Tag Archives: shoulder pain

Shoulder Injury
Frozen Shoulder, Physiotherapy, Rotator Cuff tear, Shoulder Dislocation, Shoulder Injuries, Shoulder pain, Sports Injuries, Sports Physiotherapy

Top Causes of Shoulder Pain in Adults Over 40 & How Physiotherapy Can Help

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Shoulder Injury

Shoulder pain is one of the most common reasons adults over 40 seek treatment at our clinics. Whether it’s that persistent dull ache while lifting your arm, a sharp pain when reaching overhead, or stiffness when trying to sleep, shoulder pain can significantly disrupt your daily life.

At our clinic, we often see patients who don’t realize how much shoulder physiotherapy can help—both to relieve pain and prevent long-term issues. Usually, people will come in for help once it starts to affect their sports and physical activity, or when they can no longer perform every day tasks like reaching a high shelf or putting on a jacket. Shoulder pain is treatable, even if it is has been there for months. However, we always recommend coming in as early as possible to have the highest chance of resolving your issue in the shortest amount of time possible. In this blog, we’ll break down why shoulder problems are so common, the most frequent causes of shoulder pain, and how shoulder physiotherapy can help you recover and stay active.

How does the shoulder joint work?

On the left, an image of a right side shoulder viewed from the back. On the right, an image of a right side shoulder viewed from the front. The end of the humerus is rounded (ball), to fit into the scapula (socket). Then, the 4 rotator cuff muscles and a joint capsule hold it all together

First, a brief anatomy lesson to help you understand where problems can come from. Importantly, the design of the shoulder joint, (ball and socket joint) makes it the most mobile joint in your body. However, this mobility comes with a cost. It’s greatest strength is also its weakness, since its huge range of motion translates to large amounts of instability in the joint.

Next, at the center of shoulder function is the rotator cuff, a group of four muscles and tendons that keep your shoulder joint in its socket generates joint movements. The rotator cuff includes:

  • Supraspinatus (most commonly injured)
  • Infraspinatus
  • Teres minor
  • Subscapularis

These muscles work together to help you lift, rotate, and control your arm. They also support your shoulder during everyday activities like reaching, pushing, or pulling. Proper shoulder kinematics, the way your bones, muscles, and joints move together, is essential for pain-free function. When part of this system is injured or weakened, it often leads to shoulder pain and limited movement.

What are common causes of shoulder pain in adults over 40?

If you’re over 40, you’re more likely to experience shoulder pain due to natural wear and tear, previous injuries, or changes in lifestyle. Some of the most common causes include:

1. Rotator cuff tendinopathy and tears

These refer to the four muscles we talked about in the previous section. Over time, the rotator cuff tendons can weaken, leading to inflammation (tendinopathy) or tears. This is one of the leading causes of shoulder pain in adults over 40, and one of the diagnoses we make most often in our clinics. This condition can develop acutely (from a specific injury or a moment in time), or slowly over time, usually from overuse.

2. Biceps tendon tendinitis/tears

The biceps tendon, which runs through the front of the shoulder, can become inflamed or torn, contributing to shoulder pain, especially with lifting or carrying. Due to its proximity to the rotator cuff tendons, issues may appear in both areas at the same time.

3. Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis)

Still with a widely unknown cause, frozen shoulder causes the joint capsule to stiffen, leading to severe restriction of motion and ongoing shoulder pain. This condition has been thought to have autoimmune involvement, but research is ongoing. Frozen shoulder follows a very predictable pattern of stages known as the freezing, frozen, and numbing stages, each usually lasting several months.

4. Shoulder osteoarthritis

Age and activity-related cartilage and joint surface degeneration can lead to osteoarthritis, resulting in stiffness, loss of range of motion, and joint pain. Usually rare for it to happen in the 40’s, if you have had a previous history of traumatic shoulder injuries or surgeries, you are at greater risk.

5. Calcific tendinitis

Calcium deposits in the rotator cuff tendons can cause sudden, intense shoulder pain, often limiting movement. Common and highly effective treatment for this condition is shockwave therapy to break down the deposits.

