Shoulder Pain in High Ridge, MO. If you live with shoulder pain, you know how hard it can be to manage. It can make everything from watering the flowers to playing volleyball frustrating and, for certain people, impossible. But pain and limited shoulder movement does not have to be a part of your everyday life. At Axes Physical Therapy in High Ridge, MO, our experienced physical therapists are experts at designing tailored treatment plans, backed by proven research, to get you back to optimal movement health. Trust in us to turn your shoulder pain from a daily occurrence into a thing of the past. Make an appointment online or find our location most convenient for you.

The Anatomy of the Shoulder | Shoulder Pain in High Ridge, MO

The shoulder is among the largest and most complex joints we have. In truth, it is made up of four independent smaller joints:

1. The glenohumeral (GH) joint is a ball and socket joint responsible for connecting the upper extremity to the trunk. Because the the top of the humerus is 3-4 times larger than the socket, it allows for more movement than any other joint.
2. The acromioclavicular (AC) joint is formed by the junction of the clavicle the acromion, the bony tip on the outer edge of the shoulder blade. A plane style synovial 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 bottom of the neck. As the only joint that connects the arm to the torso, it links the movement of the upper limb with the core of your body.
4. The scapulothoracic (ST) “joint” is more of a “floating” joint as it does not have ligaments connecting it to bone. It is made up of the scapula and its articulation with the ribcage.

The shoulder is supported and surrounded by:

• the four muscles of the rotator cup that surround the head of the humerus, which are responsible for movement and stabilize the ball of the humerus within the shoulder socket
• the shoulder capsule, a soft tissue sac that encloses the shoulder
• the four shoulder ligaments which help connect bone to bone and help reinforce the capsule
• the biceps tendon and rotator cuff tendons which attach 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 blood vessels that pump nutritious blood to the muscles, ligaments, and tendons

In order for the shoulder to function properly the entire complex system must function well. Sufficient blood must flow to the shoulder efficiently to maintain healthy soft tissue and stimulate the body’s natural recovery processes. 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 help maintain structure, and the brain and shoulder need to have clear communication with each other. When any of these parts are not at optimal health, it can lead to a disruption of the entire network, 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 free injury screening.

What Causes Shoulder Pain?

Shoulder pain can be caused by numerous different circumstances, from sports injuries to a car accident, a work injury from overuse to our bodies just getting weaker as we get older. The following are the most common underlying conditions that lead to shoulder pain in High Ridge, 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 the result of the bursae becoming inflamed after overuse, often occurs at the same time as rotator cuff tendinitis, and can make basic activities like getting dressed immensely difficult.
• Tendinitis — Tendinitis generally occurs because of a tendon becoming irritated. It typically falls into one of two categories:
  • Acute: This can happen because of trauma, repeated overhead motions, or other overhead activities common in some sports and fields of employment, such as volleyball or moving objects above your head.
  • Chronic: This can happen because of degenerative conditions or general weakness as we age.

  Symptoms include aching, tenderness, and mild swelling.

• Rotator Cuff Tear — These can also be caused by sudden trauma, such lifting an incredibly heavy object, or repetitive movements or old age. The tendon is initially frayed before becoming torn. People often live with partial tears obliviously. Complete tears, which go all the way through the tendon, often require surgery. Common symptoms are pain when performing certain movements, pain when lying on the side of the affected shoulder, and a clicking feeling when performing specific movements.
• Shoulder Impingement — Impingement describes when your acromion (outer edge of your scapula) rubs against the soft tissue in your shoulder. It often occurs alongside an injury that causes inflammation in the rotator cuff. Shoulder impingement is most common in people who are physically active.
• Shoulder Instability — This happens when the humerus is exits the shoulder socket, and also can happen suddenly or from 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 supporting soft tissue of the shoulder. Long-term instability will cause shoulder pain and a sense of the shoulder “giving way.”
• Arthritis — While arthritis refers to a range of diagnoses, the shoulder most commonly experiences osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is the degeneration of joint cartilage and the underlying bones. It can be the result of tissue weakening as we become older, persistent trauma, and wear and tear. Arthritis cannot be cured, but you can find effective pain management techniques with High Ridge, MO physical and occupational therapists.
• Shoulder Fractures — The upper arm bone, clavicle, and shoulder blade are the bones in the shoulder most prone to fracture. They are often the result of falling from a height or high-impact collisions such as being tackles in a football game. The shoulder pain is usually significant, and the shoulder will experience substantial swelling and bruising.
• Axillary Nerve Injuries or Brachial Plexus Injuries — Nerve damage in the shoulder can occur when nerves are compressed, when scar tissue blocks their electric signals, or the nerves are otherwise damaged. Axillary nerve and brachial plexus injuries can cause shoulder pain along with a range of other sensations. They are commonly caused by high-impact trauma but can also occur because of overuse.

At times, one injury leads to another, for example instability that leads to impingement. If you’re experiencing shoulder pain, one of our safe, free injury screenings in High Ridge, MO may help determine the underlying cause. To diagnose shoulder pain a physician in High Ridge, 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 find relief with a tailored treatment plan with professional physical therapists and movement health specialists in High Ridge, MO can be a successful way to get you back to the things you love to do the most.

How Do High Ridge, MO Physical Therapists Treat Shoulder Pain?

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

• 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 doctor, 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 target harder-to-reach damaged muscles, ligaments, and tendons to encourage the body’s natural healing processes
• 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 requires a prescription to attend physical therapy appointments, so you need to reach out to your High Ridge, MO doctor to see if physical therapy is rights for your shoulder pain. Our experienced physical and occupational therapists form a team with your primary care physician to make sure you are getting the care that is safe for your condition.

Other services we offer in High Ridge, 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

High Ridge, MO Shoulder Pain | Axes Physical Therapy

A healthy shoulder is imperative to not only carrying out daily tasks with ease, but to doing the things we love. At Axes, we focus on positive outcomes for High Ridge, MO residents by implementing evidence-backed treatment plans catered to your injury, pain level, age, and the activities you want to get back to. You do not have to delay in getting back to the things you love doing most and a pain-free life. Make an appointment through our website or call our location nearest you.