PT Specialties_How Physical Therapy Helps Shoulder Pain

Health & Fitness — The Newsletter About Your Health and Caring For Your Body: How Physical Therapy Helps Shoulder Pain by Physical Therapy Specialties

Health & Fitness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body

If you are experiencing shoulder pain, contact Physical Therapy Specialties today for help! WHAT’S CAUSING YOUR SHOULDER PAIN

Health & Fitness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body

WHAT’S CAUSING YOUR SHOULDER PAIN?

Have you been experiencing an achy sensation in your arm? Are you having issues getting to sleep at night or problems lifting things? If these symptoms sound familiar, you might have a rotator cuff injury or neck pain. At Physical Therapy Specialties, our physical therapist can help figure out what is causing your symptoms and how to resolve them once and for all! The rotator cuff comprises muscles and tendons that help keep the shoulder in place and

moving correctly. People experiencing rotator cuff injuries typically report feeling a painful, dull ache deep in their shoulder or trouble getting a good night’s sleep due to pain. Some people experience difficulty reaching behind their backs or weakness in their arms, especially reaching to the side or overhead. All too often, the source of the problem lies in the neck; a condition referred to as cervical radiculopathy. An irritated nerve in the neck can also lead to pain in the shoulder. Symptoms also include pain, weakness, and difficulty sleeping. These symptoms can be similar to those experienced by someone with a torn shoulder/rotator cuff injury. At Physical Therapy Specialties, we offer effective, non-invasive methods of therapy that can help relieve your shoulder pain and heal your rotator cuff injury and/or neck pain. If you think you may have a rotator cuff injury or neck issues, contact our clinic and set up an appointment today! How To Tell If It Is A Rotator Cuff Issue Or A Pinched Nerve Although some symptoms of these conditions are similar, there are ways to differentiate between rotator cuff injury and cervical radiculopathy. Typically, a pinched nerve will cause pain due to neck movements and positions, whereas a rotator cuff injury is associated with shoulder movements and positions. Ways to distinguish rotator cuff injury from neck pain include: Quality of Pain: The rotator cuff tends to be dull at rest and can be sharp with specific movements on the shoulder/arm. The neck tends to have sharp pain at rest and movements of the neck and/or positions that stretch the nerve, resulting in more pain. Moving the neck rarely affects the rotator cuff symptoms. Location of Pain: People with rotator cuff injuries often experience pain in the shoulder itself, typically on the outer aspect of the shoulder.

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WHAT’S CAUSING YOUR SHOULDER PAIN? Find Out How Physical Therapy Helps Relieve Shoulder Pain

The location of the neck pain typically starts in the neck or shoulder blade. Most of the time, shoulder blade pain is a sign that your symptoms are coming from the neck. Although the rotator cuff pain can travel down into the arm in severe cases, it rarely affects the hand. In contrast, a nerve condition will affect the hand along with the distribution of the nerve root that is irritated. (This means pain in particular fingers). Movements affecting pain: Rotator cuff injuries affect movements performed by the injured muscle. Symptoms coming from the neck are produced or intensified by turning your head or looking up/down. Weakness: The most common movements affected by a rotator cuff injuries are reaching to the side or overhead. With cervical radiculopathy, you may find that your shoulder joint feels extremely weak and useless as you attempt to lift something. In some cases, these symptoms extend from your shoulder down through your arm and hand, so it might even be difficult for you to grasp items as you usually would. Physical Therapy For Shoulder Pain Regardless of whether your pain is caused by a torn rotator cuff or cervical radiculopathy, physical therapy is a great option to abolish pain, restore motion and improve your strength in your shoulders and neck. Your physical therapist will assess your pain condition, create a customized treatment plan for your needs, and teach you exercises and targeted stretches to improve your range of motion and reduce your pain. In addition, a comprehensive strengthening program to ensure a total return of the function to the injured shoulder. Your therapist will also inform you of things you should avoid doing to keep from reinjuring yourself and experiencing shoulder pain again down the road. For example, if you play sports, they may advise you to take frequent breaks to reduce

the amount you are using your shoulder. If your neck is the issue, learning about postures and what activities to avoid or modify will be essential for your outcome. Shoulder pain is a common condition that can easily be diagnosed and treated, so don’t hold out on seeing a physical therapist because you’re hoping the pain will go away on its own! It is essential to have your condition evaluated. That way, you will know for sure if the problem is a torn rotator cuff, a pinched nerve, or something else entirely. Come See Us Today! Put an end to your problems today. Call Physical Therapy Specialties today and get scheduled for your very own consultation with one of our skilled physical therapists. Our team will assess your condition, find the root of your pain problem, and set you on the right track to ditching your pain once and for all! CALL 925.417.8005 TODAY!

