Shoulder Pain Relief

The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons surrounding the shoulder joint. Injuries to the rotator cuff can occur due to overuse, repetitive movements, or trauma.

The most common symptoms include pain, weakness, and limited range of motion. People often notice functional limitations affecting daily activities such as dressing and reaching. It is also common to experience difficulty with overhead movements and lifting objects.

This term describes any condition that affects the tendons, which are the fibrous tissues that connect muscles to bones. Tendinopathy can include tendonitis, tendinosis, degenerative tearing, and other tendon-related problems or conditions.

Tendonitis is the inflammation of a tendon due to overuse, injury, or other factors. In comparison, tendinosis is a chronic condition when the tendon degenerates due to repeated stress or injury. For some this chronic condition leads to degenerative tearing when the tendon gradually breaks down and tears over time.

Other tendon-related problems or conditions can include tenosynovitis, in which the tendon sheath becomes inflamed, and tendon ruptures, in which the tendon tears completely.

Our physical therapists and chiropractors at Helix Physical Therapy & Chiropractic will take a holistic approach to your assessment and care to ensure we address the root cause of any tendon-related issue.

Shoulder instability occurs when the shoulder joint (humeral head) ball moves completely or partially out of the socket (shoulder blade). The most common causes of instability occur when the lining of the shoulder joint (the capsule), ligaments, or labrum become stretched, torn, or detached.

Labral tears occur when there is an injury to the ring of cartilage in the shoulder joint. Some labral tears can increase the potential for partial and complete shoulder joint dislocations. Symptoms of a labral tear may include pain and/or catching with specific shoulder joint movements, a dull throbbing ache, difficulty sleeping, and partial or full shoulder joint dislocations.

Bursitis is the inflammation of the bursa, a small fluid-filled sac that helps cushion the joint. Bursitis can occur due to overuse or repetitive movements, leading to pain and swelling around the shoulder joint. One of the most common complaints people report is difficulty with overhead movements and activities, such as lying on the affected shoulder.

Arthritis in the shoulder can be a painful and debilitating condition that affects your daily life. The two most frequent kinds of arthritis that affect the shoulder are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Both result in the deterioration of the cartilage in the shoulder joint, which can make daily tasks more challenging as the degeneration becomes more severe.

• Osteoarthritis is common in both active and inactive populations. Although most cases of osteoarthritis have no known cause, arthritis often develops after a traumatic event and/or repetitive stresses after an injury. There is also evidence that a genetic component makes you more susceptible to developing this condition. Regardless of how it starts, it typically leads to the loss of articular cartilage, pain, and inflammation.
• Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to target the membranes surrounding the shoulder joint. This can result in discomfort and inflammation, making it difficult to perform daily activities without pain.

Shoulder impingement syndrome occurs when the tendons or bursa in the shoulder become compressed or pinched between the bones of the joint. Symptoms include pain, weakness, and limited range of motion, especially when reaching overhead.

Impairments may include difficulty with overhead movements and lifting objects. At the same time, functional limitations can affect daily activities such as dressing and reaching.

Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is when the shoulder joint becomes stiff and painful, often without apparent cause. Symptoms include pain and a significantly limited range of motion, affecting all shoulder joint movements.