6. Bursitis

Bursae are like little cushions in our body that sit in areas where there is a lot of friction or pressure. Usually, they sit under or between tendons to help them glide and offset the friction. During arm movements, they can sometimes be pinched or with repetitive activities they can become irritated and inflamed. Thus, bursitis, or inflammation of a bursa. Oftentimes, people will report pain with overhead movements in this condition.

7. Fracture, dislocations, and separations

These are more severe injuries that usually occur from traumatic, high speed or force accidents such as a sports injury or car collisions. Shoulder fractures happen frequently in the humerus or clavicle (collar bone). Dislocations may happen between the humerus and scapula, where the head of the humerus gets hit out of the socket. Separations occur at the clavicle when the ligaments that normally hold it down are torn.

Why is shoulder pain more common in adults over 40?

Several factors make shoulder pain more common as we age:

  • Age-related wear and tear: Tendons naturally lose elasticity over time, increasing the risk of injury
  • Repetitive overuse: Years of overhead work, sports, or manual labor can lead to chronic shoulder problems
  • Poor posture: Slouching or rounded shoulders can change how the shoulder joint moves, leading to strain and discomfort
  • Previous injuries: Old injuries can lead to compensation patterns due to lost strength and mobility
  • Comorbidities: Diabetes, thyroid disease, and other conditions which increase in likelihood with age are linked to frozen shoulder and tendon problems.

How can physiotherapy help my shoulder pain?

Whether you’re dealing with an existing injury or trying to prevent shoulder pain, shoulder physiotherapy is one of the most effective treatments available.

Preventative shoulder physiotherapy or prehabilitation:

Prehabilitation is a newer term used to describe a proactive approach of preparing for physical activity. This involves improving overall fitness with the goal of minimizing the risk of injury while optimizing performance. Your physiotherapist will do a detailed assessment to determine the areas you need to work on. The treatment may include things like:

  • Posture correction: Improving shoulder and overall body alignment to reduce strain on the shoulder
  • Rotator cuff prehab: Building a stronger rotator cuff and shoulder blade muscles to stabilize the joint
  • Stretching and mobility: Maintaining or restoring full range of motion for daily life or sport, to prevent compensation patterns
  • Ergonomic advice: Learning how to avoid repetitive stressors at work, during daily activities
  • Technique corrections: Sport specific or exercise corrections to form to reduce injury risk and improve muscle performance

Rehabilitative shoulder physiotherapy:

This form of physiotherapy is usually more familiar to individuals, and happens after a pain or injury has happened. The goal is to restore normal strength, movement, and function the the shoulder, so the individual can continue their normal work, physical activities, and hobbies. The treatment may include things like:

  • Pain management techniques: Using manual therapy, massage, electrotherapy, ice/heat, and specific exercises to reduce shoulder pain
  • Guided exercise programs: Safely rebuilding strength and mobility under professional supervision
  • Movement retraining: Addressing faulty movement patterns to protect the joint during recovery
  • Education and long-term care: Learn how to keep your shoulders healthy with maintenance protocols and prevent future injurie

Ready to get started?

Look for PhysioNow! We have many expert shoulder physiotherapists that are ready to get you started no matter what your goal is. Don’t let your shoulder trouble you any more! With 10 locations across the GTA from Burlington, Oakville, Mississauga, and Etobicoke, our team is ready to serve you. Book with PhysioNow today for your first assessment and treatment!

Images by Freepik

Frozen Shoulder, Physiotherapy, Shoulder Injuries, Shoulder pain

Frozen Shoulder: What You Need to Know

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If you’ve ever experienced pain and stiffness in your shoulder, you know how difficult it can make everyday tasks—reaching for something on a shelf, putting on a jacket, or even combing your hair. One possible reason for this kind of shoulder pain is frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis.

In this blog, we’ll break down what frozen shoulder is, how it happens, and how Physiotherapy Treatment can help you recover and regain full use of your shoulder.

What is a frozen shoulder?

Frozen shoulder occurs when the tissue around your shoulder joint (called the “capsule”) becomes inflamed, thickened, and tight. Consequently, this makes it harder to move your shoulder and causes pain. In some cases, the pain can also get worse at night, making it difficult to sleep. Usually, this condition develops slowly, often over the course of months or even years, and in a predictable pattern. Unfortunately, frozen shoulder can be quite limiting in daily life. Thankfully, with the right approach, most people can recover and get their shoulder moving again.

