Good shoulder girdle function is vital for many sports and working tasks and any physiotherapy centre will certainly testify to glenohumeral joint pain causing a considerable loss to quality of life. Your shoulder is an intricate joint. It is known as a ‘ball and socket’ joint which depends heavily on the ligamentous structures as well as various muscles (known as the rotator cuff) to provide it stability and enable normal function. It functions very closely with the cervical spine as well as the thoracic spine (area between shoulder blades) to allow for full and pain-free motion. The intricate structure of this joint causes it to be very vunerable to injury. There a wide range of causes of glenohumeral joint pain ranging from major injuries like dislocation and bone fracture, to strains in the rotator cuff muscles and to pain which starts gradually and increases over time. The key to effective treatment is based on correct diagnosis. This can only be done through a comprehensive examination by a physio.
A physiotherapist will perform an evaluation. This will entail a thorough examination of the shoulder which will include examining the movements and assessing the muscles. It will also involve a look at your neck as well as thoracic spine to make sure that your shoulder pain isn’t coming from these areas. During the assessment, the physio brisbane will look for any compensatory movement patterns of the shoulder girdle. This is often due to joint stiffness or muscle imbalances; when some muscle groups do an increased amout of work while others do not do enough, possibly due to decreased strength. It is imperative that any biomechanical issues are attended to so that the injury doesn’t reoccur.
Treatment techniques will vary significantly and will be influenced by what is contributing to your shoulder dysfunction. Mobilizing the glenohumeral joint and also the upper back will help with loosening up the area and will enable greater range of movement. If your symptoms are referred from another region then this will also be treated. Any tense muscles around the shoulder and spine will be treated using massage, trigger point releasing, exercises and sometimes dry needling (acupuncture) by your physio brisbane to help ease any regions of tension and muscle spasm. Strengthening any weak muscle groups around the shoulder is really important, and that’s why, your personalized physical therapy treatment program will involve some type of home-based exercise; either a strengthening regime to enhance the control of the shoulder girdle or otherwise specific exercises to help with decreasing stiffness in the area..
In some instances it can be necessary to carry out investigations to help establish the exact source of your pain; This will likely include an x-ray or perhaps a referral to an orthopaedic specialist and will be discussed with you if need be
Problems wth the shoulder are some of the most complicated and painful injuries. It is really important to see your local physiotherapist when these types of injuries arise to ensure that a successful treatment plan can be set in place to guarantee your quality of life returns to normal as quickly as possible.
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