SHOULDER
SHOULDER
Shoulder Pain Explained:
The shoulder is a complex synovial joint known as a ball and socket joint. It connects the upper arm bone (humerus) with the articulating surface (glenoid cavity) of the scapula (shoulder blade).
Understanding the Shoulder Complex:
The shoulder complex comprises three bones: the humerus, scapula, and clavicle. The humerus is held in place within the glenoid cavity by the long head of the bicep tendon and reinforced by the rotator cuff. The scapula, or shoulder blade, is the bone forming the shoulder girdle and consists of a prominent ridge and two concave areas. The clavicle, or collarbone, is a curved bone located at the base of the neck in the front part of the body.
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The Four Joints of the Shoulder:
The shoulder consists of four joints: the glenohumeral, acromioclavicular, sternoclavicular, and scapulothoracic joints. The glenohumeral joint is the primary shoulder joint, offering the greatest mobility but also making it more prone to instability and dislocation. The acromioclavicular joint connects the sternum with the clavicle, while the sternoclavicular joint is where the collarbone meets the breastbone. The scapulothoracic joint, although not a true anatomical joint, refers to the articulation of the scapula with the thorax.
Common Shoulder Disorders:
The shoulder’s remarkable flexibility also makes it vulnerable to various conditions. Common shoulder disorders include instability due to injury, osteoarthritis, infection, and rheumatoid disease. Additionally, the floating scapulothoracic joint can give rise to painful conditions such as scapular winging, snapping scapula syndrome, scapulothoracic dyskinesis, and scapulothoracic dissociation. Other prevalent shoulder issues encompass fractures, dislocations in any of the three ball-and-socket shoulder joints, acromioclavicular (AC) separation, SLAP tears, rotator cuff tears, frozen shoulder, impingement, bursitis, tendinitis, and tendinopathy/tendinosis.
Physical Therapy for Shoulder Pain Relief:
The good news is that many shoulder injuries and conditions can be effectively treated with conservative approaches. At Pacific Physiotherapy, our expert physical therapists specialize in evaluating and treating shoulder dysfunctions. We provide comprehensive care for individuals of all ages, addressing muscle, ligament, tendon, joint, and neurological conditions.
Our Treatment Approach:
– Thorough biomechanical evaluation.
– Customized treatment plan.
– Extensive patient education.
– Hands-on techniques to relax muscles and improve mobility.
– Stretching exercises for tight muscles.
– Strengthening weak muscles.
– Joint mobilization for stiffness.
– Modalities such as ice, heat, ultrasound, or electrical stimulation.
Benefits of Physical Therapy:
– No side effects.
– Cost-effective.
– Supported by clinical research.
– Customized to address the underlying cause of the pain.
For more information on shoulder pain, please visit our Medical Library.