Physical Therapy for Shoulder Injuries
Shoulder injuries can be incredibly painful and unfortunately, they are quite common. Through sports, repetitive movements, falls, or natural aging, the muscles and tendons of the shoulder can become susceptible to damage that can affect your range of movement and keep you from enjoying everyday activities. Park Physical Therapy, a practice specializing in physical therapy in Massapequa, seeks to reduce your shoulder pain and restore function.
How Does the Shoulder Become Injured?
Your shoulder can become injured in a variety of ways and becomes more susceptible to damage as your body ages. Shoulder injuries can occur from falls, twists, overuse, overexertion, and repetitive movements. Depending on the type of injury, common symptoms such as pain, stiffness, and limitations in range of motion can be resolved either through immediate medical attention or improved through long term care from physical therapy in Massapequa.
Common Types of Shoulder Injuries
Instability
- In cases of shoulder instability, the joints of the shoulder may have been moved or forced out of normal positions, or the tendons and ligaments may have been stretched beyond their normal limits.
- Instability of the shoulder can result in shoulder dislocation.
- Symptoms of instability include pain when raising your arm and feeling that the shoulder is “slipping” out of place.
- Instability is most common in young people and athletes, although it can affect people of all ages.
Impingement
- Impingement injuries in the shoulder occur when the shoulder muscles rub against the top of the shoulder blade, which is called the acromion.
- It occurs most frequently during activities that require excessive or repetitive overhead arm motions.
- Impingement of the shoulder causes inflammation and can lead to serious injury if not treated.
Rotator Cuff Injuries
- The rotator cuff enables us to be able to move our arms above our heads and holds the bones of the shoulder together.
- Rotator cuff injuries are most common in older individuals, especially those with a history of shoulder injuries.
- When the rotator cuff is worn or torn, tenderness, pain, pressure and an inability to use the shoulder or sleep on the injured side is common.
How Physical Therapy Can Help
The goals of physical therapy include improving the function of muscles and reducing the long-term pain of shoulder injuries. Physical therapy works by targeting the smaller, but important muscles that are not normally strengthened in everyday activities or in weightlifting. At Park Physical Therapy, our physical therapy in Massapequa can help assess your shoulder injury and develop a plan for restoring strength, reducing pain, and getting you back to the activities that you enjoy. Contact us today for more information about how we can help you resolve your shoulder injuries through physical therapy.
