Reliable Therapy for Shoulder Pain
The shoulder is the most movable joint in the body. Because of this, it is an unstable joint due to the available range of motion. To remain stable, the shoulder must be anchored by its muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Some shoulder problems arise from the disruption of these soft tissues as a result of injury or from overuse or underuse of the shoulder. Other problems arise from a degenerative process in which tissues break down and no longer function well. Shoulder pain is a common complaint.
It is important to make an accurate diagnosis of the cause of your symptoms so that appropriate treatment can be selected. If you are unsure of the cause of your shoulder pain, or if you do not know the specific treatment recommendations for your condition, you should seek medical attention. You should consider medical evaluation if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Inability to carry objects or use the arm
- Injury that causes deformity of the joint
- Shoulder pain that occurs at night or while resting
- Shoulder pain that persists beyond a few days
- Inability to raise the arm
- Swelling or significant bruising around the joint or arm
- Signs of an infection, including fever, redness, warmth
- Any other unusual symptoms
One treatment option often used in treating shoulder injuries is taping. Taping can be useful in positioning the shoulder joint in a more functional position, which helps to decrease pain and eliminate the extra stress that may be placed on the muscles and tendons of the shoulder as they try to stabilize it. It can also be used to unload relieve a muscle or tendon, which is helpful in treating tendinitis and/or muscle strains. By unloading the muscle, it is given extra support so that when the shoulder is moved, less stress is placed on the injured muscle or tendon thereby allowing it to heal quicker. Taping can also be used to improve your posture. Often shoulder injuries result from poor posture, which causes poor shoulder biomechanics. By correcting your posture, many times the unhealthy stresses placed on the shoulder joint can be corrected and therefore help to decrease pain and allow the injured tissue to heal.
For more information on shoulder injuries and taping, please give Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy a call at 516-829-0030 or visit our website at www.reddycare.net.