Is shoulder pain keeping you sidelined this summer?
Shoulder pain is a common complaint among people of all ages. It can range from minor discomfort to debilitating and long-lasting pain.
Common symptoms of shoulder pain include stiffness, tenderness, swelling or warmth around the joint, difficulty moving your arm, and weakness in the muscles surrounding the shoulder.
In some cases, there may also be a grinding sensation when you move your shoulder.
The cause of shoulder pain can vary greatly depending on its location and severity.
Some potential causes include overuse injuries such as tendonitis or bursitis; underlying medical conditions like arthritis or rotator cuff tears; physical trauma due to falls or sports activities; and even emotional stress.
It’s important to seek medical advice if you are experiencing shoulder pain as the issue may be more serious than initially thought.
Without proper treatment, shoulder pain can worsen and lead to further complications like decreased range of motion or permanent damage to the joint and surrounding muscles.
Therefore, it is important to both identify the source of your shoulder pain and manage it effectively through rest, ice/heat therapy, physical therapy exercises, over-the-counter medications, or prescribed treatments from your doctor.
Early diagnosis and treatment are key to avoiding future episodes of shoulder pain.
What Could Be Causing Your Shoulder Pain?
Sports-related shoulder pain is a common complaint among athletes.
Shoulder injuries can vary in severity, from a minor tweak causing discomfort to severe structural damage and tears that may require medical attention.
It is important for athletes to identify the source of their shoulder pain and seek appropriate treatment before continuing with their sport.
The most common cause of shoulder pain associated with sports is overuse or repetitive motion.
This typically involves movements such as throwing, swinging, or pushing which place strain on the rotator cuff muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
Other causes include direct contact during physical contact sports, poor technique or form, and inadequate warm-up prior to physical activity.
It is important not to try and play through shoulder pain as this can lead to further injury. Ignoring the signs of an overuse or structural shoulder injury can cause long-term repercussions.
Appropriate rest and treatment is the best way to ensure that future participation in sports will not be affected by a previous shoulder injury.
Athletes should seek professional medical advice if they experience any discomfort or pain, no matter how minor it may seem, as early intervention can often help reduce long-term effects and aid in quicker recovery.
A comprehensive rehabilitation program prescribed by a qualified healthcare provider is usually necessary for athletes with serious shoulder injuries.
Ultimately, avoiding or reducing sports-related shoulder pain requires understanding and addressing the underlying causes of prevention methods such as adequate warm-up and cool-down routines before physical activity, correct technique and form, listening to your body’s warning signs, and seeking professional medical advice when needed.
Adhering to these guidelines will help ensure that athletes can safely participate in their chosen sport without worrying about painful shoulder injuries.
How To Stay On the Field or Court When Dealing With Shoulder Pain
When dealing with shoulder pain, it is important to stay on the field or court rather than take time off.
Although resting for a few days can help reduce the pain in some cases, staying active helps promote healing and will keep you playing longer.
Physical Therapy can play an important role in managing your shoulder pain and reducing the risk of missing games due to injury or chronic pain.
Physical therapists are highly trained professionals who specialize in treating musculoskeletal conditions such as shoulder pain.
By using specialized treatments designed to target the source of your shoulder discomfort, physical therapists can help you quickly and safely return to playing without having to miss any games.
In addition, regular physical therapy treatment sessions can help prevent future occurrences of shoulder pain by strengthening muscles, improving range of motion, and increasing flexibility.
Lastly, physical therapists can provide you with valuable advice on how to best manage shoulder pain both on and off the court.
By teaching you proper stretching techniques, strengthening exercises, how to use ice or heat for pain relief, and even giving lifestyle advice such as posture tips or ergonomic recommendations, a physical therapist can help keep your shoulder healthy long-term so that you can stay in the game.
Staying active and seeing a physical therapist when dealing with shoulder pain is an important step towards recovering quickly and safely so that you don’t miss any games due to injury or chronic pain.
With individualized treatments designed around your specific needs and goals combined with knowledgeable advice on how to best manage your shoulder pain, physical therapists are the key to getting you back in the game.
Is Shoulder Pain Keeping You Sidelined This Summer?
Staying active is important. But, shoulder pain can keep you from staying active and can be nagging when dealing with it for a period of time.
If that sounds like you, then schedule a free phone consult or contact us to arrange a Shoulder Pain Assessment. You can also feel free to give us a call at 845.675.8444 (We still like to talk on the phone!)
If you want more information on how to best shoulder pain, visit us at Empire Sports Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation.
Don’t let back pain keep you from what you love to do!
We love to keep people in the Valley Cottage area mobile, active, and off pain pills – let our expertise go to work for you to help you return to the activities you love.
Don’t forget, you can schedule a no-obligation (and free!) phone consult or visit us at our Valley Cottage clinic as part of your Shoulder Pain Assessment. Or just give us a call at 845.675.8444.
Until next time,
David Stedjan, PT
Other Free Resources from Empire Sports Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation…
Free Report for Back Pain – “9 Easy Tips to Stop Your Low Back Pain from Stopping Your Work-Outs and Social Activities”
Read Our Blog – Can Stress Cause Body Aches And Pains?
