Shoulder Pain

What causes shoulder pain and is it common?

Shoulder pain is a quite frequent problem that many people deal with. Typically, overhead activities, reaching behind the back, and arm motions across the body, are common complaints and functional limitations that we see in the clinic. These signs and symptoms often are associated with shoulder impingement syndrome. Impingement syndrome can affect people of all ages and genders, although we more often see it among individuals doing repetitive overhead activities and sports. This sharp pain is usually localized deep in the shoulder but can radiate and present in the mid-arm.

There are factors that can contribute to shoulder impingement syndrome, including muscle tightness, rotator cuff and shoulder blade muscle weakness or injury, abnormal posture, and bone spurs. Proper shoulder blade movement plays a vital role in optimal shoulder health and function. There are numerous muscles that attach to the shoulder blade to help it move in a normal rhythm of motion. These muscles need to have adequate endurance and strength and must contract in a proper pattern to promote healthy shoulder function. In most cases of shoulder pain, we often identify some degree of abnormal movement patterns at the shoulder blade, called “scapular dyskinesis”. This is also commonly referred to as “winging scapula.”

What do I do about shoulder pain?

Physical therapy exercises and manual therapy techniques can effectively re-educate our shoulder blades to move in a healthy pattern. At Trinity Physical Therapy and Performance, we have recently introduced the latest technological advancements for arm health. Currently, we are the only clinic in the area combining Cipher Skin and the Shoulder Pacemaker Technology. We couple this with evidence-based exercise prescription and the skilled art of manual therapy techniques.

Tell me more!

Cipher Skin is an innovative technology utilizing arm sleeve with motion sensors that accurately track motion patterns during movement evaluations and exercises. This sleeve provides real- time visual input to the physical therapist and movement guidance called biofeedback to the patient. This technology helps us measure movement pattern improvements and provide quicker corrective cues for our patients. This sleeve can also be sent home with the patient to monitor quality of movement and progression with home exercises.

The Shoulder Pacemaker is an advanced neuromuscular education device that uses electrical impulses combined with specific exercises. These comfortable impulses are activated by the patient's arm movement, improving the proper timing and power of the muscle contractions. This technology is helping our patients rapidly re-establish healthy shoulder blade strength.

If you currently have shoulder pain that is not resolving, physical therapy utilizing these latest technologies may be of benefit to you. Due to the nature of many serious underlying shoulder conditions, it is always important to consult with a skilled orthopedic surgeon for initial diagnostic testing. Some of the nation’s best shoulder specialists are right here in the Greater New Orleans Area. Trinity Physical Therapy has developed a great relationship with many of these specialists, and we often collaborate with them to devise a detailed treatment plan once the physical therapy evaluation is complete.

Please contact us if you have any questions about shoulder pain or would like to learn more about the treatments and technology mentioned in this article.