The shoulder is a truly incredible part of the human anatomy. As the most flexible and mobile joint in the body, the shoulder allows the arm to perform a wide range of motions and is the reason we can perform many of the dexterous tasks needed in daily life. Unfortunately, this extreme flexibility comes at a price, as certain movements, postures and habits can cause damage to the shoulder and result in pain.

Often thought of as a single joint, the shoulder is actually a ball-and-socket made up of two joints—the glenohumeral and acromioclavicular joints—that combine with a number of tendons, ligaments and muscles to allow the arm to execute its wide range of motions. Just about every movement that requires the use of our arms also involves the shoulder in some way, and it’s particularly important for reaching tasks and overhead activities.

Shoulder pain includes any pain that arises in or around the shoulder. It may originate in the joints themselves or from any of the surrounding muscles, ligaments or tendons that make up the shoulder. Most shoulder problems that lead to pain are due to tendon inflammation or tear, instability, arthritis or fractures. One of the most common causes of shoulder pain is when the tendons of the rotator cuff—an important structure of muscles and tendons—become trapped under a bony area of the shoulder, which is called rotator cuff tendinitis.

People who perform lots of overhead activities on a regular basis like painters, carpenters swimmers and baseball players are all at a elevated risk for developing shoulder pain, but even bad posture can lead to its development. Some shoulder pain comes on gradually over time, while in other cases it may be due to a specific incident that caused trauma to the shoulder. Whatever its cause, shoulder pain can be a major disturbance that impairs your ability to function normally in daily life, especially if you’re an athlete.

Most shoulder pain will dissipate within a few weeks with some rest and avoidance of activities that may aggravate it. But for pain that’s more severe or lingers for too long, physical therapy may be necessary. At CAM Physical Therapy and Wellness Services, we recommend the following to treat shoulder pain and prevent it in the future:

• Before beginning any treatment, we’ll evaluate the condition of your shoulder with a series of tests to measure strength and range of motion
• We’ll typically advise a period of complete rest of the shoulder for at least one week, during which you should avoid any straining overhead activities
• Our physical therapy program will involve a variety of stretching and strengthening exercises to help improve flexibility and build back strength
• Other components of our program may include heat, ice and massage
• We will also give you a home-exercise program to be performed daily when you’re not in therapy
• In addition to treatment, we’ll work with you on improving your posture and train you on how to avoid any other movements or activities that can make pain worse

Shoulder pain can be a real inconvenience, especially if you’re involved in sports and it prevents you from participating. At CAM Physical Therapy and Wellness Services in Glenn Dale, Bowie, Laurel, Hyattsville and Parkville, MD, we’ll work to get you recovered as safely and quickly as possible, so you can get back to doing the things you love! Call us at 301-853-0093 for more information or to schedule an appointment.