Take a moment to think about how important our shoulders are. They lift and carry our burdens, support our heads, offer a place for our loved ones to cry on, and help us throw a fastball or a football. They are among the most complex and overused joints in our bodies, so it’s no wonder age, wear and tear, and injuries can exact a toll on our shoulders.
If you’re experiencing a loss of movement, pain, stiffness, or tenderness in one or both shoulders, the physical therapist at The Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Center can provide a path to healing that can avoid surgery or a reliance on medication. We work with our patients’ doctors to evaluate and treat each person with a plan that’s customized to address their needs. By using massage and other healing treatments like ultrasound, we prepare the injured area for gentle stretching and eventually a gradual series of targeted exercises to strengthen the shoulder. Each patient works one-on-one with our physical therapist to monitor and adjust our program as required. We’ll also supply you with “homework” to maintain your progress during and after treatment.
The shoulder is composed of a network of connected bones, muscles, cartilage, ligaments, and joints capsules — which must be acting in harmony to execute the many functions it performs. Some common conditions reported by our patients are arthritis; strains from overuse; instability; stiffness sometimes referred to as “frozen shoulder”; tears in the muscles that comprise the rotator cuff; and an impingement that occurs when the shoulder blade rubs against the rotator cuff. Depending on the severity of the condition and how long it has persisted, physical therapy has successfully rehabilitated many of these without surgery or medication.
If shoulder pain is making everyday activities difficult, let the physical therapist at The Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Center get you back in the game — at home, at work, or on the field. Please contact our office to schedule an evaluation.