Shoulder and Arm Pain

Shoulder and arm pain can be very restrictive and limit a lot of day to day activities, including working and driving. Here we’ll discuss the main causes of shoulder and arm pain, and what physiotherapy can do to help.

The shoulder joint is made up of the top of the arm bone (humerus), and an avocado shaped socket known as the glenoid cavity of the shoulder blade (scapula). This is surrounded by tendons of the rotator cuff, a group of muscles which work to support and stabilise the shoulder. Your shoulder also has several small fluid sacs, called bursae, which help to prevent friction.

Shoulders are the most commonly injured joint in the body. This is mainly due to the huge range of multi-directional movement, but also because it sits on a moveable platform; the shoulder blade. The shoulder joint relies heavily on the strength and stability of the rotator cuff and surrounding musculature, so small imbalances or overuse injuries in these muscles can quickly cause shoulder problems.

The good news is that most shoulder injuries are completely treatable with physiotherapy, without the need for surgery, as long as they are addressed early.

YOU DON’T NEED TO GO AND SEE A GP FIRST!

Physiotherapists can assess and diagnose the cause of your shoulder or arm pain and provide relief from the symptoms with treatment.

We have much longer to speak to you about your shoulder or arm pain than a GP does, and can help you to understand how to manage your symptoms more effectively.

How can physiotherapy help shoulder pain?

A physiotherapy assessment aims to understand what is causing your shoulder pain and ensures we rule out any serious conditions. If you have had an injury, we will consider a referral for imaging such as an x-ray or MRI scan if we feel it is required. We have great links with the local GP surgeries, NHS and private hospitals and Cobalt Health.

We can usually diagnose your shoulder pain using a series of movements, muscle tests and specialist tests. After diagnosis, we work with you to create a tailored treatment plan. This tends to consist of a combination of rehabilitation exercises to restore movement and strength, and “hands on” techniques such as:

• Massage for sore or tight muscles in the shoulder, neck, chest and arm

• Mobilisation/manipulation to improve stiff joints in the shoulder, neck, elbow, or wrist

• Stretching techniques to improve movement and pain

• Acupuncture for pain and tightness in the muscles of the shoulder and arm

We believe that knowledge is power, and we strive to understand the root cause of your pain, so that we can give you all the information you need to prevent the problem from re-occurring.

Get on top of your shoulder or arm pain today and come see us at our physiotherapy clinic in Cheltenham. Click below to book your first appointment!

Causes of shoulder and arm pain

Here are just some of the things we treat in the shoulder and arm:

Rotator cuff tears or tendinopathy

The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles which play a vital role in providing stability to the shoulder joint. They help to lift and rotate your arm, and keep it in place in your shoulder socket. There are different types of rotator cuff tear, which may be caused by an accident or sporting injury, or develop slowly over time. You can read more about rotator cuff tears and how physio can help here.

Sub-acromial impingement

Impingement can be caused by a lot of repetitive overhead activity. Inflammation can develop in the rotator cuff tendons (tendinitis) or your bursa (bursitis) as they catch or rub against the bones of your shoulder. You can read more about impingement and what to do about it here.

Frozen shoulder

Frozen shoulder is also know as adhesive capsulitis. The condition begins with pain in the shoulder, and is followed by a progressive restriction in shoulder movements. The cause is currently unclear, but it is thought that there is an inflammatory component, leading to fibrosis (scarring) in the joint lining.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) can affect all joints of the body. The cartilage and other tissues in the joint gradually break down over time due to aging. This can lead to reduced lubrication and support in the joint, which results in friction, pain and reduced movement.

Fractures or post operation

The upper arm bone (humerus), shoulder blade (scapula), collar bone (clavicle) and lower arm bones (radius and ulna) can all be fractured, and either treated with a cast, sling or surgical intervention. Physiotherapy can help restore movement and function following this. Dislocations of the shoulder and separations of the joint between the clavicle and shoulder (Acromio-clavicular joint or ACJ) are also often treated in our physiotherapy clinic.

Tennis/Golfers elbow

Tennis elbow is much more common than Golfers elbow due to the difference in muscle groups causing the conditions. Both are caused by overuse of the muscles in the forearm. Despite the name, less than 5% of tennis elbow diagnoses are related to tennis! You can read more about tennis and golfers elbow here.

Not sure of the cause of your pain? Come to see us at our physiotherapy clinic in Cheltenham! We can diagnose you and get you started on the road to recovery. Click below to book your first appointment!