Shoulder Injuries Symptoms & Treatment

Repetitive Stress/Sudden Trauma

Your Rotator Cuff is what keeps your arm in your shoulder socket, and it’s made up of five distinct muscles, each needing to be treated differently according to the type of injury you’ve sustained. Your Rotator Cuff problems may be caused by repetitive overarm stress—such as painting, tennis or baseball. Often these problems are age-related, and range from a dull ache to significant pain when attempting a range of motion.  Symptoms often worsen with sleep or even when at rest.

By strengthening muscles and improving flexibility, Focus Physiotherapy Rotator Cuff treatments enable a safe return to daily activities, while preventing future injury to your shoulder and other at-risk areas.

Neck and Chest Nerve and Artery Compression

This group of syndromes describes a collection of complex conditions involving nerve and artery compression in the neck muscles. This compression can affect both the nerve and circulatory systems and will present differently depending on whether the root cause is vascular, neurogenic or perhaps both at the same time.

Symptoms can include numbness and tingling, as well as feelings of heaviness when using your arms for too long. Some people report having a weak grip, others feel cold or swelling in their extremities.

Both vascular and nerve-related Thoracic Outlet Syndromes are common amongst people who play sports, particularly those that involve repetitive and intense overhead arm movements such as tennis, baseball or cricket etc.

Thoracic Outlet Syndromes often go undiagnosed, so it’s vitally important to seek a thorough assessment by a Registered Physiotherapist before starting a treatment program.

Soft Tissue Rheumatic Syndromes

Shoulder Tendonitis and Bursitis are two distinct conditions that can easily be misdiagnosed in the absence of a proper assessment. Treatment for both shoulder tendonitis and bursitis performed by a Registered Physiotherapist is very effective in reducing symptoms and preventing further damage or long-term recurrences.

Shoulder Tendonitis

Shoulder Tendonitis describes inflammation of a tendon in one of the muscles that makes up the shoulder girdle. People suffering from Shoulder Tendonitis often have a history of mild irritations that have subsided with rest. These patients come to us when their most recent flare-up has proven to be more persistent. The key to treating Shoulder Tendonitis, and preventing future flare-ups, lies in catching the problem early, creating tailored treatment programs and focusing on overall wellness.

It’s important to know too that, if the tendons have been injured too often before seeking assistance, calcium deposits may form within the shoulder. In the case of complications like this, it’s important to seek help from a Registered Physiotherapist with extensive experience and the skill to return you to pain-free function without the need for surgery.

Shoulder Bursitis

Presenting in much the same way as Shoulder Tendonitis, Shoulder Bursitis can be deceptive. Make sure you consult a Registered Physiotherapist who can identify your injury as comprehensively as possible—not solely based on symptoms, but also using special tests to identify the source of your injury.

Bursitis of the shoulder is an inflammation of the bursa in your shoulder joint. Your bursa is a little bag of fluid, whose purpose is to cushion joint friction. When inflamed, any activity is likely to cause shoulder pain. Proper treatment that addresses the root cause of bursitis is essential to ensure a full and quick recovery.

Frozen Shoulder

Often confused with tendonitis or bursitis, Adhesive Capsulitis, or Frozen Shoulder, presents as a progressive stiffness that makes it difficult to perform everyday activities. A decreasing range of motion in the shoulder joint makes dressing, bathing and eating increasingly difficult.

The condition occurs when normally loose parts of the shoulder stick together, resulting in painful and stiff movement. Left untreated, Frozen Shoulder becomes more and more difficult to reverse.

Unlike the complications that can result from surgery, physiotherapy for Frozen Shoulder can offer a less invasive route to recovery.

Bicep Tendinopathy Inflammation or Irritation

A very common injury, Biceps Tendonitis often results in pain in the front of the shoulder that worsens at night. Typically occurring as a result of repetitive work or sports activities, Biceps Tendonitis is an inflammation of the tendon of the biceps muscle. Symptoms may increase with lifting, pulling or repetitive overhead reaching. Neglecting this kind of injury can lead to significant delays in recovery.

It’s important to diagnose the condition early, as improper diagnosis by unskilled clinicians may sometimes confuse biceps tendonitis with other shoulder injuries, which will delay recovery and potentially result in further deterioration, as well as potential tearing of the biceps tendon.