Shoulder Pain in St. Ann, MO. Those who suffer from shoulder pain know how hard it can be to manage. It can make everything from driving to playing volleyball painful and, for certain people, unfeasible. But you do not need to live the rest of your life with pain and limited shoulder movement. At Axes Physical Therapy in St. Ann, MO, our experienced physical therapists are experts at developing customized treatment modalities, proven to work through research, to get you back to the activities you love most. Let us help you make your shoulder pain a long-forgotten memory. Make an appointment through our website or call the location most convenient for you.

The Anatomy of the Shoulder | Shoulder Pain in St. Ann, MO

The shoulder is one of the the largest and most complex joints we have. In actuality, what we call the shoulder joint is made up of four different joints:

1. The glenohumeral (GH) joint is the joint responsible for connecting the upper extremity to the trunk. Because the the top of the humerus is several 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 part of the shoulder blade that is the highest part of the shoulder. 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 gliding joint formed by the collarbone the sternum at the base of the neck. This joint is where the arm and torso meet, it it ensures your arm and body move in tandem.
4. The scapulothoracic (ST) “joint” is more of a “floating” joint as it does not have typical joint characteristics. It is made up of the scapula and its articulation with the ribcage.

In order to support those four joints, the shoulder is made up of:

• the four muscles of the rotator cup covering the head of the humerus, which power 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 provide passive stability while still allowing for a wide range of movements
• the tendons in the biceps and shoulder which allow muscles to power the bones
• 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 functioning well. Blood must flow freely to the shoulder keep oxygen levels and muscles strong 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 strong, flexible, and free of rips or tears, the ligaments connecting bones need to help support proper structure, and messages most be able to be sent and received between the brain and shoulder. When any of these parts are not at optimal health, it can lead to a breakdown of the entire network, and anywhere from nagging to severe shoulder pain or loss of function. 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?

Shoulder pain can be caused by a variety of circumstances, from sports injuries to falls, a work injury from overuse to old age. Below are common causes of shoulder pain that our physical and occupations therapists see in St. Ann, 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 swollen after overuse, often occurs at the same time as inflammation of the rotator cuff, and can make basic activities like brushing your teeth tremendously difficult.
• Tendinitis — Tendinitis is typically caused by inflammation or irritation of a tendon. There are two types of tendinitis:
  • Acute: This can happen because of a sudden blow, excessive throwing, or other overhead activities common in some competitive and activities and fields of employment, such as tennis or lifting and lowering boxes.
  • Chronic: This can happen because of wear and tear or general weakness as we get weaker.

  The condition causes pain and tenderness just outside the joint.

• Rotator Cuff Tear — These can also be caused by sudden trauma, such falling on an outstretched arm, or wear and tear. They usually start with fraying and then tear. A partial tear often goes unnoticed. Full-thickness tears, which pull the tendon off 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 clicking sensation with specific motions.
• 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 because of an injury. Shoulder impingement is most common in people who play sports or are otherwise active.
• Shoulder Instability — This happens when the humerus is exits the shoulder socket, 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. Long-term instability will cause shoulder pain and a sense of the shoulder “giving way.”
• Arthritis — While there are many kinds of arthritis, osteoarthritis is the condition that typically affects the shoulder. 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 trauma, and wear and tear. Arthritis cannot be cured, but effective pain management is possible with St. Ann, MO physical and occupational therapists.
• Shoulder Fractures — The upper arm bone, clavicle, and scapula are the most commonly broken bones in the shoulder. They usually happen as 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 immediate and obvious, along with considerable swelling and bruising.
• Axillary Nerve Injuries or Brachial Plexus Injuries — Nerve damage in the shoulder can occur when nerves are stretched, when scar tissue blocks their electric signals, or the nerves are torn into two pieces. Axillary nerve and brachial plexus injuries can cause shoulder pain, stingers, weakness, and loss of feeling in your shoulder, arm, or hand. They are usually the result of high-impact trauma but can also happen because of overuse.

At times, one injury leads to another, such as an impingement that leads to damage to the nerves. If you’re currently suffering from shoulder pain, one of our safe, free injury screenings in St. Ann, MO may help determine why you’re experiencing the pain. If you’ve sustained a severe injury or have severe shoulder pain, a physician in St. Ann, MO may use a physical examination, an X-Ray, an MRI, a CT scan, arthrogram, and/or arthroscopy to discover the cause. Most people who experience shoulder pain can experience relief with a tailored treatment plan with experienced physical therapists and movement health specialists in St. Ann, MO can be a successful way to return to the things you love to do the most.

How Do St. Ann, MO Physical Therapists Treat Shoulder Pain?

Your tailored and evidence-backed physical therapy treatment plan may include:

• Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization to detect and treat any problems with your muscles, ligaments, or tendons
• Pre- and post-surgical rehabilitation, coordinated together with your doctor, if you need surgery to relieve your shoulder pain
• Kinesio Taping® to reduce pain and inflammation and allow you to participate in sports or work while your body heals
• 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 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 do not lose your active lifestyle in the future
• Other safe, effective exercises to optimize your mobility

Missouri Law requires a prescription for physical therapy, so you need to reach out to your St. Ann, MO physician to see if physical therapy is rights for your shoulder pain. Our experienced 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 St. Ann, 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

St. Ann, MO Shoulder Pain | Axes Physical Therapy

A well-functioning 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 positive outcomes for St. Ann, MO people of all ages by creating 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 activities you love and a pain-free life. Make an appointment through our website or find the location most convenient for you.