Shoulder Pain

Woman holding shoulder on tennis court.

Med1Care Therapy Partner’s therapists specialize in physical therapy for shoulder pain as a treatment option. Shoulder pain happens to athletes and non-athletes alike and pain relief starts with proper diagnosis and treatment.

Symptoms of shoulder pain can occur gradually or suddenly and feel dull and achy or sharp and intense. The source of the pain may radiate from muscles, ligaments, tendons or the shoulder joint itself. Joint pain typically increases with normal activities like moving the arm, lifting objects or pulling open doors.While referred pain, may arise from issues in the chest or abdomen. Referred shoulder pain usually will not intensify when you move the shoulder.

Seek immediate medical attention if your shoulder pain is caused by an injury and accompanied by these symptoms:

  • Exposed bone or tendon
  • Immediate swelling
  • Inability to lift the arm
  • Intense pain
  • Joint deformity

Reasons for Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain indicates irritation of the lower lumbar and lumbosacral spine. Common causes of shoulder pain include pregnancy, muscle spasm, lumbar spinal stenosis, degenerative disk disease and spondylolisthesis.

Some of the common issues that cause shoulder pain include:

  • Diseases that impact the chest and abdomen, such as heart disease or gallbladder disease
  • Dislocation
  • Fracture to the arm or collarbone
  • Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis)
  • Heart attack
  • Impingement syndrome, including bursitis and rotator cuff tendinitis
  • Inflammation of the joint (bursitis)
  • Labral tear
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Rotator cuff tear
  • Sprain
  • Tendinosis or tendon rupture
  • Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)
  • Thoracic outlet syndrome
  • Torn cartilage

Read more about shoulder pain here.

How We Can Help

If you are suffering from shoulder pain, our experienced physical therapists can help you decrease your pain, improve your mobility and regain your quality of life.

Med1Care Therapy Partner’s experienced therapists are trained in treating shoulder issues. Your treatment plan will include assistance with reparative exercises that increase your strength, improve your range of motion and provide supportive education that will speed your return to regular activities. We will partner with your physician to help you build a road to recovery.

Call us at 419.866.0555 to schedule a consultation.
Our specialists will help you chart a course forward.

Man with severe shoulder pain.To decrease shoulder pain, your health care provider may recommend surgery or nonsurgical options such as anti-inflammatory medications, cortisone injections or platelet-rich plasma injections.

Surgeon conducting shoulder surgery in an operating room.For more severe shoulder issues, surgery is sometimes the best course of action. Your doctor may advise procedures like rotator cuff repair, joint replacement, shoulder resurfacing or shoulder impingement repair.

Read more about shoulder surgery here.

Woman discussing shoulder surgery with her doctor.When other treatments don’t provide adequate pain relief from fractures or arthritis, shoulder replacement surgery may be an option. The surgery will remove damaged areas and replace them with artificial equivalents. This can provide pain relief and support increased movement.