Plexus Injuries — Nerve damage in the shoulder can occur when nerves are compressed, when scar tissue interferes with communication between the brain and shoulder, or the nerves are torn into two pieces. These injuries can cause shoulder pain, stingers, numbness, and loss of sensation in your shoulder, arm, or hand. They are usually the result of sudden trauma but can also occur because of degenerative conditions.

At times, one injury leads to another, for example an impingement causing damage to the nerves. If you’re experiencing shoulder pain, one of our no-obligation, free injury screenings in Cottleville, MO may help determine the root of it. If you’ve sustained a severe injury or have severe shoulder pain, a physician in Cottleville, MO may use a physical examination, an X-Ray, an MRI, a CT scan, arthrogram, and/or arthroscopy to discover the cause. For most injuries or conditions that cause shoulder pain, a customized treatment plan with licensed physical therapists and movement health specialists in Cottleville, MO can be a successful way to get you back to the activities you love.

How Do Cottleville, MO Physical Therapists Treat Shoulder Pain?

Your personalized and evidence-backed physical therapy may include any one or a variety of different treatment plans:

• Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization to detect and treat any soft tissue disorders
• Pre- and post-surgical rehabilitation, coordinated together with your physician, if your shoulder pain was caused by an injury that needed surgery to correct
• Kinesio Taping® to reduce pain and inflammation and allow you to participate in sports or go back to work while you are still recovering
• Blood flow restriction training to strengthen muscles while reducing overall stress on the shoulder
• Trigger point dry needling to attack harder-to-reach damaged soft tissue to encourage the body’s natural healing processes
• Posture correction to make sure 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 exercises to optimize your mobility

Missouri Law requires a prescription for physical therapy, so you need to reach out to your Cottleville, 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 Cottleville, 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

Cottleville, 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 positive outcomes for Cottleville, MO people of all ages by implementing evidence-backed treatment plans catered to your injury, pain level, age, and desired activity level. You do not have to delay in getting back to the things you love doing most and a pain-free life. Schedule an appointment online or call our location most convenient for you.