When your shoulder hurts, it can mean several different things. It might hurt when you try to lift a heavy load, or when you lift it above a certain height without any weight in your hand.
Regardless of your symptoms, physical therapy techniques are well-suited to help you find relief, both in the short term and in the future.
Understanding types of shoulder pain
The first step to treating shoulder pain effectively is understanding what may be causing it. Different symptoms can point to different issues, and a medical professional will benefit from you being more specific with what you’re feeling.
Everyone’s body and health history is different, but in general, the following symptoms may direct you to a certain type of shoulder injury or condition.
1. Symptoms of rotator cuff injury
Does your pain get worse when lifting your arm to the front or side? Does it feel especially intense at night? If these symptoms are accurate and you also notice weakness or trouble maintaining movement, you may have a rotator cuff injury.
Mild to moderate rotator cuff injuries are treatable with physical therapy and usually occur after repetitive lifting, aggressive swinging of the affected arm, or extended periods spent with the arm in a raised position.
2. Symptoms of shoulder impingement
If your shoulder pain is sharp or burning, especially when moving or lifting your arm, it might be shoulder impingement. This happens when the tendons in your shoulder get pinched due to inflammation or repetitive use, creating discomfort when trying to move.
3. Symptoms of frozen shoulder
Also called adhesive capsulitis, frozen shoulder tends to limit movement while creating a dull, aching pain. It can develop after prolonged immobility, such as surgery recovery, or as a result of chronic untreated inflammation.
Treating shoulder pain when you can’t lift your arm
There are several treatment strategies you can try if your pain is mild that may help reduce your symptoms and might be recommended as part of your personalized physical therapy plan. Use caution with self-treatment as some movements or remedies may make the problem worse rather than better, depending on the actual underlying cause.
At-home treatment steps
- Use ice and ibuprofen if your pain arises after exercising. Consider changing activities, reducing the intensity, or working with a physical therapist to learn injury prevention techniques.
- Learn exercises to stretch and strengthen your rotator cuff tendons and shoulder muscles. A health care provider or physical therapist can recommend appropriate exercises.
- If you are recovering from tendinitis, continue to do gentle range-of-motion exercises to avoid frozen shoulder.
- Practice good posture to keep your shoulder muscles and tendons in a neutral position.
Professional options
Physical therapy is often recommended as the first step before seeking more invasive procedures like rotator cuff surgery. In many cases, a physical therapist can help by:
- Alleviating pain through targeted stretching, strengthening, and manual therapy.
- Restoring mobility, so you can lift and move your arm without restrictions.
- Preventing future injuries by improving posture, muscle balance, and shoulder mechanics.
Physical therapists use non-invasive techniques to enable healing, such as soft tissue massages, therapeutic exercises, and heat or ultrasound therapy. Depending on the severity of your condition, a physical therapy plan may resolve your pain entirely without the need for surgery.
Start healing shoulder pain today at Carolina Strong
Shoulder pain doesn’t have to be a permanent part of your life. With the right combination of at-home care and professional treatment, you can get back to lifting your arm freely and living with less pain.
At Carolina Strong Physical Therapy, we specialize in treating shoulder pain for people of all ages and lifestyles through personalized care plans tailored to your specific needs. Start the conversation with our team by calling one of our North Carolina clinics or by requesting your first appointment online today.
