A slight pain in the shoulder or arm is often ignored, believing it will get better by itself. However, what is not known to many individuals is that a quick intermittent pain could progress into a constant ache, going down the arm. The reasons for the occurrence of should pain could be overuse, an injury, or the daily wear and tear. The good news is that it is possible to treat shoulder pain at Wellbeing Clinic, the Dubai physiotherapy clinic, where proper diagnosis of the cause of pain is done and appropriate treatment is applied.
What is the reason for your shoulder pain?
There are various reasons for you to suffer from shoulder pain. These include:
- The weakness of the shoulder blade muscles, rotator cuff, a stiff shoulder joint, and shoulder muscles.
- Imbalances occurring in shoulder muscle groups that cause poor movement of arm and shoulder blade.
- Poor posture like increased bending of the shoulder blades.
- Trauma, like a fall or an accident.
How Physiotherapist assesses your Shoulder Pain?
Physiotherapy is quite effective in the treatment of most shoulder conditions. Getting a proper assessment of your shoulder pain by a physical therapist at Wellbeing Clinic is the first step for you. The assessment includes a general observation of various aspects like shoulder, scapula shoulder blade, positioning. Then the physiotherapist asks the patient to perform movements along the three planes of the shoulder to assess the presence of any pain that could be the reason for decreased motion along these planes. If no range issues are found, the testing of shoulder strength is done using the movements as done to study the motion of the shoulder, though with little resistance. Finally, the physical therapist does a testing of joint glide that includes exercise to find out the movement of the bones among themselves. Once the assessment is completed, the physiotherapist will perform a diagnosis and form a treatment plan for the specific condition of the patient.
What is the type of treatment plan?
The initial physiotherapy session in the clinic will typically be for 45 minutes consultation and that includes both assessment and treatment. The treatment plan recommended is unique to every patient. A range of treatment modalities is available that includes Dry Needling, Applied Kinesiology, Kinesiology tape, Ultrasound, TENS, Therapeutic Massage, Manipulations, and Exercise.
Reducing Further Injuries
The shoulder being a mobile joint is very prone to injury. An important part of the treatment process is preventing further injury to the shoulder and to keep the shoulder strong and healthy; this would not only heal the injury but also set up the individual to lead a successful life. The therapists at the physiotherapy clinic of Wellbeing Clinic works on a program that aims to reduce the risk of further injuries happening to the shoulder, and also provide support to the patient in keeping up various motions, coordination, strength, and neuromuscular control.
What if my pain still exists?
In the rare event of the shoulder pain not improving within a certain time as per the diagnosis, our physical therapist will request your healthcare provider for further diagnostic tests. Our goal is to bring back your shoulder to its full functioning, and that includes helping you to return to your daily work or a sporting activity, and which should mean a pain-free shoulder.
Post Physiotherapy
Post physiotherapy, the physiotherapist recommends a home-based exercise program to the patient, which is similar to that offered during the treatment. The aim in providing the home-based program is to prevent recurrence of the injury. In addition, the healthcare provider will keep track of pain improvement, changes, and the function of the shoulder in general. If there is any recurrence of the pain or another concern that needs to be addressed, the therapist will ask the patient to meet the clinic at their convenience.
About Home Exercise Program
It is important to follow the home exercise program as well. Shoulder pain may occur due to improper alignment of the shoulder and also due to its improper movement resulting from improper balancing of the surrounding muscles. The home exercise program that is recommended targets these improper balances and includes stretching and strengthening exercise. The exercise first aims to restore the complete range of shoulder movement. Once it is achieved, the focus shifts to strength improvement. As per the typical activities of the patient, the therapist at our Dubai Physiotherapy clinic recommends functional exercise to help restore the original function of the patient.