Shoulder Pain
Resources and Information
Shoulder Pain Symptoms
The location and severity of shoulder pain can vary, depending on the cause of the problem.
Signs and symptoms that sometimes accompany shoulder pain are:
Common Shoulder Injuries and Conditions
Injuries
Brachial Plexus Injury
Rotator Cuff Injury
Sprains
Under/Overuse Injuries
Shoulder Bursitis
Rotator Cuff Tendinitis
Frozen Shoulder
Separations
Dislocated Shoulder
Separated Shoulder
Conditions
Shoulder Impingement
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Arthritis
Osteoarthritis of the Shoulder
Rheumatoid Arthritis
How Will My Shoulder Pain Be Diagnosed?
Your physical therapist will perform an evaluation that will start with discussing your medical history and your symptoms. Your therapist will examine your strength and range of motion, check your functional abilities (like reaching up and behind your back), ask you your goals and then come up with a personalized treatment plan to relieve your shoulder pain and restore your mobility.
Pain management
Your physical therapist may provide treatments using different “modalities” such as ice, heat, ultrasound, or electrical stimulation to help decrease pain and swelling.
Manual therapy
Your therapist will apply manual (hands-on) therapy to gently guide movement of the knee area to restore joint and tissue mobility.
Therapeutic exercises
Your physical therapist will prescribe specific strengthening, flexibility, and endurance exercises to address your specific needs and goals.
Functional exercises
You will learn individualized exercises designed to help you return to your home, work, and sport activities. These also may include balance and coordination exercises.
Self-care instruction
Your physical therapist will teach you ways to manage your pain at home, and design a safe and effective home-exercise program based on your specific condition, which you can continue long after your formal physical therapy sessions have ended. You also will learn how to avoid placing unnecessary forces on the knee during your daily activities for years to come.