What causes frozen shoulder?

Being immobilized such as in a shoulder sling or a cast on the arm is a risk factor for developing a frozen shoulder.

Currently, the exact cause of frozen shoulder isn’t known. However, there are a few things that have been associated with an increased risk of developing it:

  1. Injury or surgery: After a shoulder injury, fracture or surgery (like a rotator cuff repair), there are usually a time where the shoulder is immobilized. Thus, the shoulder may become stiff from lack of movement and there is an increased risk of developing frozen shoulder during this time
  2. Medical conditions: People with diabetes are more likely to develop frozen shoulder. Additionally, thyroid conditions, heart disease, or even Parkinson’s disease can also increase the risk

How Do You Know If You Have Frozen Shoulder?

The main signs of frozen shoulder are:

  • Pain: You may feel pain in the shoulder, especially when you try to move it. Also, it tends to be often at night or when you try to lift your arm up
  • Stiffness: You may notice that you can’t move your shoulder as freely as you used to. Simple tasks like reaching behind your back or lifting your arm may become difficult
  • Limited Range of Motion: The stiffness usually leads to a limited range of motion, especially in external rotation (with your elbow bent to 90, try rotating your arm outwards like you’re pushing open a curtain). Additionally, you may not be able to raise your arm above your head or reach out in front of you as easily

Frozen shoulder usually develops in three stages lasting around 1-3 years overall:

  1. Freezing stage: First, pain starts to increase while shoulder movement begins to reduce. Usually, this stage lasts about 3 months
  2. Frozen stage: Then, in the next 6 months the pain might reduce while stiffness greatly increases. At its worst, you may not be able to move the shoulder much
  3. Thawing stage: Finally, lasting anywhere from 6 months to a couple years the shoulder will spontaneously improve over time. Gradually, the shoulder starts to loosen up and movement improves

How can Physiotherapy help?

While frozen shoulder can feel frustrating, Physiotherapy Treatment is recommended effective for helping you recover from a frozen shoulder. They will work with you to improve your shoulder’s mobility/function and reduce pain. Here’s how physiotherapist can help:

1. Pain relief techniques

Physiotherapists may use techniques like heat therapy, ice packs, ultrasound, electrotherapy to reduce pain and inflammation. These methods can also help loosen up the shoulder muscles to make it easier to stretch and move

2. Gentle stretching and mobilization

At first, your Physiotherapist will use gentle stretches to help increase your range of motion. These stretches will focus on improving flexibility and reducing stiffness. Over time, they will progress to more intense stretches as your shoulder becomes more mobile

3. Strengthening exercises

Once the pain is under control and your range of motion has improved, strengthening exercises will be introduced. Importantly, these exercises help build muscle around the shoulder to support the joint and prevent future injuries. After a long period of disuse in the shoulder, strengthening is key to restoring it to full function

4. Education and Advice

Additionally, your Physiotherapist will give you advice on how to avoid aggravating your shoulder and help you learn how to move in ways that prevent excessive pain. Furthermore, they’ll teach you simple exercises to do at home to keep your shoulder moving and improve its flexibility.

How Long Does It Take to Recover?

The timeline for recovery can vary from person to person. It can take several months to years for your shoulder to fully recover from frozen shoulder. Typically, the process is broken down into stages, as mentioned before. The key is consistency. Regular physical therapy, along with exercises at home, can help speed up the recovery process. But, it’s important to be patient and stick to your rehabilitation plan.

Frozen shoulder can be a painful and frustrating condition, but with the right physiotherapy treatment, you can regain full use of your shoulder. If you’re experiencing shoulder pain or stiffness, don’t hesitate to contact us at PhysioNow. We will help you develop a personalized treatment plan that will get you back to doing what you love—pain-free!

Remember, the earlier you start treatment, the better the recovery outcomes. If you have any questions or would like to book an appointment, feel free to reach out to PhysioNow today!

