Friday, June 24, 2011

See A Physiotherapist If You Have Shoulder Pain

By John Hanson


Normal glenohumeral joint function is vital for a lot of sporting and work tasks and any physiotherapy centre will testify to shoulder pain resulting in a substantial loss to quality of life. Your glenohumeral joint is an intricate joint. It is known as a 'ball and socket' joint which depends heavily on the ligaments as well as various muscles (referred to as rotator cuff) to provide it stability and enable good function.


It operates really closely with the cervical spine and the thoracic spine (area between shoulder blades) to allow full and pain-free movement. The complex structure of this area causes it to be very vulnerable to injury. There are many causes of glenohumeral joint issues which range from major injuries such as dislocation and bone fracture, to tears of the rotator cuff and to pain that begins slowly and worsens over time. The key to effective treatment lies in accurate diagnosis. This can only be achieved from a thorough assessment by the physio.

A physio will complete an evaluation. This will include an extensive review of the shoulder joint including examining the movements as well as assessing the muscle groups. It will also include an examination of your neck as well as thoracic spine to be sure that your shoulder problem isn't referred from here. During the examination, the physio brisbane will look for any unusual movement patterns of the shoulder. This is normally as a result of joint stiffness or muscle imbalances; where some muscle groups do too much work and others don't do enough, probably as a result of decreased strength. It is important that any biomechanical issues are addressed so that the injury does not reoccur.

Treatment will vary significantly and will depend on what's contributing to your shoulder pain. Mobilization of the shoulder joint and the upper back will assist with loosening up the region and will enable better movement. If your symptoms are referred from another region then this will also be treated. Any tight muscles around the shoulder and nearby regions will be treated with deep tissue massage, trigger point releasing, stretching exercises and sometimes dry needling (acupuncture) by your physio brisbane to help relieve any areas of tension and spasm. Strengthening any weak muscles around the shoulder girdle is really important, and that's why, your personalized physical therapy treatment plan will incorporate some type of home exercise; either a strengthening regime to enhance the biomechanics of the shoulder and exercises to help with reducing tightness in the area..

Occasionally it could be necessary to conduct further investigations to help establish the exact source of your symptoms; This will likely involve an x-ray or possibly a referral on to an orthopaedic doctor and will be discussed with you if neccessary

Injuries to the shoulder girdle are some of the most complex and painful injuries. It is extremely important to visit your local physiotherapist as soon as these kinds of problems occur to ensure a successful treatment plan is set in place to guarantee your quality of life goes back to normal as soon as possible.



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