Shoulder Physiotherapist Milsons Point

Rotator Cuff Injuries 

The shoulder joint is a shallow mobile joint, reinforced with a number of muscles (rotator cuff) that support the joint much like a hand reaching over the top to hold your arm bone up into the socket. The rotator cuff muscles move the shoulder in a large range of directions, in combination with the shoulder blade and the thoracic rings.

Acromioclavicular joint 

The acromioclavicular joint is where your collarbone joins your shoulder. This joint is usually injured by falling onto an outstretched hand. The ligament can be sprained or torn. The collarbone is the only bony connection of the shoulder to the body, the other connections are muscular. It acts a strut holding the shoulder out away from the midline of your body.

When the ligaments are stretched, there may be a clicking of the joint, or it can cause other muscles around to tighten to compensate. Postural awareness is needed to enable good strong shoulder function.

Stiff or “frozen” shoulder 

A frozen shoulder starts off painful, and ends up being stiff and not painful. A stiff shoulder will go through stages. When it starts moving (‘thawing”) after the “frozen” pain free  stage is ending (usually 12-18 months) is when to start physio. Physio can help get you moving again. NOTE – many stiff shoulders are frozen, make sure you are properly diagnosed.

Impingement 

Impingement is where soft tissue at the top of your shoulder is pinched. This results from poor movement control of the shoulder joint as a whole. There are three parts to shoulder joint movement: the arm on the shoulder blade, the shoulder blade on the ribcage, and the ribcage itself. When one or more areas are stiff, impingement can result. Soft tissue treatment and retraining movement patterns can relieve this pain.

Referred pain

Pain in the shoulder may be referred from nerves in the neck. Treatment comprises of mobilsing joints in the neck to free up the nerves, mobilising the nerves themselves, and education and a home exercise program so you can get relief faster.