Back Pain, Physiotherapy, Shoulder pain

Shoulder Blade Pain Annoying You? How to Fix It

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Shoulder blade pain can be a debilitating issue that affects your daily activities, sleep, and overall quality of life. You may feel like there’s a constant ache in between your shoulder blades and feel like you are unable to find a comfortable position to sit in. Understanding its causes, symptoms, and effective treatment options is essential for finding relief. This blog will address your shoulder blade pain and give you some effective strategies for resolving it.

Initial relief strategies

When experiencing shoulder blade pain, immediate relief is what you search for. Here are a couple of methods to try to manage your initial discomfort on your own:

  1. Heat therapy: Applying heat can relax tense muscles. Thus, a warm compress or heating pad can improve blood flow and soothe discomfort
  2. Gentle stretching and mobility exercises: Additionally, simple stretches can help relieve tension.
    Typically, effective stretches may include:
    • Neck tilt: Gently tilt your head to one side, holding for 15-30 seconds to stretch
      the neck and upper back
    • Child’s pose: This yoga position can stretch the shoulders and upper back while
      promoting relaxation
    • Leaning back over a foam roller or chair back: This position reverses the rounded shoulders posture that most of us spend a lot of time in, and can effectively relieve mid back pain
Stretching the neck along with the upper back regularly can help relieve or prevent shoulder blade pain.

Preventing shoulder blade pain

Preventing shoulder blade pain involves a combination of proper posture, regular exercise, ergonomic adjustments, and lifestyle choices. Here are several effective strategies to help you avoid and/or prevent shoulder blade pain:

  1. Maintain good posture
    • Sit and stand tall: Keep your shoulders back and down, aligning your ears over your shoulders. Furthermore, avoid slouching, especially when sitting for extended periods
    • Ergonomic workspace: Ensure your computer monitor is at eye level, and your chair provides adequate lumbar support. Also, use a chair that allows your feet to rest flat on the floor
  2. Take regular breaks
    • Movement breaks: Stand up, stretch, and walk around every hour if you have a desk job. Short breaks help reduce muscle tension
    • Stretching: Incorporate gentle stretching exercises into your routine to relieve tightness in the neck, shoulders, and upper back
  3. Exercise regularly
    • Resistance training: First, incorporate exercises that target the upper back and shoulders, like rows, lat pulldowns and shoulder presses
    • Flexibility training: Secondly, yoga or a daily mobility routine can improve overall flexibility and strengthen stabilizing muscles
  4. Be mindful of repetitive movements
    • Change it up: If your job or hobbies involve repetitive shoulder movements, take breaks and vary your activities to prevent overuse injuries
    • Proper technique: Use proper techniques for lifting and carrying to avoid straining the shoulder area. Additionally, ask for help or use a tool if you need to lift objects that are too heavy for you
  5. Invest in quality sleep
    • Sleep position: Use supportive pillows that keep your neck aligned with your spine. Also, avoid sleeping on your stomach, which can strain the neck and shoulders
    • Mattress: Ensure your mattress provides adequate support for your back. For example, if you are waking up with worse pain, there might be something you need to adjust in your nighttime routine

I still have shoulder blade pain, now what?

Sometimes, the pain can be stubborn and self-management is not resolving your problem to your satisfaction. In this case, you should consult a health care professional such as a Registered Physical Therapist/Physiotherapist. These professionals are trained to assess the movement and muscles of the human body and are experts at dealing with pain. Additionally, regular visits to either Physical Therapy or Massage Therapy may help with prevention of pain and maintenance of a healthy, active lifestyle.

The treatments may include:

  1. Manual therapy techniques: This includes hands on work like massage and soft tissue techniques, mobilizations, and more. The goal is to reduce pain and dysfunction in the body
  2. Modalities: For example, heat, therapeutic ultrasound, electrotherapy, and more. Your professional will decide what is appropriate for you to help your pain and help you get better quicker
  3. Therapeutic exercises: Whether it’s stretches, strengthening, or postural exercises, your professional will create a home program for you to self-manage your pain
  4. Acupuncture: The insertion of thin needles into certain parts of the body can stimulate many beneficial effects like pain relief, increased circulation, endorphin release and more

If you are experiencing pain, look for PhysioNow! We have many expert Physical Therapists, Massage Therapists and Manual Osteopaths to help resolve your pain. With 10 locations across the GTA including Burlington, Oakville, Mississauga, and Etobicoke, we make it convenient to find help! Book with PhysioNow today for your first assessment and treatment.