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PATIENT SPOTLIGHT What our patients have to say! BUSY PARENT? YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE THIS PHYSICAL THERAPY SUCCESS STORY…. Mariah is a busy mother of five active boys, and she started having severe neck pain that would not go away. She thought it would go away with time. It did not. It actually got worse. She started losing feeling down her left arm and then eventually her right. She was pretty much on bed rest and worried about how to take care of her kids. She went from being really active to essentially laying in bed, and she was getting pretty discouraged. She went to chiropractors, her physician, a massage therapist, acupuncturist, nobody could get her relief, and she continued to worsen. Eventually, she went to the top neurosurgeon in her area, and he explained that surgery was the best course of action. However, she didn’t really want to get surgery, and she wanted to avoid it at all costs. She felt that she was healthy and should be able to avoid it, but she didn’t know where to look. She came in for physical therapy, and she did really well. She was treated for seven visits. She reports, “By the end of the treatments, I felt like the old me again. I was the mom I’ve come to know over the years. I was rejuvenated with hope. I felt empowered by my newfound health, and I couldn’t wait to get active with my boys again. Thanks for giving me the gift of being able to play with my sons again.” - Mariah B.

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Come Back In For A Consultation Whether you want to come in for a check-up, suffered a recent injury or want to improve your health, a doctor referral is not needed. In the state of California, you have direct access to physical therapy!

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See our physical therapists for: • Recent injury • Nagging aches and pains • Back and neck pain • Joint pain and movement problems • Walking or balance difficulties

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HAINING “NING” SU, PT Ning graduated from Chapman University with a doctorate in physical therapy. She discovered physical therapy when she injured her back and enjoyed learning how to use body mechanics and knowledge of anatomy to avoid pain. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, traveling, eating good food, and spending time with her son and two dogs, Jasper and Rika. Team Spotlight

Improve Your Health In Our Warm Water Therapy Pool!

I n c r e a s e range of motion M o v e freely P r o t e c t joints R e d u c e pain O b t a i n cardio fitness V i t a l i z e muscle strength E n h a n c e flexibility and balance

Pool Therapy and Water Classes Offered Daily. Schedule is on our website.

www.pt-specialties.com COME BACK TO PT Make an appointment today with one of our therapists and get back to the activities you enjoy — pain-free! 925.417.8005 Has a New Pain Started? Have you experienced an injury?

Exercise Essentials Try these simple exercises to help keep you loose and pain-free... Share this with a friend or family member to help keep them healthy, too!

This exercise helps improve your shoulder.

SHOULDER EXTENSION (CANE) Start by standing up straight with the arm to be exercised hanging by your side. Hold each end of the cane with one hand so that your arm to be exercised is holding the bottom end and your assisting arm is raised holding the top to make the cane positioned in a diagonal line. Lightly move your arm behind you pulling the cane and keeping your arm straight while your other arm assists by pushing lightly.

Always consult your physical therapist or physician before starting exercises you are unsure of doing.

Who do you know that needs our help?

Refer a Friend Do You Have Friends or Family Unable to Do The Following? 9 Move without pain 9 Bend and move freely

9 Balance confidently and securely 9 Sit for long periods comfortably 9 Walk for long distances 9 Live an active and healthy lifestyle

If you know someone suffering from aches and pains give the gift of health. Refer them to Physical Therapy Specialties today. Pass along this newsletter or have them call us directly for a Physical Therapy Consultation.

Call Today! 925.417.8005

CALL TODAY! 925.417.8005 3908 Valley Ave., Suite B Pleasanton, CA 94566

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INSIDE: • What’s Causing Your Shoulder Pain

• Improve Your Health In Our Warm Water Therapy Pool! • Exercise Essentials • Patient Spotlight

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