Shoulder Pain in Washington, MO. Those who suffer from shoulder pain know how hard it can be to manage. It can make everything from strapping on a seatbelt to diving for a softball painful and, for certain people, unfeasible. But pain and limited shoulder movement is usually manageable and beatable with safe and effective treatment. At Axes Physical Therapy in Washington, MO, our experienced physical therapists create personalized treatment modalities, proven to work through research, to get you back to optimal movement health. Allow us to make your shoulder pain a long-forgotten memory. Make an appointment through our website or find the location nearest you.

The Human Shoulder | Shoulder Pain in Washington, 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 where the humerus (upper arm bone) fits into a relatively small dish called the glenoid. Given the relatively shallow dish, it has the widest range of motion as any other human joint.
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 helps extend the upper extremity from the trunk.
3. The sternoclavicular (SC) joint is a gliding joint formed by the collarbone the breastbone at the bottom of the neck. This joint is where the arm and body 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 does not have union by fibrous, cartilaginous or synovial tissues. It attaches and allows movement between the shoulder blade and the thoracic cage.

The shoulder is supported and surrounded by:

• the four muscles of the rotator cup that surround 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 a wide range of movements
• the tendons in the biceps and shoulder which allow muscles to power the bones
• 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 pump much-needed blood to the muscles, ligaments, and tendons

Proper shoulder strength, flexibility, and movement depends on every part of the system functioning well. 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 attaching bone and muscle must be strong, flexible, and free of rips or tears, the ligaments that attach our bones need to help maintain structure, and messages most be able to be sent and received between the brain and shoulder. When any of these functions are not being carried out in a healthy way, it can lead to a breakdown of the entire complex, 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, contact Axes’ physical therapists for a complimentary injury screening.

What Causes Shoulder Pain?

As the shoulder is complex, shoulder pain can have many 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 common causes of shoulder pain that our team see in Washington, MO:

• Bursitis — The bursae are small, fluid-filled sacs that act as shock absorbers and reduce friction in joints. Bursitis occurs when the bursae because irritated after overuse, often occurs in combination with irritation of the rotator cuff, and can make basic activities like getting in and out of cars immensely difficult.
• Tendinitis — Tendinitis generally occurs because of a tendon becoming irritated. It typically falls into one of two categories:
  • Acute: The result of a sudden blow, repeated throwing, or other overhead activities needed in some competitive and activities and fields of employment, such as swimming or lifting and lowering boxes.
  • Chronic: The result of degenerative conditions or the body becoming weaker 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 wear and tear. They begin with fraying and ultimately tear. People often live with partial tears unaware. Full-thickness tears, where the tendon is no longer attached whatsoever to the bone, often require surgery. Associated symptoms are having difficulty raising your arm or lifting things you normally can, pain when lying on the side of the affected shoulder, and a cracking sensation when performing specific movements.
• Shoulder Impingement — Impingement occurs when your acromion (outer edge of your scapula) pinches the rotator cuff and bursae. It is often the result of rotator cuff swellings after an injury. Shoulder impingement occurs the most in people who play sports or are otherwise active.
• Shoulder Instability — This occurs when the ball of 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 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 is accompanied by injury to the surrounding areas of the shoulder. Chronic instability will result in 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. It is the result of the cartilage cushioning the ends of your bones weakens and wears away. It can be the result of old age, persistent trauma, and overuse. There is no cure for arthritis, but effective pain management can be found with Washington, MO physical therapists.
• Shoulder Fractures — The upper arm bone, clavicle, 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 high-impact collisions such as being tackles in a football game. The shoulder pain is usually severe, 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 otherwise damaged. 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 high-impact trauma but can also occur because of wear and tear.

Sometimes, injuries are connected, such as how an untreated rotator cuff tear can lead to arthritis. If you’re experiencing shoulder pain, one of our safe, free injury screenings in Washington, MO may help determine the root of it. If you’ve sustained a severe injury or have severe shoulder pain, a physician in Washington, 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 recovery with a personalized treatment plan with professional physical therapists that are experts in movement health in Washington, MO can be a successful way to get you back to a pain-free daily life and the active lifestyle you deserve.

Treating Your Shoulder Pain in Washington, MO

Your tailored and proven physical therapy may include any one or a variety of different treatment plans:

• Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization to identify soft tissue restrictions, smooth out scar tissue, and treat the affected area
• 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 reduce pain and inflammation and keep you safe as you participate in physical activity or go back to work while your body heals
• Blood flow restriction training to improve strength while reducing overall stress on the shoulder
• Trigger point dry needling to attack damaged muscles, ligaments, and tendons deeper in the body 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 dictates that you need a prescription for physical therapy, so you need to reach out to your Washington, MO 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 ensure you are getting the care that fits into your overall treatment plan.

Other services we offer in Washington, 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

Washington, MO Shoulder Pain | Axes Physical Therapy

A well-functioning shoulder is essential 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 our Washington, MO clients by developing evidence-backed treatment plans based on 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 things you love doing most and a pain-free life. Schedule an appointment through our website or reach out to our location nearest you.