Shoulder Injuries and Pain
Treating shoulder injuries
Shoulder injuries frequently involve muscles, ligaments and tendons. These types of injuries are generally due to activities that require repetitive motions such as swimming, tennis, pitching, weightlifting, yardwork or playing a musical instrument.
SSM Health Physical Therapy provides expert care for patients with:
- Bursitis
- Frozen shoulder
- Rotator cuff tear
- Shoulder impingement/rotator cuff tendonitis
Regardless of your injury, the SSM Health Physical Therapy team will listen to your symptoms and overall goals and develop a personalized treatment plan to get you on the road to recovery.
If surgery isn’t required, your treatment will focus on restoring range of motion, strength and function to reduce pain and swelling. If surgery is necessary, your physical or hand therapist will work with you, before and after the procedure. In addition, our clinical team will communicate closely with your physician to ensure a seamless healing journey.
Shoulder injuries we treat
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Bursitis is a painful condition that occurs when the small fluid-filled sac that supports the shoulder joint becomes damaged, irritated or inflamed. Symptoms of bursitis can include:
- Pain on the tip of the shoulder
- Pain when lying on the sore shoulder
- Pain when rotating the arm or pushing or pulling open a door
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Frozen shoulder is the progressive stiffening of the shoulder due to scar tissue. It typically develops slowly and in three stages, including:
- Freezing: moving your shoulder causes pain, and range of motion is limited.
- Frozen: pain may lessen, but your shoulder is stiffer and becomes more difficult to move.
- Thawing: your range of motion improves.
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Shoulder impingement occurs when your shoulder’s rotator cuff tendons are overused or injured. This causes pain and limits your movement. Symptoms of shoulder impingement/rotator cuff tendonitis can include:
- Pain with activity and while resting
- Pain that radiates from the front of the shoulder to the side of the arm
- Pain when throwing a ball, especially in athletes
- Sudden pain when lifting and reaching
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A rotator cuff tear usually happens to people who repeatedly perform overhead motions in their jobs or during sports. An extensive rotator cuff tear may require surgery and symptoms of a tear can include:
- Arm weakness or limited motion
- Discomfort when laying on the arm
- Dull shoulder ache