Shoulder pain is a common problem. Sometimes the pain can stem from the shoulder muscle and other times the source is somewhere else in the body, like the neck, upper back, or biceps. The joint in the shoulder is very mobile and allows a range of arm movements that are up and away from the body, but the joint’s contact zone is small and unstable. Normal shoulder functioning is reliant on the muscles in the shoulder and if something goes wrong, it could inhibit your ability to move freely and cause pain.
--How can physiotherapy help with shoulder pain?
A physiotherapist can help manage shoulder pain through gentle stretching and mobilisation.
--What can I do at home?
Good self-management at home will help ensure a speedy recovery. It is important to modify and limit activities that aggravate the pain. but at the same time, you should try to maintain some activity. Gentle exercises to ensure all muscles are working again can be started almost immediately and they also help to ease the pain. When shoulder pain is acute, heat may provide temporary relief.
--How effective are the treatment methods used by physiotherapists for shoulder pain?
An episode of milder shoulder pain may get better of its own accord in a few days. However, when pain is stopping normal activities and not getting better, treatment methods such as manual therapy, therapeutic exercises and education on the nature of the pain are effective in relieving most types of shoulder pain. Your physio will provide advice on care of the shoulder, lifestyle modifications and exercises for self-management at home and work.