Images by FreePik

Shoulder Injuries, Shoulder pain, Sports Injuries, Sports Physiotherapy

Rotator Cuff Tendinitis: Are You Treating it Properly?

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What is the rotator cuff?

The rotator cuff is made up of a group of 4 muscles which control shoulder movements in all directions. Each rotator cuff muscle takes part in a slightly different anatomical shoulder movement like flexion, abduction, or rotation. In addition, they are all used in combination for movements like sport=specific movements. For example, in overhead, throwing, and racket sports such as badminton, tennis, volleyball and basketball.

The 4 muscles involved in the rotator cuff are as follows:
1) Supraspinatus
2) Infraspinatus
3) Teres major, teres minor
4) Subscapularis

What is rotator cuff tendinitis?

Rotator cuff tendinitis usually means there has been overuse/repetitive strain of the one of the tendons or group of tendons of the muscles listed above. As a result, inflammation has developed in that tendon, causing pain and loss of function. This condition may start as mild pain at the beginning but if left ignored and untreated, can worsen quickly and affect your ability to participate in sports.

How do I know if I have this condition?

The following are a list of the most common signs and symptoms:

1) Pain, discomfort, soreness, tightness with shoulder movement
2) Certain angles of shoulder movement reliably recreate the sharp pain. E.g. picking up a glass of water, overhead activities, reaching the arm backwards to put a jacket on
3) Stiffness in shoulder, especially in the morning
4) Sleeping discomfort while sleep on the affected side
5) Swelling in or around the shoulder
6) All overhead activities- painful, sharp pain and may radiate pain down the arm

If this list matches your symptoms, we recommend coming in to be assessed by a health care professional. Our physiotherapists are experts with shoulder pain and can help you understand your condition.

Is it possible to prevent tendonitis?

Yes, proactive and mindful care/training can reduce your chances of developing tendonitis.

Regular stretches and a proper warmup before playing sports always helps in prevention of injuries. There are various kinds of stretches to choose from like static, dynamic, yoga, deep tissue or foam roller stretches. Additionally, strengthening exercises and mobility work of the shoulder and thoracic spine are essential. The muscles must be strong enough to keep up with the high amount of force they withstand during play. Finally, ensuring that you are taking sufficient rest is equally as important. Many injuries are the result of increasing activity levels too quickly and the body fails to adapt.

How is rotator cuff tendinitis treated?

Rotator cuff tendinitis treatment

Taping may be a part of treatment for rotator cuff tendinitis

Rotator cuff tendinitis is best treated conservatively, with the help of a physiotherapist. While some people may benefit from medical intervention, most people are successful with athletic rehabilitation and sports therapy.

1) Rest: Avoiding over-exercising will prevent the condition from worsening and allow the muscles to recover and helps in healing.

2) Stretching: Stretching the major shoulder joint muscles can reduce the stress on the rotator cuff and also increases the flexibility of the muscles.

3) Modalities: Electrotherapy like TENS, IFC and/or ultrasound will help reduce pain and inflammation.

4) Pendulum exercise: This helps in preventing shoulder stiffness by increasing space at the joint and also maintains the mobility of the joint. This can be modified with adding more weight like carrying a dumbbell in your hand while performing it.

5) Joint mobilization: Working on the shoulder joint can reduce inflammation, pain, and help improve range and quality of motion of the shoulder.

6) Range of motion exercises: Various ROM exercises with or without assistance, depending on pain levels and current function ex. with the help of a cane, wall, or pulley to off weight the arm and help regain lost ROM in the shoulder.

7) Strengthening training: Depending on the specific condition or based on an individual’s current strength, resistance training can be done using weights and resistance bands to strengthen the rotator cuff.

Man completing exercises for rotator cuff tendinitis rehabilitation

Light dumbbells are often used to train specific muscles around the rotator cuff

8) Functional training: This includes working on the daily activities you may have trouble with, such as lifting a bag or throwing a ball using proper shoulder mechanics. This type of training prepares you to return to your normal activities, including preparing for return to sport.

Looking for athletic therapy?

