SHOULDER PAIN & IMPINGEMENT
Physiotherapy for Shoulder Pain & Impingement in Oakville
Welcome to the Mobility Plus Physiotherapy patient resource for shoulder pain and impingement relief
What is Shoulder Impingement?
Shoulder impingement can be the result of a few different factors; bony narrowing, abnormal shoulder blade posture, weakness of the rotator cuff muscles and shoulder instability. The tissues (tendons and bursa) that lie in the subacromial space (see image below) can become compressed and this prolonged friction leads to pain, inflammation and scar tissue formation.
How can physiotherapy help?
Physiotherapists can help improve your posture, decrease pain and get you back to moving the way you once were. Physiotherapists will help to identify faulty movement patterns and prevent the recurrence of injury.
What can I do to help before my appointment?
Patients are encouraged to apply a cold pack in the early phase of injury however due to potential contraindications it’s best to wait for a health care practitioners’ advice. Focusing on posture can greatly benefit this impairment. Imagine a string pulling the top of your head to the ceiling and your shoulders and spine should fall into it’s natural position.
Best Treatment for Shoulder Pain & Impingement
The shoulder is a complex piece of anatomy and series of moving parts. In relation to our skeletal anatomy, the shoulder and arm are only attached by a joint near the middle of our collar bone. So essentially our arm and shoulder are supported and connected via our muscular attachments. This means that unless our muscle tension is balanced, our movement is coordinated effectively and our posture is in optimal alignment, stress on tissues in the shoulder girdle can progress quickly.
In order to overcome a shoulder injury, we need to identify the tissue that is generating the pain, that has likely been overloaded, and address why this stress built in the first place. Correcting all the associated dysfunction in and around the shoulder often results in rapid and long lasting pain relief. This is achieved with a professional Physiotherapy assessment. Book your first visit today to receive an accurate diagnosis, understand why this happened, why you haven’t been able to heal on your own and what needs to be done going forward.