Shoulder Pain in St. Genevieve, MO. Those who experience shoulder pain know how debilitating it can be. It can make any basic task from brushing your teeth to playing volleyball frustrating and, for some of us, not even an option. But pain and limited shoulder movement is usually manageable and beatable with safe and effective treatment. At Axes Physical Therapy in St. Genevieve, MO, our professional physical therapists create customized treatment plans, based on evidence, to get you back to optimal movement health. Let us help you safely and effectively treat your shoulder pain. Schedule an appointment online or reach out to the location most convenient for you.

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

The shoulder is among the largest and most intricate joints we have. In reality, it is made up of four independent smaller joints:

1. The glenohumeral (GH) joint is the joint responsible for connecting the upper extremity to the trunk. As the top of the upper arm bone is several times larger than the 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 bony tip on the outer edge of the scapula. A plane joint, it allows your shoulder blade to follow the movements of the other shoulder joints.
3. The sternoclavicular (SC) joint is a plane-style synovial joint located where the clavicle meets the sternum at the foundation 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 not a true anatomical 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 upper arm bone, which power movement and keep the head of the upper arm bone firmly within the shallow socket of the shoulder
• the shoulder capsule, a a fluid-filled sac that surrounds and lubricates the shoulder
• the four shoulder ligaments which provide passive stability while still allowing for movements in different planes
• the biceps tendon and rotator cuff tendons 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 blood vessels that pump nutrient-rich blood to the shoulder

Being able to move your shoulder pain free depends on every part of the system functioning well. Blood must be allowed to reach the shoulder keep oxygen levels and muscles strong and stimulate the body’s natural healing processes. The muscles must have adequate strength and flexibility, the tendons connecting them to the bones must be strong, flexible, and free of rips or tears, 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 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 Causes 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 old age. Below are common causes of shoulder pain that our physical and occupations therapists see in St. Genevieve, MO:

• Bursitis — The bursae are small, fluid-filled sacs that work as a cushion and gliding surface between muscles, bones, tendons, and skin. Bursitis the result of the bursae becoming swollen after repeated activities, often occurs at the same time as irritation of the rotator cuff, and can make basic tasks like laying down to go to sleep exceedingly difficult.
• Tendinitis — Tendinitis generally occurs because of a tendon becoming irritated. There are two causes of tendinitis:
  • Acute: The result of trauma, repeated throwing, or other overhead activities common in some sports and occupations, such as tennis or moving objects above your head.
  • Chronic: This can happen because of degenerative conditions or general weakness as we get weaker.

  The condition causes pain and tenderness just outside the joint.

• Rotator Cuff Tear — These can also be acute, like falling on an outstretched arm, or wear and tear. They usually start with fraying and then tear. A partial tear often goes unnoticed. Complete tears, where the tendon is completely detached from the bone, often require surgery. Associated symptoms are pain with certain motions, pain when lying on the side of the affected shoulder, and a cracking feeling with certain movements.
• Shoulder Impingement — Impingement describes when your acromion (the bony tip of your scapula) pinches the rotator cuff and bursae. It is often the result of rotator cuff swellings because of 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 occurs 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 surrounding areas of the shoulder. Long-term instability will result in shoulder pain and a sense of the shoulder “giving way.”
• Arthritis — While arthritis refers to a range of diagnoses, osteoarthritis is the form that typically affects the shoulder. Osteoarthritis is the degeneration of joint cartilage and the underlying bones. Common causes include old age, repeated injuries, and wear and tear. Arthritis cannot be cured, but effective pain management can be found with St. Genevieve, MO physical and occupational therapists.
• Shoulder Fractures — The upper arm bone, clavicle, and shoulder blade are the bones in the shoulder most prone to fracture. They usually happen as the result of falling a significant distance or onto a hard surface or high-impact collisions such as being tackles in a football game. The shoulder pain is immediate and obvious, and the shoulder will experience considerable inflammation and bruising.
• Axillary Nerve Injuries or Brachial Plexus Injuries — Nerve damage in the shoulder can occur when nerves are compressed, when scar tissue interferes with signals between the brain and shoulder, or the nerves burst. These injuries can cause shoulder pain, stingers, tingling, and loss of feeling in your shoulder, arm, or hand. They are usually the result of sudden trauma but can also happen because of degenerative conditions.

Sometimes, injuries are intertwined, such as instability that leads to impingement. If you’re currently suffering from shoulder pain, one of our no-risk, free injury screenings in St. Genevieve, MO may help determine the underlying cause. To diagnose shoulder pain a physician in St. Genevieve, 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 professional physical therapists that specialize in movement health in St. Genevieve, MO can be a great way to return to the activities you love.

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

Your tailored and evidence-backed physical therapy treatments may include:

• Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization to detect and treat any problems with your muscles, ligaments, or tendons
• 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 allow you to participate in sports or go back to work while your body heals
• Blood flow restriction training to offer your shoulder a low-intensity exercise with high-intensity benefits
• Trigger point dry needling to target harder-to-reach irritated soft tissue to stimulate blood flow
• Posture correction to make sure you are not inadvertently causing your shoulder pain 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 it’s important to speak to your St. Genevieve, MO doctor to see if physical therapy is rights for your shoulder pain. Our licensed 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 St. Genevieve, 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

St. Genevieve, MO Shoulder Pain | Axes Physical Therapy

A healthy shoulder is imperative to not only living our every day life, but to keeping up the active lifestyles we desire. At Axes, we focus on patient results for St. Genevieve, MO residents by developing evidence-backed treatment plans based on your injury, pain level, age, and how physically active you need to be. 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 most convenient for you.