In our last post, we discussed a bit about the anatomy of the shoulder joint, and a few of the unfortunate things that can happen to a shoulder. One thing is consistent, despite the diagnosis, shoulder pain is awful and debilitating.

Early Diagnosis and Treatment

Should you find yourself with shoulder pain (or any other pain, for that matter!) that is not quickly resolving, early detection and treatment is of utmost importance. In NY State, patients may visit a physical therapist for immediate treatment. It’s called Direct Access, and we go into further detail in a previous blog. Your PT will talk with you about your shoulder and overall history, assess your range of motion and strength, utilize orthopedic tests to arrive at a diagnosis, and then devise a program for you. At MVMT, we specialize in functional manual therapy to speed your recovery.

Importance of Your HEP

In a recent blog posting, we discussed the importance of the basic “un-sexy” exercises in a patient’s Home Exercise Program. These exercises are geared towards improving the activation and strength of joint stabilizers – in this case, the rotator cuff and scapular muscles. A proper foundation of strength, sequencing, timing and efficient movement patterns are necessary before moving on to more complicated, complex movement.

Modification Is Not A Dirty Word

Activity Modification, or altering what it is that you’re doing, should always be on the table. As PT’s, we catch a certain amount of flack for modifying, reducing or eliminating a patient’s activity. Trust me, we get no joy in this. But if an injury is due to repetitive movement and strain, reducing the offending movement or activity is an effective strategy to allow the injured tissues to heal. We may need to take a step back in order to move forward. With creativity, and an open dialogue, we should work together as a team to discover alternatives. It is always my preference to keep patients moving as much as possible!

If you’re dealing with shoulder pain, contact us to learn about your treatment options. You could be back to lifting your kids, training in the box, and living your life without pain.

Let’s get moving!