Most people will experience shoulder pain at least once in their lives; it affects about 80 to 90 percent of both men and women.
Shoulder pain usually doesn’t appear out of nowhere; it often results from pinched nerves, strained muscles, or misaligned bones in the shoulder joint.
Even though there are many ways to eliminate shoulder discomfort, one of the most popular and natural ways to treat shoulder pain is physiotherapy, but not everyone is aware of how it works.
In this article, we will take a look at what physiotherapy is and how you can start getting relief from your shoulder pain today with physiotherapy.
Physiotherapy: What Is It?
Physiotherapy is a medical therapy that concentrates on the treatment and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal conditions. Musculoskeletal conditions are mostly caused by tissue damage, swelling, or both.
Physiotherapy works by re-educating your nervous system, muscles, and connective tissues to alleviate pain and improve movement.
When your nerve system and muscles figure out that pain is no longer an element, they can interact more effectively and move with less disturbance from the brain.
Musculoskeletal conditions such as low back pain, neck pain, shoulder strain, and other conditions can also be relieved with physiotherapy.
What Do Physiotherapists Do?
Physiotherapists are trained to treat patients with musculoskeletal injuries and conditions such as arthritis, sports injuries, postural problems, and neurological disorders.
They work closely with doctors and other health professionals to help people recover from injury and illness.
In addition to treating acute injuries, physiotherapists in St Catharines provide preventative treatment and rehabilitation programs to keep people healthy and mobile.
Physiotherapy Treatments For Shoulder Injury
Physiotherapy treatments for your shoulder discomfort will depend upon the problem you’re experiencing, the severity of your signs and symptoms, and the unique approach of the physiotherapist. Treatments may involve:
Hands-On Manual Therapy – Manual treatments involve the physiotherapist manually re-aligning your muscle fibers and ligaments, getting rid of knots, and restoring them to their correct positions so that they’re not experiencing undue strain or stress.
Strengthening Exercises – Reinforcing exercise focuses on improving the particular muscles that are impacted by shoulder discomfort. Reinforcing exercises can be done through direct contact with the resistance, by means of a weighted barbell, or with your own body weight. Doing reinforcing exercises helps to decrease pain and enhance strength in the agonist muscles, which are the primary muscles that cause your pain.
Stretching Exercises – Stretching is vital to protect against injury and improve mobility. Extending routines can be performed through direct contact with the resistance, via a weight machine, or with your own body weight. Stretching exercises ought to be done routinely to improve your range of motion and prevent injury.
Active Rest – Active Rest is a type of pain management that focuses on minimizing discomfort and increasing the range of movement by increasing movement through physiotherapy exercises. Active Rest enables you to take part in daily activities while you’re experiencing shoulder pain.
What Can I Expect On My First Shoulder Physiotherapy Visit?
The first step in receiving physiotherapy care is to schedule an appointment with our office. During this initial consultation, we will conduct a thorough history-taking session to help us understand what is causing your symptoms and how best to address those issues. We will ask about your current health status, lifestyle habits, and medical history. In addition, we will perform a physical examination to identify areas of concern such as joint restrictions, muscle tightness, nerve interference, etc.
Once we know what is causing your pain, we can begin to develop a plan to improve your overall wellness. This includes developing a personalized program designed to meet your individual needs. Your physiotherapist will work closely with you to ensure that you are provided with a treatment plan with maximum improvement and minimal risk.
Common Reasons for Shoulder Pain
1. Joint pain
2. Soft tissue injuries
3. Nerve dysfunction
4. Shoulder impingement
5. Damaged tissue
6. Shoulder muscle tension
7. Rotator cuff muscle issues
8. Shoulder muscle strains
9. Shoulder muscle tears
10. Auto accident injuries
11. Overuse injuries
How Often Should You Have Physiotherapy For Shoulder Pain?
The frequency of your physiotherapy sessions depends upon the severity of your signs and symptoms, how long you’ve been experiencing them, and how successful your physiotherapy treatments are. Your physiotherapist will collaborate with you to design a treatment schedule that works best for your signs and symptoms and your schedule. You may have as few as one session per week or as many as four each week. If you’ve been experiencing shoulder pain for an extended period, you should have physiotherapy treatments a minimum of one time a week for six to eight weeks.
Tips on Relieving Shoulder Discomfort After Physiotherapy is Over
Following the recommendations and stretches prescribed by your physiotherapist is essential for maintaining their efficiency. You should consider following these simple tips for easing your pain after physiotherapy is over:
Rest – be sure to relax when you’re experiencing discomfort or soreness after your treatment. If you have to lift or pull something, ask a buddy to help out. Do not rush or press through your signs and symptoms. They will just worsen if you do.
Ice – Ice is a terrific way to minimize inflammation and help to split up scar tissue in the short term. You can utilize an ice pack or ice in a bag (a freezer bag with ice frozen inside) to help ease your shoulder discomfort.
Rest Your Shoulder – While resting your shoulder is important, you should refrain from completely resting your shoulder. Resting your shoulder entirely will just allow the muscles to re-tighten, resulting in discomfort and swelling.
Try a New, Low-Intensity Workout – If an exercise isn’t working for you or is causing discomfort, have a go at a different one. If you’ve been doing an exercise that triggers pain, try a distinct variation. You can always alter the workout after you’ve done it for a few weeks.
Don’t Overdo It – Exercising too regularly or too powerfully can wear down your body and cause injury. You ought to consistently listen to your body and stay clear of pressing yourself too hard. If you’re experiencing pain, avoid it.
Who Can Benefit From Physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy is great for anyone who wants to feel better. Whether it’s preventing injury or getting back into shape after illness, physiotherapy can help you achieve your goals.
Our skilled physiotherapists are here to help you recover from everyday injuries like sprains, strains, and fractures, as well as long-term conditions such as arthritis, sports injuries, chronic pain, and spinal problems. They can also provide advice on healthy living and preventative measures.
Wrap Up
Try to stay away from anything that could worsen your symptoms and follow the guidelines provided by your physiotherapist. You’ll be able to relieve your shoulder discomfort if you follow the advice mentioned above.
Physiotherapy is a highly individualized treatment method that uses manipulation, muscle boosting workouts, and movement re-education to deal with conditions like low back pain, neck pain, and shoulder pain.
At Niagara Health & Rehab Centre we provide physiotherapy treatments depending on the severity of your signs and symptoms, how long you’ve been experiencing them, and how beneficial they are for you in the long run.
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