Physical Therapy for Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain is a common reason that patients come to see us at MPower Physical Therapy. Shoulder pain is common amongst athletes and people who work physically demanding jobs. Luckily many shoulder injuries can be treated with physical therapy!

What Type of Shoulder Injury do I Have?

If you are suffering from shoulder pain, it may be related to a specific type of injury. It is important to seek help from a medical professional such as a shoulder specialist to see what type of injury you have and what your treatment options are. From there, the shoulder specialist or medical provider can refer you to seek treatment with a physical therapist.

What is Causing my Shoulder Pain?

Shoulder pain may be caused by overuse from working a physical job or using your shoulder frequently in a sport like swimming. Other causes may include:

How Can Physical Therapy Help?

A physical therapist can come up with a variety of strengthening and stretching exercises to reduce your shoulder pain and treat your injury. At MPower, our physical therapists work with a variety of patients, and we specialize in working with athletes up to the highest level.

Your physical therapist may incorporate additional specialties such as dry needling, anti-gravity treadmill, deep oscillation therapy, cupping, blood flow restriction training, and more to aid in your recovery.

Physical Therapy Exercises for Shoulder Pain

1. Crossover Arm Stretch

Put the arm of the affected shoulder straight across your chest and hold it using your other arm for 30 seconds.

2. Sleeping Stretch

Lie on the side of the affected shoulder with your affected arm bent. Use your other arm to push your affected arm down until you feel a stretch. Hold this pose for 20 seconds.

3. Pendulum Arm Swing

Place the hand of the unaffected shoulder on a table or chair and let your affected arm hang. Swing your affected arm back and forth and side to side. Do this for 30 seconds and repeat 2 times.

4. Doorway Stretch

Stand in the doorway with your hands pressing into the doorway. Put one foot forward and lean forward until you feel a stretch. Hold this pose for 5 seconds and switch feet.

5. Seated Twist

Sit in a chair with your feet flat on the ground. Grab the back of your chair and twist to one side. Hold this pose for 10 seconds. Repeat on the other side.

Seek Help from a Physical Therapist Near You

If you or a loved one are experiencing shoulder pain, seek help from a physical therapist near you. At MPower physical therapy we have therapists in Nashville, Franklin, and Brentwood, TN. We also offer personal training, massage therapy, and nutrition services if you would like to do anything in addition to your physical therapy program. To schedule an appointment with one of our physical therapists, call us or request an appointment online.

Author

Marina von Rutenberg
Marina is the Marketing Coordinator for Elite Sports Medicine + Orthopedics. She has been writing and reviewing medical content since 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/marina-von-rutenberg/