Shoulder Pain, Shoulder Problems and Shoulder Dysfunction
Shoulder Impingement
The most common of shoulder problems, this is a symptom not a diagnosis as lots of separate conditions cause impingement.
Overuse, trauma, rotator cuff weakness or rotator cuff tear all cause Impingement.
Symptoms: pain raising the arm above horizontal or above the head. A weak shoulder with power movements like throwing. can be painful to lie on but usually has a good hand behind the back movement.
Treatment: manual therapy to treat tight painful muscles and joints. Specific exercise to retrain the rotator cuff to optimise the shoulder control. Exercise and posture work to maximise the trunk and scapula control which are the base the shoulder works from.
Overuse, trauma, rotator cuff weakness or rotator cuff tear all cause Impingement.
Symptoms: pain raising the arm above horizontal or above the head. A weak shoulder with power movements like throwing. can be painful to lie on but usually has a good hand behind the back movement.
Treatment: manual therapy to treat tight painful muscles and joints. Specific exercise to retrain the rotator cuff to optimise the shoulder control. Exercise and posture work to maximise the trunk and scapula control which are the base the shoulder works from.
Frozen Shoulder
Also known as Adhesive Capsulitis this is a condition that usually occurs in our late 40's to 60's and has genetic links. Early diagnosis is crucial as treatment is far more effective in the first 6 weeks and we strongly recommend an early steroid injection as this condition can last anywhere between 6 months and 3 years. In the initial stages inappropriate therapy can actually prolong the condition and lead to more pain and dysfunction and why it is important to be seen by a specialist who can recognise this condition and arrange the most effective treatment.
This condition usually has 3 stages. The initial painful stiffening freezing phase. The less painful but stuck frozen phase and finally the improving thawing phase.
Symptoms: shoulder beginning to stiffen and has reduced movements behind the back and out to the side, painful to lie on and severe pain with reaching out movements or jerk movements.
Treatment: Early Treatment usually involves discussion regarding a capsular steriod injection which we are able to perform in clinic with discussion with your G.P.
We then treat the associated cervical and myofascial symptoms with a care not to flare the shoulder and worsen or prolong the problem.
This condition usually has 3 stages. The initial painful stiffening freezing phase. The less painful but stuck frozen phase and finally the improving thawing phase.
Symptoms: shoulder beginning to stiffen and has reduced movements behind the back and out to the side, painful to lie on and severe pain with reaching out movements or jerk movements.
Treatment: Early Treatment usually involves discussion regarding a capsular steriod injection which we are able to perform in clinic with discussion with your G.P.
We then treat the associated cervical and myofascial symptoms with a care not to flare the shoulder and worsen or prolong the problem.
Rotator Cuff Tear
Under the age of 30 these are rare and usually involve a high impact trauma. As we age and get closer to 50-60 even small forces can cause a tear in an already worn tendon.
Symptoms: They give similar symptoms as shoulder impingement but when more severe we are unable to move the arm away from the body with any power but might be able to move it with the other arm. This indicates the stability muscles may be torn.
Treatment: Treatment depends on accurate diagnosis and why suspected tears should be seen by a specialist. If a large tear is suspected this should be referred for investigation and a shoulder surgeons opinion. We have excellent links to the area surgeons and can have you seen rapidly when required.
Smaller tears can be optimised with therapy and even massive tears that are non operable can be treated effectively with specialist physiotherapy.
Symptoms: They give similar symptoms as shoulder impingement but when more severe we are unable to move the arm away from the body with any power but might be able to move it with the other arm. This indicates the stability muscles may be torn.
Treatment: Treatment depends on accurate diagnosis and why suspected tears should be seen by a specialist. If a large tear is suspected this should be referred for investigation and a shoulder surgeons opinion. We have excellent links to the area surgeons and can have you seen rapidly when required.
Smaller tears can be optimised with therapy and even massive tears that are non operable can be treated effectively with specialist physiotherapy.
