Causes and treatment methods for shoulder pain

When the rotator cuff is injured, movements in the shoulder can cause pain or even complete loss of function. Then, even small daily movements (unbuttoning a bra, hanging laundry, combing hair, brushing…) can cause severe pain or the affected person can no longer move their arm.

On the one hand, such an injury can be caused by a serious injury (fall on the arm), on the other hand, the rotator cuff muscle (the muscle that sits around the shoulder joint and stabilizes it) can recede (regress). This is where pain symptoms gradually appear. However, if multiple symptoms are present, the diagnosis quickly becomes unclear.

If shoulder pain is caused by physical labor or sedentary work, the problem may be the same. Here, exercise therapy, manual therapy, functional training, and behavioral education in everyday life can help.

Physical therapist procedures

Before seeing a physical therapist, sufferers must consult a physician. Using imaging techniques, this person will be able to identify injuries and write a prescription for exercise therapy or manual therapy, if necessary. Those experiencing severe shoulder pain should not wait long or expect the pain to go away on its own. Sufferers should make an appointment with their doctor or physical therapist, especially if they have long-term shoulder problems.

Often, all conservative treatment options must be exhausted before surgery is considered. With the help of physical therapy, it is often possible to improve the condition to the point of complete pain relief for shoulder pain, and additional therapies, such as physical therapy with heat and massage, contribute to the improvement process.

With physiotherapy, this sliding can be improved, the muscles can be strengthened and the head can be better centered in the eye socket again. In addition, with the help of physiotherapy and movement therapy, muscle tension can be eliminated, which can also lead to shoulder pain and restricted movement. In many cases, symptoms can improve without surgery.

Shoulder training is not only useful in cases of discomfort, but also as a preventive measure to train the always neglected external rotators of the shoulder. They play an important role in a healthy and elastic shoulder. External rotators are weak and need to be strengthened to avoid injuries and irritations.