Whether it’s your shoulder or another injury limiting your ability to participate, PhysioNow can help! We offer sports physiotherapy for athletes, with experience treating a wide variety of sports injuries. Our sport physiotherapists are ready to help you get back into play. Book with PhysioNow today for your first assessment and treatment!

Exercise, General Category, PhysioNow, Shoulder Injuries, Shoulder pain

How to Treat a Frozen Shoulder: Physio 101

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What is Frozen Shoulder?

Frozen shoulder, also called adhesive capsulitis, involves stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint. The shoulder joint is enclosed in a capsule of connective tissue. Then, frozen shoulder occurs when this capsule thickens and tightens around the shoulder joint, restricting its movement.

What does a typical case look like?

Often, signs and symptoms begin slowly, and start getting worse. Over a long period of time, symptoms get better, usually within 1 to 3 years. Additionally, having to keep a shoulder still for a long period increases the risk of developing frozen shoulder. For example, this might happen after having surgery or breaking an arm.

Treatment involves range-of-motion exercises. Sometimes, treatment involves corticosteroids and numbing medications injected into the joint. Rarely, arthroscopic surgery is needed to loosen the joint capsule so that it can move more freely.
It’s unusual for this condition r to reoccur in the same shoulder, but some people can develop it in the other shoulder, usually within five years.

What are the stages of a frozen shoulder?

Frozen shoulder typically develops slowly in three stages.

  • Freezing stage – Any movement of the shoulder causes pain, and the shoulder’s ability to move becomes limited. This stage lasts from 2 to 9 months.
  • Frozen stage – Pain might lessen during this stage. However, the shoulder becomes stiffer and using it becomes more difficult. This stage lasts from 4 to 12 months.
  • Thawing stage – The shoulder’s ability to move begins to improve. This stage lasts from 5 to 24 months. For some people, the pain worsens at night, and can disrupt sleep.

Who develops frozen shoulder?

Certain factors may increase the risk of developing frozen shoulder.

1. Age and sex: Firstly, people aged 40 years and older and women

2. Immobility or reduced mobility: Secondly, people who’ve had to keep a shoulder still (i.e in a sling, immobilized). This restricted movement can be the result of many factors, including:

  • Rotator cuff injury
  • Broken arm
  • Stroke
  • Recovery from surgery

Immobolization increases the risk of developing frozen shoulder

Periods of immobilization like above increase the risk of developing frozen shoulder. Sling is Rolyan Deluxe Shoulder Immobiliser Sling

3. Systemic diseases: Finally, people who have certain diseases appear more likely to develop frozen shoulder. As an example, this may include:

  • Diabetes
  • Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
  • Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Parkinson’s disease

Frozen Shoulder and Physiotherapy

Fortunately, most cases can be managed in the primary care setting. Clinicians are encouraged to start the treatment with patient education. Explaining the natural progression of the condition often helps to reduce frustration and fear.

Common conservative treatments include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), glucocorticoids given orally or as intra-articular injections, and/or physical therapy. Additionally, physical therapy has been shown to bring about pain relief and return of functional motion. Particularly, when used in combination with physical therapy, NSAIDs were proven to be more effective as compared to using NSAIDs alone.

Physiotherapy for each stage of frozen shoulder

Physical therapy and home exercises can be a first-line treatment, with consideration of the patient’s symptoms and stage of the condition.

  1. Freezing Stage: In the freezing (painful) stage, gentle stretching exercises can be done but should be kept within a short duration (1–5 seconds) and not go beyond the patient’s pain threshold.
  2. Frozen Stage: In the frozen (adhesive) stage, strengthening exercises can be added to the patient’s exercises for maintenance of muscle strength.
  3. Thawing Stage: In the thawing stage, the patient experiences a gradual return of range of motion; both stretching and strengthening exercises can increase in intensity, with a longer holding duration.

Assisted stretching and range of motion for the shoulder. Image by Freepik

What do I do if I have shoulder problems?

If you are experiencing any such above symptoms, our team of qualified physiotherapists at PhysioNow are ready to help! We will assist you and guide you through personalized treatment that will help you to improve mobility and quality of life. Book your first appointment with PhysioNow today!

