Shoulder Pain in Town and Country, MO. If you live with shoulder pain, you know how hard it can be to manage. It can make any daily task from pouring a cup of coffee to diving for a softball painful and, for some of us, impossible. But pain and limited shoulder movement is usually manageable and beatable with safe and effective treatment. At Axes Physical Therapy in Town and Country, MO, our professional physical therapists create tailored treatment modalities, backed by proven 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. Schedule an appointment online or reach out to our location nearest you.

How Does the Shoulder Work? | Shoulder Pain in Town and Country, MO

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

1. The glenohumeral (GH) joint is the joint responsible for connecting the upper extremity to the trunk. Given the relatively shallow socket, it is the most mobile joint in the body.
2. The acromioclavicular (AC) joint is formed by the junction of the clavicle the acromion, the bony tip on the outer edge of the scapula. A gliding joint, it allows for additional rotation of the shoulder blade.
3. The sternoclavicular (SC) joint is a gliding joint located where the collarbone meets the sternum at the base 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 does not have union by fibrous, cartilaginous or synovial tissues. It is made up of the shoulder blade and its articulation with the ribcage.

In addition to those four joints, the shoulder consists of:

• the four muscles of the rotator cup that surround the head of the humerus, which allow for movement movement and stabilize the ball of the humerus within the shoulder socket
• the shoulder capsule, a soft tissue sac that surrounds and protects the joints in the shoulder
• the ligaments of the shoulder which provide passive stability while still allowing for a wide range of movements
• the biceps tendon and rotator cuff tendons 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 pump nutritious blood to the shoulder

In order for the shoulder to function properly the entire complex system must function well. Sufficient blood must flow to the shoulder efficiently to keep oxygen levels and muscles strong and repair minor damage. 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 the brain and shoulder need to have clear communication with each other. 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 many root causes, from sports injuries to a car accident, 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 Town and Country, 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 swollen after overuse, often occurs in association with inflammation of the rotator cuff, and can make daily tasks like brushing your teeth exceedingly painful.
• Tendinitis — Tendinitis generally occurs because of inflammation or irritation of a tendon. There are two causes of tendinitis:
  • Acute: This can happen because of a sudden blow, excessive throwing, or other overhead activities common in some sports and occupations, such as track and field throwing events or moving objects above your head.
  • Chronic: This can happen because of degenerative conditions or general weakness as we age.

  Symptoms include smarting pain, tenderness, and slight swelling.

• Rotator Cuff Tear — These can also be acute, such lifting an incredibly heavy object, or repetitive movements or old age. The tendon is initially frayed before becoming torn. A partial thickness 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 certain motions, pain when lying on the side of the affected shoulder, and a clicking sensation when performing specific movements.
• Shoulder Impingement — Impingement occurs when your acromion (outer edge of your shoulder blade) pinches the soft tissue in your shoulder. 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 allowed to move out of the socket when the capsule or ligaments become stretched, torn, or detached, and also can happen suddenly or from wear and tear. A dislocation can be partial, coming in and out of the socket, or complete when the bone completely comes 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 typically suffers from osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is the degeneration of joint cartilage and the underlying bones. It can be the result of old age, frequent injuries, and wear and tear. Arthritis cannot be cured, but effective pain management can be found with Town and Country, MO physical therapists.
• Shoulder Fractures — The upper arm bone, clavicle, and shoulder blade are the most commonly broken bones in the shoulder. They usually happen as the result of falling from a height or forceful collisions such as a car accident. The shoulder pain is immediate and obvious, along with considerable swelling and contusions.
• Axillary Nerve Injuries or Brachial Plexus Injuries — Nerve damage in the shoulder is the result of when nerves are stretched, when scar tissue interferes with their electric signals, or the nerves are torn into two pieces. These injuries can cause shoulder pain along with a range of other sensations. They are commonly caused by sudden trauma but can also happen because of overuse.

At times, one injury leads to another, such as an impingement causing damage to the nerves. If you’re experiencing shoulder pain, one of our no-obligation, free injury screenings in Town and Country, MO may help determine the root of it. If you’ve sustained a severe injury or have severe shoulder pain, a physician in Town and Country, MO may use a physical examination, an X-Ray, an MRI, a CT scan, arthrogram, and/or arthroscopy to discover the cause. For most injuries or conditions that cause shoulder pain, a tailored treatment plan with professional physical therapists that are experts in movement health in Town and Country, MO can be a successful way to return to the activities you love.

How Do Town and Country, 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 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 attack harder-to-reach damaged 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 and your shoulder and stay healthy and active
• Other safe, effective exercises to increase and maintain your mobility

Missouri Revised Statute §334.506 stipulates that you need a prescription to attend physical therapy appointments, so you need to reach out to your Town and Country, MO primary care physician to see if physical therapy is rights for your shoulder pain. Our knowledgeable physical and occupational therapists are responsible and work closely with your primary care physician to make sure your treatment plan fits into your overall treatment plan.

Other services we offer in Town and Country, MO include:

• 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
• Stroke Rehabilitation

Town and Country, MO Shoulder Pain | Axes Physical Therapy

A well-functioning shoulder is essential to not only carrying out daily tasks with ease, but to doing the things we love. At Axes, we focus on patient results for our Town and Country, 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 online or find our location most convenient for you.