Choice PT: Shoulder Pain

Choice PT: Shoulder Pain

Move to Live Your Resource to Moving Well and Living Life

YOUR SHOULDER PAIN IS MORE COMPLEX THAN YOU MIGHT THINK

Happy February Everyone!

Hopefully most of the winter shoveling is behind us but in Upstate NY you never know, so I thought it’d be a good time of year to share some information about shoulder health. Classically, when we hear about the shoulder we immediately think about the ball and socket joint (aka: glenohumeral joint for all of you brushing up on your anatomy). (continued inside) INSIDE: • Your Shoulder Pain... • Understanding Your Shoulder Pain • Shoulder Crossword Puzzle! • #Choose2GiveBack

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Move to Live Your Resource to Moving Well and Living Life

(continued from outside) Instead of calling it the shoulder joint we should really think about it as the shoulder complex as it’s made up of four joints: YOUR SHOULDER PAIN IS MORE COMPLEX THAN YOU MIGHT THINK 2. Acromioclavicular: “AC Joint” where your collar bone meets your shoulder blade 3. Glenohumeral: ball & socket where your upper arm bone meets your shoulder blade 4. Scapulothoracic: a pseudo joint where your shoulder blade sits on your rib cage Each of those four joints is responsible for contributing to the overall motion that allows you to wash your hair, put on deodorant, scratch your back and put your seatbelt on. What happens then, if one of those four says “eh, I’m going to take a break” and stops doing it’s job? One or more of the other three joints is going to have to work harder to compensate for that loss. Usually, we can get away with that for a while but typically it becomes too much and that is where we can see injuries that just seem to “come out of the blue”… “I didn’t do anything different, my shoulder started bothering me one day”… 1. Sternoclavicular: where your collar bone meets your sternum

One of the structures that takes the brunt of that extra load: the rotator cuff. Also known as the “rotor cuff” or “rotor cup”. Just kidding, it’s not known as either of those, just the rotator cuff which is made up of four separate muscles. Each of the four muscles can be found on your shoulder blade, they then wrap around to the front of your shoulder. Collectively, their role is to work together as a team to keep the ball of your shoulder centered in the socket of your shoulder blade. Let’s tie it all together. Say that your shoulder blade isn’t able to move freely because one of your collar bone joints isn’t doing it’s job. Every time you reach into the cupboard to grab your coffee mug your rotator cuff is working extra hard to keep the ball of your shoulder centered in the socket. This goes on for weeks but your body’s good at compensating so you don’t notice. Now comes the weekend where the living room needs to be repainted. Guess who’s probably going to wake up Monday morning with a sore shoulder that “just came out of the blue”? All of a sudden your “rotor cup” problem can be traced back to a stiff collar bone joint. Wondering how your shoulder joints and rotator cuff are working? Give us a call or email me and I’d be happy to test them out for you. Many times a few simple stretches can help make sure things keep moving the way they’re meant to!

Have a great month! Joe

www.choiceptny.com

UNDERSTANDING YOUR SHOULDER PAIN

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Your shoulder is a “ball-and-socket joint,” meaning that the humerus (head of the upper arm bone) fits perfectly in the corresponding space within the scapula (shoulder blade). Each end of the bone is protected by a thick layer of cartilage that prevents the bones from rubbing together. Your shoulders can accomplish several physical feats due to their structure - however, this also means that they are susceptible to an increased risk of injury because of their complexity. If something becomes damaged in the make-up of the shoulders, pain and discomfort can develop. This pain may range from a dull ache to shooting pains, depending on the severity of the condition.

9 moving your arm in certain ways. If you are suffering from a torn cartilage, physical therapy can provide relief. • Dislocation. Dislocation of the shoulder occurs when the head of the humerus pops out of place. This type of injury is extremely painful and unfortunately makes you more vulnerable to recurrence after the first dislocation occurs. • Arthritis. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the two most common types of arthritis. Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage in the shoulder joint experiences significant “wear and tear,” typically due to age or excessive overuse. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the

If your pain is stemming from tendon impingement, it will generally occur as you lift your arm, fading before it is raised completely skyward. If your pain is a result of shoulder degeneration, it is likely that you will feel persistent aches every time you move your arm in certain directions. Pain from an acute injury can be sudden and intense, making it difficult for you to move your shoulder at all. Common conditions that may be causing your shoulder pain include: • Strains and sprains. A strain occurs when a muscle or tendon is stretched too far or torn. A sprain occurs when a ligament is stretched too far or torn. Strains and sprains can result in an ongoing shoulder pain that may make it difficult to partake in exercise or even daily tasks. If the strain or sprain is minor, it can sometimes be iced at home and healed with rest. More severe strains and sprains will often require physical therapy treatments. • Torn cartilage. When a cartilage tears, you may experience a number of painful symptoms. You may experience decreased strength and a limited range of motion in the affected shoulder. You may also experience pain when

Across 1. Chest Muscles 4. Ball and Socket joint 5. Joint between collar bone and sternum 6. Irritation of the shoulder from repetitive overhead activit 7. Shoulder blade 9. Main four muscles that support the shoulder immune system sees the joints as a threat. The immune system attacks the membranes surrounding the shoulder joint, resulting in pain and inflammation. • Tendinitis. Tendinitis in the shoulder joint occurs when the joint is excessively overused. Symptoms include swelling and painful impingement when raising the affected arm. This typically happens due to the demands of a sport or labor-intensive job, which can cause the tendons to experience ongoing inflammation. • Frozen shoulder. Medically referred to as “adhesive capsulitis,” frozen shoulder can occur if you have been bedridden for an extended period of time or if your arm has been in a cast or sling for a while. When you don’t have opportunities to exercise the shoulder, the tissues can stiffen up on you, thus causing this painful condition to occur.

Find effective shoulder pain relief today with Choice Physical Therapy!

The Detoxifier Juice Recipe

Patient Success Story

INGREDIENTS • 2-3 med-lg Beets • 6 Carrots

• 2 medium Apples • 1/2 Lemon • 1-2 inch Ginger

INSTRUCTIONS Wash, prep, and chop produce. Add produce to juicer one at a time. Serve cold over ice. May store in tightly sealed jars or glasses in the refrigerator for 7-10 days. Shake or stir well before drinking.

SHOULDER CROSSWORD PUZZLE!

Shoulder Crossword

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3 Down 2. Joint between collarbone and shoulder blade 3. Muscle on outer part of shoulder 8. Upper arm bone 4

Across 1. Chest Muscles 4. Ball and Socket joint 5. Joint between collar bone and sternum 6. Irritation of the shoulder from repetitive overhead activities 7. Shoulder blade 9. Main four muscles that support the shoulder

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Down 2. Joint between collarbone and shoulder blade 3. Muscle on outer part of shoulder 8. Upper arm bone

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www.choiceptny.com

Across 1. Chest Muscles 4. Ball and Socket joint 5. Joint between collar bone and sternum 6. Irritation of the shoulder from repetitive overhead activities 7. Shoulder blade 9. Main four muscles that support the shoulder #TeamMowerMan