Shoulder Pain in Ranken, MO. If you live with shoulder pain, you know the effect it can have on your life. It makes everything from brushing your teeth to diving for a softball painful and, sometimes, impossible. But you do not need to live the rest of your life with pain and limited shoulder movement. At Axes PT in Ranken, MO, our experienced physical therapists specialize in tailored treatment modalities, based on evidence, to get you back to the activities you love most. Let us help you safely and effectively treat your shoulder pain. Make an appointment online or reach out to the location nearest you.

How Does the Shoulder Work? | Shoulder Pain in Ranken, MO

The shoulder is one of the human body’s largest and most complex joints. In truth, it is made up of four independent smaller 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 connects the clavicle to the acromion, the bony tip on the outer edge of the scapula. A gliding joint, it allows you to outstretch your arm.
3. The sternoclavicular (SC) joint is a gliding joint located where the clavicle meets the sternum at the foundation of the neck. As the only joint that connects the arm to the body, it coordinates 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 does not have union by fibrous, cartilaginous or synovial tissues. 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 covering the head of the humerus, which power movement and stabilize and protect the glenohumeral joint
• the shoulder capsule, a a fluid-filled sac that surrounds and lubricates the joints in the shoulder
• the four shoulder ligaments which attach bones together and provide stability for the capsule
• the tendons in the biceps and shoulder which allow muscles to power the bones
• the brachial plexus nerves that allow the brain to tell the shoulder and arm to move and the shoulder to tell the brain when it feels pain or other sensory information
• the arteries that pump nutritious blood to the shoulder

In order for the shoulder to function properly every joint, ligament, tendon, muscle, artery, capsule, and nerve must be able to work together. Sufficient blood must reach to the shoulder efficiently to maintain healthy soft tissue and repair minor damage. The muscles must have adequate strength and flexibility, 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 nerves need to have a strong and secure connection to the brain. When any of these functions are not being carried out in a healthy way, it often causes shoulder pain and movement problems. If you’re experiencing shoulder pain or any other symptoms of a shoulder injury, reach out to 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 any of a number of root causes, from sports injuries to being struck by an object, a work injury from overuse to our bodies just getting weaker as we get older. The following are common causes of shoulder pain that our team see in Ranken, MO:

• Bursitis — The bursae are small, fluid-filled sacs that act as shock absorbers and reduce friction in joints. Bursitis the result of the bursae becoming irritated after repeated activities, often occurs in combination with inflammation of the rotator cuff, and can make basic tasks like getting dressed exceedingly painful.
• Tendinitis — Tendinitis generally occurs because of inflammation or irritation of a tendon. It typically falls into one of two categories:
  • Acute: The result of a sudden blow, repeated throwing, or other overhead activities needed in some sports and fields of employment, such as tennis or lifting and lowering boxes.
  • Chronic: The result 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 caused by sudden trauma, like a blow to the shoulder, or more chronic in nature. They begin with fraying and ultimately tear. A partial tear often goes unnoticed. Full-thickness tears, which go all the way through the tendon, do not heal by themselves. Symptoms include pain when performing specific motions, pain when lying on the side of the affected shoulder, and a popping sensation with specific movements.
• Shoulder Impingement — Impingement occurs when your acromion (outer edge of your scapula) pinches the soft tissue in your shoulder. It often occurs in combination 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 allowed to move out of the socket when the capsule or ligaments become stretched, torn, or detached, 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 causes or is the result of injury to the supporting soft tissue of the shoulder. Long-term instability will cause shoulder pain and unsteadiness when performing certain motions.
• Arthritis — While arthritis refers to a range of diagnoses, osteoarthritis is the form that typically affects the shoulder. It occurs when the cartilage cushioning the ends of your bones degenerates. It can be the result of old age, frequent injuries, and overuse. There is no cure for arthritis, but you can find effective pain management techniques with Ranken, MO physical therapists.
• Shoulder Fractures — The humerus, collarbone, and scapula are the bones in the shoulder most susceptible to fracture. They are often the result of falling a significant distance or onto a hard surface or forceful collisions such as being tackles in a football game. The shoulder pain is usually intense, and the shoulder will experience considerable inflammation and contusions.
• 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 are torn into two pieces. Axillary nerve and brachial plexus injuries can cause shoulder pain, stingers, tingling, and loss of feeling in your shoulder, arm, or hand. They are commonly caused by sudden 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 no-risk, free injury screenings in Ranken, MO may help determine the root of it. To diagnose shoulder pain a physician in Ranken, MO may use a physical examination, various imaging techniques, and/or arthroscopy. Most people who experience shoulder pain can find recovery with a customized treatment plan with experienced physical therapists that are experts in movement health in Ranken, MO can be a great way to get you back to the things you love to do the most.

How Do Ranken, MO Physical Therapists Treat Shoulder Pain?

Your personalized 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 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 you are still recovering
• Blood flow restriction training to offer your shoulder a low-intensity exercise with high-intensity results
• Trigger point dry needling to target harder-to-reach irritated muscles, ligaments, and tendons to encourage the body’s natural healing processes
• 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 exercises to increase and maintain your mobility

Missouri Revised Statute §334.506 dictates that you need a prescription to attend physical therapy appointments, so you need to reach out to your Ranken, MO doctor to see if physical therapy is safe and an effective treatment option for your shoulder pain. Our licensed physical and occupational therapists form a team with your primary care physician to make sure you are getting the care that fits into your overall treatment plan.

Other services we offer in Ranken, MO include:

• Back Pain Treatment
• Neck Pain Treatment
• 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

Ranken, MO Shoulder Pain | Axes Physical Therapy

Optimal movement health is essential to not only carrying out daily tasks with ease, but to keeping up the active lifestyles we desire. At Axes, we focus on positive outcomes for our Ranken, MO clients by implementing proven treatment plans catered to your injury, pain level, age, and how physically active you need to be. Do not wait to get back to the things you love doing most and a pain-free life. Make an appointment online or find the location nearest you.