After back pain, shoulder pain is the most common problem we see with patients here at Springfield, NJ. Possible causes of the increase in frequency of this problem are likely related to lifestyle or working environments. The good news is we at Back & Body Pain Relief in Springfield can help. The most common causes of shoulder pain are the loss of the humeral inferior glide and reduced stability in the rotator cuff.
Here’s what we can do to help with both.
Humeral Inferior Glide
The patient lays on their back and we ask them to extend their arm akin to a stop sign kind of motion. The arm is 90 degrees to the body and then the elbow again 90 degrees. We then support the elbow area and with our other hand, place on top of the shoulder and provide a short sharp movement in batches of 3 around a dozen times. After this, we rotate around the elbow slightly and then repeat the same motion. This action assists in freeing up the gliding motion of the shoulder.
A second therapy we can apply is to ask the patient to hold their arm out at 90 degrees again and while supporting the elbow, allowing the forearm to fall slightly. Then placing our hand above the patient’s, we ask the patient to push against our hand and get them to hold it for several seconds.
Rotator Cuff
We have several means of treating this part of the injury. Myofascial trigger point therapies are very effective in freeing up the adhesions and scar tissues in the area. With these broken up, the dysfunction becomes less and range of motion improves. We can also do manual therapies or using instruments to help with improving joint function. And finally we can prescribe specific exercises for the patient to do at home to help with the process.
The aim is the same though, to improve range of motion, break up scar tissue and to get the joint working how it should.
In pain? Want a tune up?
Schedule an appointment or download our mobile booking app. Enter clinic ID FQUNCG.