General Category

How to Treat a Rotator Cuff Tear: Physio 101

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Man with shoulder pain from rotator cuff tear

Image by Freepik

The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint, keeping the head of the upper arm bone firmly within the shallow socket of the shoulder. Unfortunately, a rotator cuff tear injuries are fairly common and increase in occurrence with age.

What causes a rotator cuff tear?

  • Accident/trauma – Ex. Falling, broken collarbone, dislocated shoulder
  • Bone spurs – Bony growths can form on the top of your shoulder bone. Consequently, these bone spurs rub against your tendon when you lift your arm. This shoulder impingement creates friction between your bone and tendon. Eventually, a partial or complete tear may occur
  • Decreased blood flow – Blood flow to your rotator cuff decreases as you get older. Your muscles and tendons need a healthy blood supply to repair themselves. If blood doesn’t nourish your tendons, they can tear
  • Overuse – Repetitive shoulder movements during sports such as Recreational and professional athletes who play baseball, softball and tennis or are part of a rowing crew. or on the job such as carpenting, mechanics, painter can stress your muscles and tendons, causing a tear

What are the symptoms?

  • Difficulty, pain and weakness caused by raising, lowering or rotating your arm
  • Popping, clicking or crackling sounds or sensations when moving your arm in certain positions
  • Shoulder pain that worsens at night or when resting your arm
  • Shoulder weakness and struggling to lift items

How is it treated?

Initially, conservative, or nonsurgical, treatments will be used for a rotator cuff injury. These treatments may include:

  • An arm sling and rest to give your shoulder time to heal. Additionally, you may need to modify activities and stop certain work or sports for a period of time
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may help minimize pain and swelling
  • Physical therapy to learn strengthening and stretching exercises
  • Steroid injections to help ease pain and swelling.

Rotator Cuff Tears and Physiotherapy

Image by Freepik

Firstly, physiotherapy (PT) is a great way to get back strength and movement after an injury. It includes things like exercise, ice, heat, massage, and equipment to help return your shoulder back to its normal range of motion and strength. Unless the injury is severe, physiotherapy is the typical starting point for a rotator cuff tear.

Your physical therapist will ask questions about your life and the things you do. Then, they’ll do some tests to learn more about your pain and function.  Ultimately, the goal will be to help you:

  • Get back your range of motion
  • Learn exercises to strengthen your shoulder muscles
  • Improve the way you sit and stand (your posture) to help reduce pain
  • Find a way to sleep that doesn’t hurt your shoulder
  • Learn to carry objects safely
  • Use ice or heat to ease the pain
  • Understand why you need to keep moving
  • Find ways to do things so that they don’t hurt your shoulder
  • Return to your regular activities (be patient — this can take a while)

Furthermore, if your injury does require surgery, PT is an integral part of post-operative rehabilitation. Overall, It’s the same idea — to improve strength and movement and get back to regular life. The therapist will show you how not to injure your shoulder
again after surgery. Then, they will progressively increase your strength, mobility, and functional abilities.

What do I do if I have shoulder pain?

At PhysioNow, we will help you to recover, pay attention to your pain and find best way to heal your injured shoulder and keep it as strong as possible. Book your first appointment with PhysioNow today!

Applewood Physionow, Applewood Sports & Physiotherapy Ltd, Erin Mills PhysioNow, Erin Mills Physionow, Erin Mills Physiotherapy Ltd., Exercise, General Category, Lorne Park PhysioNow, Lorne Park Sports & Physiotherapy Ltd., Manual Therapy, Massage Therapy, Massage Therapy at Erin Mills Physiotherapy Ltd., Massage Therapy Services Mississauga, PhysioNow, Physiotherapy, Registered Massage therapist Mississauga, Registered Massage Therapy Lorne Park PhysioNow, Registered Massage therapy Mississauga, Registered Physiotherapist Mississauga, Registered Physiotherapy Mississauga, Shoulder Dislocation, Shoulder Injuries, Sports Injuries, Sports Physiotherapy, Sports Taping

Shoulder Dislocation Treatment Mississauga

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Shoulder Dislocation Treatment Mississauga

Shoulder Dislocation Treatment Mississauga

Shoulder Dislocation Treatment Mississauga

What leads to shoulder dislocation?Shoulder Dislocation Treatment Mississauga can help!

