James River PT: Shoulder, Elbow & Wrist Pain

James River PT: Shoulder, Elbow & Wrist Pain

THE NEWSLETTER ABOUT YOUR HEALTH AND CARING FOR YOUR BODY NEWSLETTER

FINDING RELIEF FOR YOUR SHOULDER PAIN

All About Shoulder Pain: Causes and Symptoms If you have pain in your shoulder, it can be the result of many causes. However, the common causes of it are an injury of the rotator cuff or soreness of the subacromial bursa. This is a sac of fluid under the high part of the shoulder. Other causes of shoulder pain include bony abnormalities, injuries, osteoarthritis and thickening of the ligaments in the shoulder area. There may be soreness after playing a sport or lifting items. Sports enthusiasts often incur shoulder pain due to repetitive motions. Just about anything that requires you to lift the arms can cause pain or soreness. Shoulder pain can be enough to keep you up at night. The Rotator Cuff: What It Is The primary joint in the shoulder is formed by the shoulder blade and arm bone. It’s the joint socket that allows a wide range of motion. The rotator cuff itself is comprised of four muscles, which surround the arm bone. It keeps the shoulder steady when the arm is in motion. The rotator cuff can even be torn. The supraspinatus muscle sits on the shoulder top, and its tendon extends under the outside of the shoulder bone. Because of its location between bones, it’s a common injury. The tendon can become sore and swollen when it gets pinched between the bones. The subacromial bursa sac can also get damaged. Frozen Shoulder: How It’s Caused Frozen shoulder is another name for adhesive capsulitis. It’s a shoulder condition that limits the range of motion. It can be caused by long periods

of inactivity, diabetes or surgery. Scar tissue may even form. As a result, the shoulder joint does not have proper space to rotate normally. Symptoms typically include stiffness, pain or swelling in the shoulder. Gradually, the ability to move the shoulder becomes less and less. Reaching for an item may even become impossible. Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Physical therapy is a common and effective treatment for pain in the shoulder and shoulder rotator cuff pain. It’s also a non-invasive form of treatment. A physical therapist will perform a comprehensive exam along with an evaluation that includes strength and motion tests and check for any weakness in the shoulder. X-rays may also be taken to identify other conditions, such as arthritis. X-rays are a tool that helps determine the root cause of shoulder pain. Physical therapy services may include manual therapy, range-of-motion exercises, functional training, soft tissue massage and strengthening exercises. Manual techniques may include therapeutic modalities like ultrasound and iontophoresis. Depending on the type of shoulder injury and the extent of the injury, physical therapy may be needed for months. Physical therapists also help to educate patients on how to improve posture, improve gait and avoid future injury to the shoulder. Often, patients are given a home exercise program for lifelong protection and health of the shoulders.

If any of these complaints sound similar, contact James River Physical Therapy today!

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THE NEWSLETTER ABOUT YOUR HEALTH AND CARING FOR YOUR BODY NEWSLETTER

MANAGING YOUR SHOULDER, ELBOW & WRIST PAIN

INSIDE : • Treating Your Shoulder, Elbow & Wrist Pain • Refer A Friend! It’s time to say goodbye to shoulder, elbow and wrist pain once and for all. Identifying the cause of your pain and taking steps to combat ill habits that may be contributing to your discomfort can have a significant impact on your quality of life. Wave goodbye to pain in your hands, wrists, elbows and shoulders with targeted techniques from your experienced physical therapists. What is Causing the Pain? Think about the tasks that make up the majority of your day-to-day life. It is often said that life in the 21st century is way easier on the body than life during any other time in human history — and it’s true that there is a fair amount of evidence to support this idea. Rather than spending all of your days working in a factory or on a farm, the vast majority of Americans work indoors, often at a computer for a predetermined number of hours week after week. But this new lifestyle isn’t exactly harmless for the body, either. There are plenty of ways in which the common tasks of 21st-century life put the body under a great deal of stress. Sedentary lifestyles frequently contribute to weight gain, which increases your risk for a long list of obesity-related diseases. This puts additional stress on your body, which could result in pain in crucial joints like your shoulders, elbows and yes, even your wrists. But even aside from that, there are a lot of potential issues that your body can face as a result of sedentary behavior in the workplace — including shoulder, elbow and wrist pain. Shoulder, elbow and wrist injuries are especially common as a result of workplace injury and overuse. While it is sometimes possible to take action to prevent an injury from developing, it is especially important to be able to recognize when an injury develops and to understand ways

