Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain can come from the rotator cuff, the joint cartilage, the bursae or an injury, and many shoulder problems, including some rotator cuff tears, are treated without surgery. Physical therapy finds which part is the problem and restores motion and strength. We treat shoulder pain in Chubbuck and Pocatello, Idaho, and Matt Krammen, PT, DPT, Cert DN sees many shoulder patients.
Why reaching up to the top shelf hurts
Your shoulder is more than a ball and socket. The collarbone, upper arm bone and shoulder blade meet there, and four muscles and tendons, the rotator cuff, move the arm through its wide range. Cartilage cushions the bone ends, and small fluid sacs called bursae reduce friction. If any of these is damaged or worn, you feel it.
People tell us they can't lift my arm without pain, or that they avoid anything overhead, from a closet shelf to a hay bale. Physical therapy starts with range-of-motion testing to find which motions bring on the pain and which ease it, then builds a plan around your age, fitness, medical history and what you want to get back to.
Common shoulder problems we treat
Rotator cuff tendinitis and tear
Rotator cuff tendinitis comes from overuse by athletes and workers who use their shoulders hard. A rotator cuff tear can be treated with strengthening in many cases, and surgery makes sense when it does not settle.
Shoulder impingement and bursitis
Shoulder impingement happens when the tendons rub against bone or get pinched. Shoulder bursitis is an inflamed bursa. Both can make overhead motion painful and stiff.
Frozen shoulder
Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, tends to develop in a shoulder that has been held still for a long time, such as an arm in a cast.
Dislocated shoulder, labral tear and instability
A hard impact can knock the ball out of the socket, and a dislocated shoulder is more likely to happen again. A labral tear, including SLAP tears, can cause catching and a loose feeling.
Arthritis and fracture
Arthritis wears down the cartilage inside the joint, covered on Arthritis & Joint Pain. After a broken collarbone, upper arm or shoulder blade, strengthening helps muscles that went unused while the bone healed.
Shoulder pain at night
Shoulder pain at night is common with a sore rotator cuff or bursitis. Tell your therapist which positions wake you.
What treatment looks like
Your plan may include manual therapy and joint mobilization, mobilization with movement for impingement, and exercises such as shoulder blade squeezes and shoulder rolls. For frozen shoulder, exercise paired with deep tissue laser therapy can fit, and heat, ice, dynamic taping and electrical stimulation help with bursitis.
Where muscles are guarded, dry needling can also be a good fit. For a hard-to-load shoulder after injury or surgery, blood flow restriction training lets you work the muscle with light weight. Pain that starts in the neck and spreads to the shoulder is covered on Neck Pain, and the elbow below is on Elbow Pain (Tennis & Golfer's Elbow).
When surgery makes sense, and sport and arthritis
Some shoulders do need an operation, and we will tell you if yours looks like one.
Before and after surgery
If you need a repair or replacement, therapy before and after helps. See post-surgical rehab.
Sports and overuse
Throwers, swimmers, lifters and workers who push overhead are covered on sports injury rehab.
Shoulder questions
Can you treat a rotator cuff tear without surgery?
Often, yes, depending on the size of the tear and what you need your shoulder to do. Your therapist examines it and tells you whether a surgeon's opinion makes sense.
Do I need a referral?
Idaho allows direct access to physical therapy, so you do not need a referral from a doctor to begin. Some insurance plans, and Medicare typically, may still require one. If you are unsure, call us and we will check your plan. We accept most insurance plans and verify your benefits before you arrive. Auto injury liens, Medpay and workers compensation are accepted, and there is a self-pay option. Call the office to confirm your plan.
Shoulder pain care in Chubbuck, Idaho
Call or request an appointment at our Chubbuck clinic. We see patients from Chubbuck, Pocatello and the surrounding area.
We see patients at our Chubbuck clinic from Chubbuck and Pocatello, Idaho.