Many people who have had a dislocated shoulder often refer back to the incident as being so sudden. All that they remember is hearing a loud click and the feeling of excruciating pain immediately after the injury. Yes! they could actually feel the shoulder as it is wrenched out of the socket. It can be a very dreadful experience!!!

That’s when you need Shoulder Dislocation Treatment Mississauga!.
Depending on the severity of injury, Shoulder Dislocation Treatment Mississauga varies. Generally, your doctor orders an X-Ray and Ultrasound to determine the extent of the injury.

Shoulder dislocation classifications:

Shoulder dislocations are classified depending on your symptoms and X-Ray findings. This helps to decide which general guidelines to follow for treating your dislocated shoulder.

Usually, a shoulder sling is provided to maintain the shoulder in a neutral position and offload your shoulder muscles. Depending on your doctor’s advice, they may want you to wear the sling for three to four weeks. Check out this website for a bit more information: Orthoinfo.

How can a Registered Physiotherapist Mississauga help to rehabilitate your shoulder?

A Registered Physiotherapist Mississauga can aid in faster recovery of your dislocated shoulder. Shoulder dislocation treatment Mississauga can get you to start using your shoulder. It will help you to get back to dressing, combing, grooming, eating, lifting objects etc.

Right after injury, Shoulder Dislocation Treatment Mississauga uses modalities such as ultrasound and a muscle stimulator. These electrical modalities bring more blood to the area (fresh oxygen and nutrients. It also calms down the inflammation in the shoulder.

Once you immobilize your shoulder in a sling, it tends to get stiff. Your shoulder muscles develop a lot of spasm and tightness due to lack of motion.

A Registered Physiotherapist Mississauga will mobilize your shoulder joint. The goal is to prevent any complications . A Registered Physiotherapist Mississauga will educate you regarding the use of a sling.

Shoulder Dislocation Prevention

The Registered Physiotherapist will also show you certain positions/activities to be avoided. We want to help you to prevent another shoulder dislocation when the tissues are healing.

Shoulder Dislocation Treatment Mississauga incorporates strengthening exercises. Typically this would include using Theraband, weight cuffs or pulleys to increase the strength in your shoulder muscles. This will help to stabilize your shoulder.

Registered Massage Therapy after Shoulder Dislocation

Registered Massage Therapy is also very helpful to reduce muscle spasm in the neck and shoulder. It reduces pain, spasm and general overall shoulder tightness.

PhysioNow has excellent Registered Physiotherapists and Registered Massage Therapists at all of our locations in Mississauga. Check us out and book an appointment today! We can Help!

General Category, Health and Wellness, neck pain

Neck Pain

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Neck Pain

Neck Pain

It is hard for me to remember the last day that I did not use a computer. Whether for home banking, doing reports or surfing the net, computer use is becoming more and more vital to everyday life and interaction. However, with all of this increased computer time, you must be aware of posture and positioning to avoid neck pain and shoulder pain.

Ergonomics

The study of proper positioning when working is called ergonomics. It is common that someone who works a lot on a computer will have an ergonomist come and do an individualized assessment of their work station. This will leave them with suggestions on how to improve their area to minimize stress on their bodies and avoid the most common neck pain and injuries seen with constant computer use. However there are common suggestions that everyone can follow for home and work.

The first rule is that your elbow and hips should be bent to 90 degrees while your screen is at eye level. First change the height of your chair so that your elbows are bent to 90 degrees and comfortably reaching the keyboard. Use a tray to pull the keyboard towards your stomach so your arms can rest comfortably at your sides. Also, use a wireless keyboard if you are planning on being on a laptop for a long time. Often, when we raise the chair to the proper height your feet are not resting on the floor and your hips are not bent to 90 degrees. If this is the case, use a small stool or foot rest. Finally check the height of your monitor. You should not have to look up or down to see the screen clearly. Use a book, some paper or a riser to make sure that the screen is directly in front of you.

If you are still uncertain, or find that you have neck pain or headaches after computer use, talk to your physiotherapist. They will be able to customize your space and make it as comfortable, and as safe, as possible.