Shoulder Pain in Knob Lick, MO. If you live with shoulder pain, you know how hard it can be to manage. It makes everything from watering the flowers to diving for a softball painful and, for certain people, impossible. But pain and limited shoulder movement is usually manageable and beatable with safe and effective treatment. At Axes PT in Knob Lick, MO, our licensed physical therapists create tailored treatment modalities, based on evidence, 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 call our location most convenient for you.

The Human Shoulder | Shoulder Pain in Knob Lick, MO

The shoulder is one of the the largest and most complex joints we have. In actuality, it is a multiplex of four 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 socket, it is the most mobile joint in the body.
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 plane joint, it allows for additional rotation of the shoulder blade.
3. The sternoclavicular (SC) joint is a gliding joint located where the collarbone meets the breastbone at the bottom of the neck. This joint is where the arm and torso meet, it coordinates 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 does not have union by fibrous, cartilaginous or synovial tissues. 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 humerus, which are responsible for movement and stabilize the ball of the humerus within the shoulder socket
• the shoulder capsule, a a fluid-filled sac that surrounds and lubricates 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 connect 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 pump nutritious blood to the muscles, ligaments, and tendons

Optimal shoulder and movement health depends on every part of the system functioning well. Sufficient blood must flow to the shoulder efficiently to maintain healthy soft tissue and repair minor damage. The muscles must have adequate strength and flexibility, the tendons attaching bone and muscle must be strong, flexible, and free of rips or tears, 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’s Behind My Shoulder Pain?

As the shoulder has so many moving parts, shoulder pain can have many root causes, from sports injuries to acute trauma, 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 Knob Lick, 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 irritated after repeated activities, often occurs in association with shoulder impingement, and can make basic tasks like laying down to go to sleep immensely painful.
• Tendinitis — Tendinitis is typically caused by a tendon becoming irritated. There are two types of tendinitis:
  • Acute: This can happen because of a sudden blow, excessive overhead motions, or other overhead activities needed in some sports and fields of employment, such as swimming or lifting and lowering boxes.
  • Chronic: The result of wear and tear or the body becoming weaker as we age.

  Symptoms include smarting pain, throbbing, and mild swelling.

• 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. People often live with partial thickness tears unknowingly. Complete tears, which go all the way through the tendon, do not heal by themselves. Symptoms include having difficulty raising your arm or lifting things you normally can, pain when sleeping, and a grinding sensation when performing specific movements.
• Shoulder Impingement — Impingement describes when your acromion (the bony tip of your scapula) pinches the soft tissue in your shoulder. It often occurs in tandem with an injury that causes inflammation in the rotator cuff. Shoulder impingement is rarely caused by overuse, but rather by physical activity.
• Shoulder Instability — This occurs when the humerus is exits the shoulder socket, and also can happen suddenly or from wear and tear. 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 happens in combination with 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 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 you can find effective pain management methods with Knob Lick, MO physical and occupational therapists.
• Shoulder Fractures — The upper arm bone, collarbone, and scapula are the bones in the shoulder most susceptible to fracture. They usually happen as the result of falling from a height or forceful collisions such as being tackles in a football game. The shoulder pain is immediate and obvious, along with substantial inflammation and contusions.
• Axillary Nerve Injuries or Brachial Plexus Injuries — Nerve damage in the shoulder is the result of when nerves are impinged on, when scar tissue interferes with communication between the brain and shoulder, or the nerves are otherwise damaged. These injuries can cause shoulder pain along with a range of other sensations. They are commonly caused by sudden trauma but can also occur because of wear and tear.

At times, one injury leads to another, for example instability that leads to impingement. If you’re experiencing shoulder pain, one of our no-risk, free injury screenings in Knob Lick, MO may help you discover the underlying cause. To diagnose shoulder pain a physician in Knob Lick, 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 recovery with a customized treatment plan with knowledgeable physical therapists that are experts in movement health in Knob Lick, MO can be a great way to get you back to the things you love to do the most.

Treating Your Shoulder Pain in Knob Lick, MO

Your customized and proven physical therapy may include any one or a variety of different treatment plans:

• Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization to identify degenerative tissue, break down scar tissue, and treat the affected area
• Pre- and post-surgical rehabilitation, based on a plan with come up with alongside your physician, if your shoulder pain was caused by an injury that needed surgery to correct
• Kinesio Taping® to reduce pain and inflammation and keep you safe as you participate in physical activity 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 damaged muscles, ligaments, and tendons deeper in the body to encourage the body’s natural healing processes
• Posture correction to make sure you do not contribute to your injuries or do not heal correctly
• Injury prevention so you do not lose your active lifestyle in the future
• Other safe, effective exercises to increase and maintain your mobility

Missouri Law dictates that you need a prescription to attend physical therapy appointments, so it’s important to speak to your Knob Lick, MO primary care physician to see if physical therapy is safe and an effective treatment option for your shoulder pain. Our knowledgeable 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.

Knob Lick, MO Shoulder Pain | Axes Physical Therapy

A healthy shoulder is important to not only carrying out daily tasks with ease, but to doing the things we love. At Axes, we focus on patient results for our Knob Lick, MO clients by creating evidence-backed treatment plans based on 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. Schedule an appointment through our website or call the location nearest you.