Shoulder Pain in Peerless Park, MO. If you live with shoulder pain, you know the effect it can have on your life. It makes any daily task from pouring a cup of coffee to serving an ace on the tennis court frustrating and, in some cases, not even an option. But pain and limited shoulder movement does not have to be a part of your everyday life. At Axes PT in Peerless Park, MO, our professional physical therapists specialize in customized treatment modalities, proven to work through 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 through our website or find our location nearest you.

The Anatomy of the Shoulder | Shoulder Pain in Peerless Park, MO

The shoulder is one of the human body’s largest and most intricate joints. In actuality, it is a compound of four joints:

1. The glenohumeral (GH) joint is a ball and socket joint where the humerus (upper arm bone) fits into a relatively small dish called 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 part of the shoulder blade that is the highest part of the shoulder. A plane style synovial joint, it allows you to outstretch your arm.
3. The sternoclavicular (SC) joint is a plane-style synovial joint formed by the collarbone the breastbone at the foundation of the neck. As the only joint that connects the arm to the torso, 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 does not have union by fibrous, cartilaginous or synovial tissues. It is made up of the shoulder blade 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 power 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 provide passive stability while still allowing for movements in different planes
• the biceps tendon and rotator cuff tendons which connect muscle to bone
• the brachial plexus nerves that allow for the brain and muscles to communicate with each other
• the arteries that supply nutrient-rich 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 flow freely to the shoulder maintain healthy soft tissue and repair minor damage. The muscles strong enough to move and flexible enough to safely make those movements, the tendons attaching bone and muscle 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, reach out to Axes’ physical therapists for a complimentary injury screening.

What’s Behind My Shoulder Pain?

As the shoulder is complex, shoulder pain can have any of a number of root causes, from sports injuries to falls, a work injury from repeated activities to our bodies just getting weaker as we get older. The following are common causes of shoulder pain that our physical and occupations therapists see in Peerless Park, 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 swollen after overuse, often occurs in association with rotator cuff tendinitis, and can make basic tasks like getting in and out of cars incredibly difficult.
• Tendinitis — Tendinitis is typically caused by a tendon becoming irritated. There are two causes of tendinitis:
  • Acute: The result of trauma, excessive overhead motions, or other overhead activities needed in some competitive and activities and occupations, such as throwing overhead or lifting boxes above your head.
  • Chronic: This can happen because of degenerative conditions or general weakness as we age.

  The condition causes pain and tenderness just outside the joint.

• Rotator Cuff Tear — These can also be caused by acute injuries, such falling on an outstretched arm, or wear and tear. They begin with fraying and ultimately tear. A partial thickness tear often goes unnoticed. Full-thickness tears, where the tendon is no longer attached whatsoever to the bone, do not heal by themselves. Symptoms include having difficulty raising your arm or lifting things you normally can, pain when lying on the side of the affected shoulder, and a popping feeling 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 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 is accompanied by injury to the supporting soft tissue 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 commonly suffers from osteoarthritis. It occurs when the cartilage that acts as a shock absorber between your bones breaks down. Common causes include tissue weakening as we become older, frequent injuries, and wear and tear. There is no cure for arthritis, but you can find effective pain management techniques with Peerless Park, MO physical therapists.
• Shoulder Fractures — The humerus, collarbone, and scapula are the bones in the shoulder most vulnerable to fracture. They are often 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, and the shoulder will experience 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 interferes with signals between the brain and shoulder, or the nerves burst. Axillary nerve and brachial plexus injuries can cause shoulder pain along with a range of other sensations. They are usually the result of sudden trauma but can also occur because of wear and tear.

Sometimes, injuries are connected, for example a dislocation that leads to damage to the nerves. If you’re currently suffering from shoulder pain, one of our no-obligation, free injury screenings in Peerless Park, MO may help determine the root of it. To diagnose shoulder pain a physician in Peerless Park, MO may use a physical examination, an X-Ray, an MRI, a CT scan, arthrogram, and/or arthroscopy. For most injuries or conditions that cause shoulder pain, a tailored treatment plan with certified physical therapists that specialize in movement health in Peerless Park, MO can be an effective way to return to a pain-free daily life and the active lifestyle you deserve.

Treating Your Shoulder Pain in Peerless Park, MO

Your customized and proven physical therapy treatment plan may include:

• Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization to detect and treat any soft tissue disorders
• Pre- and post-surgical rehabilitation, coordinated together with your surgeon, 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 work while your body heals
• Blood flow restriction training to strengthen muscles while reducing overall stress on the shoulder
• Trigger point dry needling to attack irritated soft tissue deeper in the body to stimulate blood flow
• Posture correction to make sure you do not contribute to your injuries or do not heal correctly
• Injury prevention so you can keep participating in the activities you love
• Other safe, effective exercises to increase and maintain your mobility

Missouri Law requires a prescription to attend physical therapy appointments, so it’s necessary to speak to your Peerless Park, MO 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 Peerless Park, MO include:

• Dry Needling Near Me
• Tendonitis Treatment
• Manual Physical Therapy
• Orthopedic Rehab Near Me
• Beginner Running Program
• Chronic Pain Treatment
• Spine Specialist Near Me
• MCL Injury
• Injury Prevention

Peerless Park, MO Shoulder Pain | Axes Physical Therapy

A well-functioning shoulder is essential to not only living our every day life, but to doing the things we love. At Axes, we focus on positive outcomes for our Peerless Park, MO clients by creating evidence-backed treatment plans catered to your injury, pain level, age, and how physically active you need to be. You do not have to delay in getting back to the activities you love and a pain-free life. Make an appointment online or find the location nearest you.