Shoulder Pain in Sherman, MO. If you live with shoulder pain, you know the limitations it can place on your life. It can make any daily task from watering the flowers to serving an ace on the tennis court 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 Sherman, MO, our licensed physical therapists specialize in personalized treatment modalities, proven to work through research, to get you back to striking out opponents, or just combing your hair pain-free. Let us help you turn your shoulder pain from a daily occurrence into a thing of the past. Request an appointment online or call our location most convenient for you.

The Anatomy of the Shoulder | Shoulder Pain in Sherman, MO

The shoulder is one of the the largest and most complex joints we have. In actuality, it is a compound of four joints:

1. The glenohumeral (GH) joint is a ball and socket joint responsible for connecting the upper extremity to the trunk. Because the top of the upper arm bone is 3-4 times larger than the socket, it has the widest range of motion as any other human joint.
2. The acromioclavicular (AC) joint connects the collarbone to the acromion, the bony tip on the outer edge of the shoulder blade. A plane joint, it allows you to outstretch your arm.
3. The sternoclavicular (SC) joint is a gliding joint located where the clavicle meets the breastbone at the bottom of the neck. This joint is where the arm and body meet, it connects 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 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 upper arm bone, which are responsible for movement and stabilize and protect the GH joint
• the shoulder capsule, a a fluid-filled sac that surrounds and lubricates the joints in the shoulder
• the four shoulder ligaments which provide passive stability while still allowing for movements in different planes
• 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 blood vessels that supply much-needed blood to the muscles, ligaments, and tendons

In order for the shoulder to function properly the entire complex system must be able to work together. Blood must flow freely to the shoulder keep oxygen levels and muscles strong and stimulate the body’s natural healing processes. 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 connecting bones need to be similarly healthy, and messages most be able to be sent and received between the brain and shoulder. When any one of the parts of the shoulder is damaged, inflamed, or otherwise irritated, 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 complimentary 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 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 Sherman, MO:

• Bursitis — The bursae are small, fluid-filled sacs that work as a cushion and gliding surface between tissues. Bursitis the result of the bursae becoming inflamed after overuse, often occurs in combination with inflammation of the rotator cuff, and can make basic activities like getting in and out of cars tremendously difficult.
• Tendinitis — Tendinitis is typically caused by 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 needed in some competitive and activities and occupations, such as swimming or moving objects 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 acute, like lifting an incredibly heavy object, or repetitive movements or old age. They begin with fraying and ultimately tear. People often live with partial thickness tears unaware. Complete tears, which pull the tendon off the bone, often require surgery. Symptoms include pain with certain motions, pain when lying on the side of the affected shoulder, and a clicking feeling when performing certain motions.
• Shoulder Impingement — Impingement describes when your acromion (the bony tip of your scapula) rubs against the rotator cuff and bursae. It is often the result of rotator cuff swellings after an injury. Shoulder impingement is rarely caused by overuse, and is most common in athletes or others who engage in physical activity.
• Shoulder Instability — This happens when the ball of the upper arm bone is allowed to move out of the socket when the capsule or ligaments become damaged, 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 suffers from osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is the degeneration of joint cartilage and the underlying bones. It can be the result of tissue weakening as we become older, frequent injuries, and wear and tear. Arthritis cannot be cured, but you can find effective pain management techniques with Sherman, MO physical therapists.
• Shoulder Fractures — The upper arm bone, collarbone, and shoulder blade are the most commonly broken bones in the shoulder. They are often the result of falling a significant distance or onto a hard surface or high-energy collisions such as being tackles in a football game. The shoulder pain is immediate and obvious, 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 signals between the brain and shoulder, or the nerves burst. Axillary nerve and brachial plexus injuries can cause shoulder pain, stingers, numbness, and loss of feeling in your upper extremities. They are usually the result of sudden trauma but can also occur because of overuse.

Sometimes, injuries are intertwined, such as how an untreated rotator cuff tear can lead to arthritis. If you’re currently suffering from shoulder pain, one of our safe, free injury screenings in Sherman, MO may help you discover the underlying cause. To diagnose shoulder pain a physician in Sherman, MO may use a physical examination, various imaging techniques, and/or arthroscopy. For most injuries or conditions that cause shoulder pain, a tailored treatment plan with professional physical therapists and movement health specialists in Sherman, MO can be an effective way to return to optimal movement health.

How Do Sherman, MO Physical Therapists Treat Shoulder Pain?

Your tailored and evidence-backed 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 provide support for your shoulder and keep you safe as you participate in sports or go back to work while you are still recovering
• Blood flow restriction training to offer your shoulder a low-intensity exercise with high-intensity benefits
• Trigger point dry needling to attack harder-to-reach damaged muscles, ligaments, and tendons to stimulate blood flow
• Posture correction to ensure you do not contribute to your injuries or heal improperly
• Injury prevention so you and your shoulder and stay healthy and active
• Other safe, effective exercises to optimize your mobility

Missouri Law states that you need a prescription for physical therapy, so it’s necessary to speak to your Sherman, MO physician to see if physical therapy is safe and an effective treatment option for your shoulder pain. Our experienced physical and occupational therapists form a team with your primary care physician to ensure your treatment plan is safe for your condition.

Other services we offer in Sherman, MO include:

• 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
• Stroke Rehabilitation
• Hip Replacement Physical Therapy

Sherman, MO Shoulder Pain | Axes Physical Therapy

A healthy shoulder is important to not only carrying out daily tasks with ease, but to keeping up the active lifestyles we desire. At Axes, we focus on patient results for our Sherman, MO clients by creating 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. Request an appointment through our website or call the location nearest you.