Shoulder Pain in Earth City, MO. If you live with shoulder pain, you know how hard it can be to manage. It can make everything from driving to making a breakaway layup painful and, sometimes, unfeasible. But you do not need to live the rest of your life with pain and limited shoulder movement. At Axes PT in Earth City, MO, our experienced physical therapists are experts at developing tailored treatment modalities, backed by proven research, to get you back to the activities you love most. Trust in us to safely and effectively treat your shoulder pain. Schedule an appointment online or find our location most convenient for you.

The Anatomy of the Shoulder | Shoulder Pain in Earth City, MO

The shoulder is one of the human body’s largest and most complex joints. In actuality, what we call the shoulder joint is made up of four different joints:

1. The glenohumeral (GH) joint is the joint where the humerus (upper arm bone) fits into the socket of the glenoid. 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 bony tip on the outer edge of the shoulder blade. A gliding joint, it allows your shoulder blade to follow the movements of the other shoulder joints.
3. The sternoclavicular (SC) joint is a gliding joint located where the collarbone meets the breastbone at the foundation of the neck. As the only joint that connects the arm to the body, it connects the movement of the upper limb with the core of your body.
4. The scapulothoracic (ST) “joint” is not a true anatomical 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.

In addition to those four joints, the shoulder is made up of:

• the four muscles of the rotator cup covering the head of the upper arm bone, which allow for movement 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 ligaments of the shoulder which attach bones together and help reinforce the capsule
• the tendons in the biceps and shoulder which affix muscle to bone
• 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 arteries that supply much-needed blood to the muscles, ligaments, and tendons

Proper shoulder strength, flexibility, and movement depends on every part of the system being healthy and working together. Blood must be allowed to reach the shoulder keep oxygen levels and muscles strong and repair minor damage. The muscles strong enough to move and flexible enough to safely make those movements, the tendons connecting them to the bones must be intact and strong, the ligaments that attach our bones need to be similarly healthy, and the nerves need to have a strong and secure connection to the brain. When any one of the parts of the shoulder is damaged, inflamed, or otherwise irritated, it often causes shoulder pain and movement problems. 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 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. The following are the most common underlying conditions that lead to shoulder pain in Earth City, MO:

• Bursitis — The bursae are small, fluid-filled sacs that work as a cushion and gliding surface between tissues. Bursitis occurs when the bursae because irritated after repeated activities, often occurs in association with inflammation of the rotator cuff, and can make basic activities like getting dressed immensely painful.
• Tendinitis — Tendinitis is typically caused by inflammation or irritation of a tendon. There are two types of tendinitis:
  • Acute: The result of trauma, excessive overhead motions, or other overhead activities needed in some competitive and activities and occupations, such as swimming or lifting boxes above your head.
  • Chronic: The result of degenerative conditions or general weakness as we get weaker.

  The condition causes pain and tenderness just outside the joint.

• Rotator Cuff Tear — These can also be caused by acute injuries, such a blow to the shoulder, or wear and tear. They usually start with fraying and then tear. A partial tear often goes unnoticed. Complete tears, which pull the tendon off the bone, often require surgery. Symptoms include having difficulty raising your arm or lifting things you normally can, pain when sleeping, and a clicking sensation with specific 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 occurs the most in people who play sports or are otherwise active.
• Shoulder Instability — This happens when the ball of the upper arm bone is forced out of the shoulder socket, and also can be the result of injury or wear and tear. Dislocations can be repeated and partial or the entire bone coming out of the socket. It often causes or is the result of injury to the surrounding areas of the shoulder. Long-term instability will result in shoulder pain and unsteadiness when performing certain motions.
• Arthritis — While arthritis refers to a range of diagnoses, the shoulder most typically suffers from osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is the degeneration of joint cartilage and the underlying bones. Common causes include old age, persistent trauma, and wear and tear. There is no cure for arthritis, but effective pain management can be found with Earth City, MO physical therapists.
• Shoulder Fractures — The humerus, collarbone, and shoulder blade are the most commonly broken bones in the shoulder. They are often the result of falling from a height or forceful collisions such as a car accident. The shoulder pain is usually intense, along with substantial inflammation and bruising.
• Axillary Nerve Injuries or Brachial Plexus Injuries — Nerve damage in the shoulder is the result of when nerves are compressed, when scar tissue blocks signals between the brain and shoulder, or the nerves burst. These injuries can cause shoulder pain, stingers, tingling, and loss of feeling in your shoulder, arm, or hand. They are commonly caused by high-impact trauma but can also happen because of overuse.

At times, one injury leads to another, for example instability that leads to impingement. If you’re currently suffering from shoulder pain, one of our no-risk, free injury screenings in Earth City, MO may help you discover why you’re experiencing the pain. To diagnose shoulder pain a physician in Earth City, 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 relief with a customized treatment plan with certified physical therapists that are experts in movement health in Earth City, MO can be a great way to get you back to optimal movement health.

How Do Earth City, MO Physical Therapists Treat Shoulder Pain?

Your customized and proven 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, based on a plan with come up with alongside your surgeon, if you need surgery to relieve your shoulder pain
• Kinesio Taping® to reduce pain and inflammation and allow you to participate in physical activity or work while your body heals
• Blood flow restriction training to offer your shoulder a low-intensity exercise with high-intensity results
• Trigger point dry needling to target damaged soft tissue deeper in the body to stimulate blood flow
• Posture correction to make sure you are not inadvertently causing your shoulder pain or do not heal correctly
• Injury prevention so you do not lose your active lifestyle in the future
• Other safe, effective techniques to optimize your mobility

Missouri Law dictates that you need a prescription to attend physical therapy appointments, so you need to reach out to your Earth City, MO primary care physician to see if physical therapy is rights for your shoulder pain. Our professional physical and occupational therapists are responsible and work closely with your primary care physician to make sure your treatment plan is safe for your condition.

Other services we offer in Earth City, MO include:

• Shin Splint Treatment
• Direct Access Physical Therapy
• Gait Analysis
• Pelvic Floor Therapy
• Dry Needling Near Me
• Tendonitis Treatment
• Manual Physical Therapy
• Orthopedic Rehab Near Me
• Beginner Running Program
• Chronic Pain Treatment

Earth City, MO Shoulder Pain | Axes Physical Therapy

Optimal movement health is imperative to not only living our every day life, but to doing the things we love. At Axes, we focus on positive outcomes for Earth City, MO residents by creating proven treatment plans based on your injury, pain level, age, and the activities you want to get back to. 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 call our location most convenient for you.