• Exercise Of The Month • Patient Success Spotlight

that you can combat that injury by identifying what may have caused the pain to develop in the first place. Common issues that can lead to shoulder, elbow and wrist pain include: • Issues with poor posture • Carpal tunnel syndrome, which can develop from overuse of the wrist and regular, repetitive motions, such as typing • Heavy lifting • Athletic injuries • Muscle sprain and strains • Dislocation or hyperextension of the joints One of the biggest concerns regarding pain in the wrist, elbow and shoulder is that it is difficult to impossible to actually allow these parts of the body time to rest. Every movement and action requires these body parts — and when the pain develops in both arms, as it often does, treating the pain becomes even more complicated. It is impossible to care for your basic needs without involving your shoulder or wrist, let alone get through a day at the office. This is why so many issues regarding pain in the wrists, elbows and shoulders typically become chronic. Since it is difficult to allow these body parts time to properly rest, they continue being overused and the pain can actually worsen. If you suffer from shoulder, elbow and wrist pain, you still have options. Call TODAY to schedule with James River Physical Therapy!

www.jamesriverpt.com

POSTERIOR SHOULDER STRETCH Sit or stand with good posture. Reach across your chest. Use your other arm to pull a little bit further. Repeat 7 times on both sides. Stretches Shoulder www.simpleset.net EXERCISE OF THE MONTH Try this movement if you are experiencing shoulder pain.

Treating Your Shoulder, Elbow & Wrist Pain

HEALTHY RECIPE Berry-Almond Smoothie Bowl INGREDIENTS

Addressing the pain early on is the best way to prevent an issue from becoming chronic. Turning to medication and braces for pain management is not a long-term solution and will only push off the inevitable truth — that you need to find a solution for the problem that is causing you pain. Physical therapy is the ideal tool for support in this regard. Working with a physical therapist will provide you with an opportunity to understand what movements may be causing further discomfort, and can help you to strengthen the surrounding muscles while improving range of motion, which together will likely alleviate some of the pain associated with your injury. Don’t assume that pain in your shoulders, elbows or wrists will go away on its own. It is more common for the pain to worsen, and compensating for the pain by overusing the opposite arm can cause further injury to develop. For support with learning how to manage the pain, and to learn exercises and techniques that can help you overcome the injury and restore proper strength and functionality to your shoulders, elbows and wrists, contact your physical therapist. If you are suffering with shoulder, elbow, or wrist pain, call us today to learn more about how we can relieve your pain, returning you to a more active, pain-free life!

• ⅔ cup frozen raspberries • ½ cup frozen sliced banana • ½ cup plain unsweetened almond milk • 5 tbsp sliced almonds, divided • ¼ tsp ground cinnamon • ⅛ tsp ground cardamom • ⅛ tsp vanilla extract • ¼ cup blueberries • 1 tbsp unsweetened coconut flakes

Blend raspberries, banana, almond milk, 3 tablespoons almonds, cinnamon, cardamom and vanilla in a blender until very smooth. Pour the smoothie into a bowl and top with blueberries, the remaining 2 tablespoons almonds and coconut.

CALL US TODAY IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING ARM PAIN

Refer A Friend! Who Do You Know That Needs Our Help?

Patient Success Spotlight

Do You Have Friends Or Family Unable To Do The Following:

Dan completed my rehab on my second rotator cuff surgery and was successful again.” “I have known Dan for years and he continues to help me recover from all my ailments and surgeries. He is so knowledgeable and he understands the mentality of an exercise addict. Dan completed my rehab on my second rotator cuff surgery and was successful again. I also experienced the interesting experience of dry needling for my piriformis muscle. Only Dan could make your butt being stabbed not feel unpleasant! I know what Judy meant by getting to the “bottom” of it! I am always sad when my rehab is completed because I miss a very caring, dedicated, and concerned guy.” - S.G.

� Move without pain � Bend and move freely � Balance confidently and securely

� Sit for long periods comfortably

� Walk for long distances � Live an active and healthy lifestyle

If you know someone suffering with aches and pains give the gift of health. Refer them to James River Physical Therapy today. Pass along this newsletter or have them call us directly to schedule an appointment with us.

Discover How To Live Pain Free!

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1. CALL AND SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT WITH ONE OF OUR LICENSED PHYSICAL THERAPISTS. 2. MEET WITH YOUR PHYSICAL THERAPIST TO HELP DISCOVER THE CAUSE OF YOUR PAIN. 3. GET YOUR CUSTOM RECOVERY PROGRAM TO HELP YOU LIVE PAIN FREE.

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