
Shoulder Pain treatment in Gurgaon | Physiotherapy for Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain is a common problem and nearly 18-26% of adults experience it at some point in their life. Shoulder pain refers to the physical discomfort in the joints, muscles, tendons or ligaments that support the shoulder. It can cause distress, pain and difficulty in the regular motion of the shoulders.
Shoulder pain is more commonly seen in people above the age of 60 because the soft tissues around their shoulders tend to degenerate. Mild shoulder pain can take up to 4 to 6 weeks to recover. If not treated properly, it can take up to 2 or 3 years to recover completely.
Common Causes for Shoulder Pain
- Avascular necrosis- Avascular Necrosis is the degeneration of the bone tissue caused by a lack of blood flow. This situation can lead to tiny breaks and eventual collapse of the bone. Anyone affected by the situation mostly lies between the age of 30-and 50 years.
- Broken Arm- A broken arm can involve one or more than one of the three bones in the arms. The reason for a broken arm is falling with pressure over that particular hand.
- Sprains– Sprain refers to the stretching or tearing of the ligaments. It is the band of fibrous tissue that connects two bones in the arm and the sprain can range from being mild to severe.
- Dislocated Shoulder– A dislocated shoulder is an injury on the upper arm bone that comes out from the cup-shaped socket in the shoulder blade.
- Bursitis– It is a painful condition that impacts the soft fluid sacs. These soft fluid sacs are also known as bursae. It forms the cushion at the bones, tendons and muscles near the joints. The condition occurs when bursitis gets inflamed.
- Frozen shoulder– Frozen shoulder is the stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint. It can worsen over time.
Symptoms for Shoulder Pain
The Common Signs and symptoms of shoulder pain are:
- Warmth in the shoulder
- Redness in the shoulder area
- Neck pain, back pain or arm pain
- A clicking or grinding sensation is experienced during the movements of the shoulder.
- Muscle stiffness
- Muscle weakness
- Difficulty in making shoulder moments
- Inability to raise the arm
- Exposed bone or tendon
- Severe pain in the shoulder
- Sudden swelling
Ways to Investigate Shoulder pain
Initially, a medical practitioner asks about medical history, injuries, pain level and lifestyle. Consequently, they suggest some common imaging tests conducted like X-rays, MRIs, and ultrasounds that are used to detect the damage in joints, bones, tendons or ligaments. Also, there are some specific diagnostic tests like:
- Neer test- It is a simple shoulder test that detects shoulder impingement. It’s a common rotator cuff injury which affects young and middle-aged people. In this, a Healthcare provider stands behind the person with a hand on the affected shoulder area. He/she will then rotate the arm inwards and make the thumb of the person’s face backward or down. Next, they lift the arm straight up which decreases the space between the rotator cuff and the bone at the shoulder top. If the movement causes pain, the test is positive.
- Speed test– It is a special test to look for tendonitis in the bicep. The bicep muscle has two tendons connecting to the shoulder bone and the other connecting the radius of the forearm bone. The Healthcare provider raises the arm making it parallel to the floor and palm facing upwards. He/she will then push the arm down while the person has to resist the force. Pain in the front side of the shoulder while resisting the movement means that the person has bicep tendonitis.
- Apprehension and Relocation test- It is done to identify shoulder instability that makes the shoulder lose or partially dislocates it. The person lies down facing upwards on the exam table and the Healthcare provider extends the arm straight out from the table. He/she will then bend the elbow by 90° and use another hand to keep the hand still. They will then gently pull the forearm towards the floor. If the shoulder feels like it will pop out, or it pops- out then the test is positive.
- Sulcus test– This test is used to look for shoulder instability. The person hangs the hand down by their side and the Healthcare provider holds the wrist or elbow pulling the arm down. If they find a small Sunken spot or sulcus on the top of the shoulder then it validates shoulder instability.
- AC Joint Compression Test– The acromioclavicular joint is found on the top of the shoulder. To know whether there is a separation of the AC Joint or not, the Healthcare provider uses the AC Joint Compression Test to detect it. In this test, the provider places a hand on the front of the person’s shoulder and another on the back of the shoulder. Next, they push their hands together to compress the joint. Pain during this Compression means the test is positive.
Physiotherapy Treatment for Shoulder Pain
In the Physiotherapy treatment for shoulder pain, the physiotherapist makes a custom treatment plan to heal the injury, and improve mobility. Also, they give recommendations on modifying daily activities to support the shoulder. They suggest some special exercises to do at home and there are physiotherapy sessions that should be followed.
Sometimes, physiotherapy can negate the need for surgery particularly in cases of the elderly because they won’t have a high chance of surgery success. Usually, the physiotherapy exercises are sufficient and their duration differs from person to person. Also, in cases where surgery is unavoidable physiotherapy can be a good way to prepare the body for it and give post-surgery care for quick recovery.