Shoulder Pain Causes, Diagnosis & Treatments: A Comprehensive Guide from Health & Performance Centre

Are you experiencing shoulder pain that disrupts your daily activities and/or sleep? You are not alone. Shoulder pain is a common complaint that affects people of all ages and activity levels. At Health & Performance Centre (HPC), we offer award-winning physiotherapy, massage therapy, and chiropractic services to help diagnose, treat, and prevent shoulder injuries. Our team of experienced practitioners will work with you to identify the cause of your pain and develop a customized treatment plan to help you recover.

Shoulder pain is one of the most common complaints we treat at the Health and Performance Centre in Guelph. It can be as minimal as a quick intermittent pain that is often described as a ‘sharp catch’, but can progress to a more constant dull ache down the arm. Commonly, shoulder pain can result in aching that disrupts sleeping postures and results in restless sleep and increased pain at night. Problems in the shoulder can occur with everyday wear and tear, overuse, or an isolated injury. While there are many causes of shoulder pain, it is important to have an accurate diagnosis so that the appropriate treatment is implemented.

Common Medical Diagnosis for Shoulder Pain in Guelph:

Shoulder pain can result from a variety of conditions. Here are some of the most common medical diagnoses for shoulder pain:

• Rotator cuff tendonitis: inflammation of the tendons in the rotator cuff
• Rotator cuff tear: a tear in one or more of the tendons in the rotator cuff
• Impingement syndrome: pressure on the rotator cuff tendons and bursa, resulting in pain and inflammation
• Frozen shoulder: a condition that causes stiffness and limited mobility in the shoulder joint
• Shoulder dislocations and separations: injuries that occur when the upper arm bone (humerus) pops out of the shoulder socket (glenoid)
• Bursitis shoulder: inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs (bursae) in the shoulder joint

Common Causes of Shoulder Pain:

Shoulder pain can result from a variety of causes. Here are some of the most common causes of shoulder pain in Guelph:

• Weakness of the rotator cuff and shoulder muscles
• Weakness of the shoulder blade muscles
• Stiff shoulder joint
• Imbalances between shoulder muscle groups that result in poor arm and shoulder blade movement
• Poor posture, such as increased rounding of the shoulder blades
• Trauma, such as a fall involving the arm
• Shoulder surgery

Treatments for Shoulder Pain in Guelph:

Our physiotherapy, massage therapy, and chiropractic services are specifically designed to help diagnose, treat, and prevent shoulder injuries. Our treatments for shoulder pain may include:

• Hands-on therapy or mobilization: our experienced practitioners will use hands-on techniques to improve the mobility of your shoulder joint and relieve pain
• Specific strengthening and postural retraining exercises: we will develop a customized exercise program to strengthen the muscles surrounding your shoulder joint and improve your posture
• Education on avoiding inappropriate and provoking positions: we will teach you how to avoid positions that aggravate your shoulder pain
• Modalities such as acupuncture, TENS or taping for pain control, and ultrasound to improve the speed of tissue healing time
• The Shoulder Injury Prevention Program (SHIPP): SHIPP is specifically designed to reduce the risk of shoulder injuries by assisting you in the five key areas.

Most shoulder pain can be resolved in about 4-6 weeks of treatment. Your commitment is typically 2-3 times a week for 20-30 minutes, in addition to carrying out your home exercise program. Our home exercise programs utilize the most advanced exercises and are described in detail with pictures for your reference. These independent exercises can be used to both treat and prevent ongoing shoulder complaints. If your shoulder pain does not improve in a timely manner based on your diagnosis, we will work with your healthcare provider to request further diagnostic tests.

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Shoulder Injury Prevention Program (SHIPP)

At the Health and Performance Centre, we also offer a Shoulder Injury Prevention Program (SHIPP). The SHIPP for throwers is specifically designed to reduce the risk of shoulder injuries by assisting you in the five key areas, including:

• Flexibility
• Strength
• Stability
• Technique
• Workload management

If you are experiencing shoulder pain, don't wait to seek treatment. Contact the Health and Performance Centre today to book an appointment with one of our practitioners. You can also check out our similar articles on shoulder separations and dislocations, impingement syndrome, and our SHIPP program for throwers. Our goal is to help you return to full function, whether that means a return to work, a specific sport or activity, or a pain-free sleep.

Related Articles: 

• Shoulder Separations & Dislocations [2]
• Impingement Syndrome [3]
• Shoulder Injury Prevention Program(SHIPP) [4]