Shoulder Pain
What is it?
What most people call the shoulder is really several joints that combine with tendons and muscles to allow a wide range of motion in the arm — from scratching your back to throwing a ball. Shoulder issues or injuries can commonly occur through an injury during activity or exercise and also very commonly in desk workers or people who are driving a lot or driving long distances too – often experiencing a stiffening which then grows into a consistently uncomfortable shoulder and pain which can disrupt sleep and daily life. A decrease in mobility may caused increased problems with instability or impingement of the soft tissue / bone structures of your shoulder – causing pain.
Most shoulder problems fall into four major categories:
- Tendon inflammation (bursitis or tendinitis) or tendon tear
- Instability
- Arthritis
- Fracture (broken bone)
How can we help?
A physiotherapist can use their extensive knowledge to help relieve your shoulder pain. We will assess your strength and range of movement to identify problems and areas for improvement, incorporate diagnostic tests to assist in identifying the condition you are suffering with, and create an appropriate management plan with exercise prescription to improve your function and strength, even more than prior to the injury! This will support getting you back on track to enjoy the activities that are important to you and make day to day life easier. There are planty of things that can be done to reduce discomfort, so don’t let yourself suffer needlessly!
Before they begin to treat shoulder pain, a Physiotherapist will pin down exactly what is causing you discomfort via a Physio Assessment.
What does a Physio Assessment Involve?
A Physio Assessment is a session with one of our highly trained and skilled Physiotherapists. The session will consist of a full and detailed delve into your history, including medical, lifestyle and details of the issue you are currently experiencing. The Physiotherapist will often perform some physical tests, such as range of movement tests and analyse your movement patterns, mobility and restrictions amongst other things. A plan for your recovery will then be put in place.
Physio treatment will then follow. Treatment can consist of many different treatments, including manual Physiotherapy treatment, Sports Massage, Acupuncture, along with other cutting edge technology and equipment we have within clinics. Finally you are provided your very own personalised video rehabilitation program via our online app.
Do I need a Physio Assessment OR a Sports Massage?
We get asked this A LOT! Sports Massage Therapy and Physiotherapy Treatment both have a valued place in helping muscle tightness and imbalances. Lets explain all the differences and benefits to prevent you wasting money on a service that isn’t right for you!
A sports massage is a hands on treatment and a form of massage therapy, involving the manipulation of soft tissue in order to relieve tension in muscles and connective tissue.
All our sports massages are performed by highly qualified Chartered Physiotherapists, rather than Massage Therapists, meaning you get a much more in depth service. Prior to a massage, our Therapists conduct an initial screening to make sure that sports massage is the best option for you. They will screen for any red flag symptoms and rule out any contraindications. They will also ask about the reasons you have chosen a sports massage and what you’d like to get out of the session. Sports massage can be used to prevent soft tissue injury, reduce pain and swelling, enhance recovery, improve circulation, movement and performance.
Pre-event Sports Massage
If you have a sporting event such as a rugby match, 10km run, marathon training sessions or a triathlon coming up then sports massages can help to prepare your body by ensuring that your muscles and soft tissues are supple and ready for activity.
Post-event Sports Massage
Sports massage can help to accelerate recovery following activity enabling you to get back to training.
Maintenance Sports Massage
Some people will use sports massage to keep them fresh during training for large events but also when managing a long-term issue that has already been assessed and diagnosed. It can also help when you are working on posture improvements.
So at what point do I require more than a massage?
Some people think a Sports Massage is the answer to their problem, when the problem may be deeper rooted, or stemming from a totally different location on their body. If you have neurological symptoms (like pins and needles or numbness) or we suspect that there may be an underlying cause for your aches and pains then we’d often recommend a deeper investigation with a physiotherapy assessment.
Our bodies are cleverly made up of so many different parts which are designed to work perfectly and efficiently in sync with each other. If a cog in our wheel becomes imbalanced, weak, tight, injured or dysfunctional, we run into issues, and here’s the interesting part – you may experience pain in completely different parts of your body! Weird right? Some common examples of this are, back issues stemming from a weakness and imbalance in the hip or even feet!
Most of us are also sitting more and moving less, which can lead to muscle imbalances and weaknesses that have a knock-on effect to the way you move. When left untreated these imbalances can eventually result in pain and dysfunction. With non-traumatic injuries, pain is often the last thing to be felt and there’s usually stiffness or weakness well before pain comes on. In professional sport players are screened regularly to identify these imbalances so Physio’s can intervene before pain.
So, when you’re faced with the decision of whether you need a sports massage or physio assessment remember….
- Sports Massage = recovery, loosening of soft tissue and/or maintenance for tight areas.
- Physio Assessment = investigate pain, after an injury, neurological symptoms, posture correction, injury prevention, recurrent injuries or having regular sports massages but the issue is not resolving.
Want to hear what our patients who have received treatment for shoulder pain say?
- I went to see Craig about my constant shoulder pain which I had suffered with for a few years but knew it was probably more a posture thing...and keeping up with my exercises the difference was amazing. My husband went too for his shoulder and again has not suffered since. I would highly recommend and I will go back if I have any other issues with shoulders, neck etc – Tracie
- The work we put into my shoulder has made a big difference in my life. The shoulder is better than it’s been for many years and my quality of life has improved thanks to the time spent in the gym with my Physio
- I became a patient with TPL in Warrington following a serious cycling accident. The most challenging injury was to the right shoulder. The team at TPL had an immediate understanding of my shoulder problem. Having seen me for exploratory sessions, Clinical Director Craig Lea recommended that surgery was the best option followed by a thorough rehabilitation. He followed up on my behalf and surgery took place. Craig and the team prepared me for the surgery and then provided tremendous support in a very successful rehabilitation process. Huge thank-you to the whole team at TPL. I couldn't have done it without you. It was painful at times but all worth it. Thank-you again
- I love my sports massage with my Physio. She has helped me so much with a painful back and joints. She has spoken to me in great length about posture and has shown me the error of my ways in the way I move and sit which was causing me to get knots in my shoulders. I will be going to David Lloyd Warrington now for all my sports massages. It's also pleasant, clean surroundings with plenty of secure parking
- I am so pleased with the service I have received. In 4 sessions I have gone from having very little rotation and strength in my shoulder to now being able to move it as I did before the injury. I would definitely use this service again and I have recommended it to a lot of colleagues
- My Physio was fantastic. I've suffered for 3 years with my shoulder and within 15 minutes he'd diagnosed the exact problem. He described what was happening and why and proved it with a few small exercises. I left the session already feeling better than I had an hour earlier and have complete trust he'll have me completely sorted in the next few weeks. Can't thank him enough.
- After years of pain in my shoulder and arm gradually getting worse and getting to a point where reaching up to a shelf was painful, after visiting Craig I now feel confident that when the pain or twinges return I have the exercises that help it 100%. Can’t recommend The Physio Lounge enough. Thank you!
- “This was the first time I have had physio, Craig showed incredible knowledge and talked me through everything re joints and muscles and introduced me to Stevie the skeleton! Even after the assessment session my movement in my shoulders was better but I know I need to now carry on with the exercises I have been given and look at my workplace to see what I can change to make improvements for me and my work colleagues
Want to hear what our patients who have received treatment for shoulder pain say?
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Accepted Insurance
We accept all major healthcare insurers, if you don’t see yours listed don’t worry, we may still be able to help, just get in touch and we’ll do what we can to help!
Take a look at our cost saving Sports Massage Packages to get the most out of your treatment with us