We can treat your shoulder issues and get you moving again.

Shoulder Rehabilitation

Physical Therapy is an important aspect of treatment for almost all orthopedic conditions. Our physical therapists use different treatment methods to help you increase strength, regain mobility and help you return to your pre-injury level of activity. Exercise and treatment may help you strengthen the muscles around the joint and relieve some of the pain associated with many conditions.

Shoulder pain is an extremely common complaint. Your shoulder pain could be caused by one of these common issues.

• Bursitis/Rotator Cuff Tendonitis – The most common diagnosis in patients with shoulder pain.
• Rotator Cuff Tear – Occur when the tendons of the rotator cuff separate from the bone. Surgery is sometimes necessary for this condition.
• Frozen Shoulder (adhesive capsuliitis) – A common condition that leads to stiffness of the joint. Physical therapy and stretching are extremely important aspects of treatment.
• Calcific Tendonitis – Calcium deposits within a tendon.
• Shoulder Instability – A loose joint caused by a traumatic injury (dislocation), or may be a developed condition.
• Shoulder Dislocation – An injury that occurs when the top of the arm bone becomes disconnected from the scapula (shoulder blade).
• Shoulder Separation (also called an AC separation) – Result of a disruption of the acromioclavicular joint.
• Labral Tear – There are several patterns of a torn labrum and the type of treatment depends on the specific injury.
• SLAP Lesion – A type of labral tear most commonly caused by a fall onto an outstretched hand.
• Arthritis – Less common than knee and hip arthritis, but when severe may require a joint replacement surgery.
• Biceps Tendon Rupture – Occurs when the tendon of the biceps muscle ruptures near the joint.

Shoulder Pain and Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis) Treatment

Frozen shoulder, also known as Adhesive Capsulitis, is a condition that affects the shoulder joint capsule and results in stiffness and loss of movement in the shoulder joint. It is different from rotator cuff injury or shoulder tendonitis in that frozen shoulder affects the joint capsule, where as the other two conditions affect the muscles and tendons of the shoulder joint.

The exact cause of frozen shoulder is unknown, however in a number of cases, frozen shoulder occurs after another shoulder injury like rotator cuff tear, arthritis or shoulder surgery. Also, poor posture can cause a shortening of the ligaments around the shoulder joint, which can lead to frozen shoulder. Other theories have suggested that hormonal and genetic conditions like diabetes and hyperthyroidism can also contribute to frozen shoulder.

The most common symptoms of frozen shoulder are pain and stiffness. Pain usually takes the form of a persistent dull ache and stiffness prevents the full range of motion of the shoulder and upper arm. Patients are often unable to lift the arm above their head or rotate their arm inward.

The normal progression of frozen shoulder has been described as having three stages:

Stage one, (the freezing phase) the patient begins to develop mild pain and stiffness in the shoulder joint. This stage can last from a few weeks to a few months

Stage two, (the frozen phase) the stiffness remains but the pain begins to decline. This stage can last from a few months to nearly a year.

Stage three, (the thawing phase) the full range of movement begins to return to the shoulder joint. This stage can also last a few months.

Most sufferers of frozen shoulder will be fully recovered within 4 to 6 months but some cases have lasted for up to three years, although these are extremely rare.