Shoulder Instability
Shoulder Instability is a big group of problems including Dislocation, Labral tear, Hyper-mobility laxity, Muscle patterning, Subluxations.
Symptoms: This is too big a group to discuss in a simple page but if you have dislocated your shoulder and continue to have problems, feel the shoulder keeps popping out or almost popping out or is weak after a trauma then it should have a specialist assessment from a shoulder therapist or surgeon.
Treatment: This depends on the diagnosis but with stable labral tears, laxity without trauma or hyper-mobility very specialist exercise and therapy is required. This can get very complex and usually the area we shoulder specialist therapists spend a great deal of time rehabilitating. For the dislocation group it is very important we make sure there is no structural damage and we usually organise specific scans or investigations and/or shoulder surgeon advise to ensure you have the best treatment.
Symptoms: This is too big a group to discuss in a simple page but if you have dislocated your shoulder and continue to have problems, feel the shoulder keeps popping out or almost popping out or is weak after a trauma then it should have a specialist assessment from a shoulder therapist or surgeon.
Treatment: This depends on the diagnosis but with stable labral tears, laxity without trauma or hyper-mobility very specialist exercise and therapy is required. This can get very complex and usually the area we shoulder specialist therapists spend a great deal of time rehabilitating. For the dislocation group it is very important we make sure there is no structural damage and we usually organise specific scans or investigations and/or shoulder surgeon advise to ensure you have the best treatment.
Postural Shoulder Pain
This is becoming far more prevalent with the use of laptops, mobile phones, ipads and general reduced extension or upright activities in our lives.
Symptoms: Pain in the epaulette area and scapua and upper back region. Can be worse with static sat postures and also give us pain in the neck area.
Treatment: Its unrealistic to think any therapist can fully cure this without addressing the postural issues. Treating this effectively requires your full effort to work on posture changes, exercise to stabilise and give more power to your upper trunk and an awareness of the habits that are adding to the problem. A good therapist will spend time identifying these as well as giving specific exercise and lifestyle changes. We also use manual techniques to change the joint stiffness and muscle tightness and pain.
Symptoms: Pain in the epaulette area and scapua and upper back region. Can be worse with static sat postures and also give us pain in the neck area.
Treatment: Its unrealistic to think any therapist can fully cure this without addressing the postural issues. Treating this effectively requires your full effort to work on posture changes, exercise to stabilise and give more power to your upper trunk and an awareness of the habits that are adding to the problem. A good therapist will spend time identifying these as well as giving specific exercise and lifestyle changes. We also use manual techniques to change the joint stiffness and muscle tightness and pain.
A/C joint (Acromio/Clavicular Joint) pain
I see many of these and when we are young it is usually from trauma even from a fall on an outstretched hand as well as impact to the shoulder. These are often missed as a sourse of continual shoulder pain post road traffic accident (RTA) form the seatbelt.
As we age usually 40 onwards this joint can become slightly degenerative and give pain.
Symptoms: Pain on top of the shoulder you can usually put one finger on. Painful with across body movements and end of range high arc movements.
Treatment: As a shoulder specialist who is able to treat with steroid injection as well as physiotherapy my treatment of choice tends to be a steroid in the vast majority of these as it seems to be the most effective treatment I can offer. I also settle them with manual therapy and acupuncture but if not settling do not think it is fair to continue to treat you if it is not improving the problem.
As we age usually 40 onwards this joint can become slightly degenerative and give pain.
Symptoms: Pain on top of the shoulder you can usually put one finger on. Painful with across body movements and end of range high arc movements.
Treatment: As a shoulder specialist who is able to treat with steroid injection as well as physiotherapy my treatment of choice tends to be a steroid in the vast majority of these as it seems to be the most effective treatment I can offer. I also settle them with manual therapy and acupuncture but if not settling do not think it is fair to continue to treat you if it is not improving the problem.
