Shoulder Pain Treatment
Shoulder Pain Treatment
Have you ever been affected with shoulder pain? Physiotherapists are often consulted regarding shoulder pain. It is a common condition to affect the general population. Residents of Parramatta regularly seek shoulder pain treatment from their Physiotherapist.
Rotator cuff disorders are one of the most common causes of shoulder pain. There are three common conditions that can affect the rotator cuff:
- Rotator cuff tears
- Subacromial impingement
- Calcific tendonitis
Most people with shoulder pain can be successfully treated by a combination of exercises, painkillers and Physiotherapy. For more serious cases of shoulder pain, steroid injections or surgery may also be an option.
The shoulder joint
There are three bones in the shoulder region, the collarbone (clavicle), the shoulder blade (scapula) and the upper arm bone (humerus). The scapula is a triangular-shaped bone that has two important parts to it: the acromion and the glenoid. The three bones in the shoulder region form part of two main joints:
The acromioclavicular joint between the acromion of the scapula and the clavicle. The glenohumeral joint between the glenoid of the scapula and the humerus.
There are also a number of muscles, ligaments and tendons around the shoulder. Ligaments are fibres that link bones together at a joint. Tendons are fibres that attach muscle to bone.
What is the rotator cuff?
The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles that are positioned around the shoulder joint. The muscles are named:
- Supraspinatus
- Infraspinatus
- Subscapularis
- Teres minor
The rotator cuff muscles interlock to work as a unit. They help to stabilise the shoulder joint and also help with shoulder joint movement. These muscles attach to the head of the bony surface at the top of the upper arm bone (the humerus). There is a space underneath the acromion of the scapula, called the subacromial space. The rotator cuff tendon passes through here. The subacromial space is filled by the subacromial bursa. This is a fluid-filled sac which helps the rotator cuff to move smoothly. It has a large number of pain sensors.
Who gets rotator cuff disorders?
Rotator cuff disorders are extremely common and can happen to anyone:
- Injury: falling on to the affected arm
- Overuse: through sport or work
Symptoms:
- Pain around the shoulder joint
- Pain with overhead movements
- Pain may also be worse at night and affect sleep
- Weakness
- Clicking or catching with shoulder movements
Treatment
- Pain killers and Anti inflammatories
- Physiotherapy: Stretches, strengthening exercises, RICE during acute stages
- Steroid injections: For chronic injuries
- Surgery