Many people choose a physical therapist for shoulder and neck pain relief. Because physical therapists are licensed professionals who treat several diseases, injuries, and chronic conditions. Your doctor may recommend physical therapy to treat many diseases. Your therapist will check your functional abilities, examine your strength, ask for your goals, and check your range of motion.
The main aim of physical therapy treatment is to decrease your pain no matter what body part is. If your shoulder and neck pain makes it difficult for you to reach for something on a high shelf, Don’t be worried. Physical Therapy provides massage for shoulder and neck pain. Shoulder and neck pain are common ailments, but it does not mean that they are convenient. The shoulder and neck have motion of our joints, so shoulder and neck injuries or pain are both incredibly uncomfortable. Your shoulder and neck can injure by several activities but, the two main categories are:
- Sudden injuries.
- Injuries that are born from overuse.
Sudden injuries are also known as acute injuries. Sudden injuries can be a result of twisting your shoulder and neck unnaturally. These injuries may include injured ligaments, strained muscles, broken bones, injured tendons, and dislocation. These injuries may make your shoulder and neck swollen straight away. On the other hand, overuse injuries are more threatening than sudden injuries. These injuries are the result of facing excess stress. Overuse injuries may include tendonitis, muscle strain, bursitis, frozen shoulder and neck, and impingement syndrome.
Physical Therapy Treatment for Shoulders and Neck Pain
Physical therapy for shoulder pain is a successful and non-surgical treatment. It aims to improve the functions and mobility of your shoulder and neck. A physical therapist first examines your injury then establishes the perfect course of treatment. The treatment will design to help you regain your mobility, and your physical therapists also provide advice on activity modification and how to alter your daily activities to better support your shoulders and neck. You may also be assigned a comprehensive home exercise that helps you maintain your mobility once your sessions are complete. Following are the Physical Therapy Services for shoulder and neck pain depending on your injury.
1. Ice Therapy
Ice therapy is commonly used for sudden injuries. This therapy helps reduce swelling and inflammation that will reduce pain as well.
2. Heat Therapy
Physical therapists use Heat therapy after 72 hours of the injury. This therapy allows muscles to relax and it is also a painkiller therapy like ice therapy.
3. Stretching
Stretching is a common type of physical therapy for shoulders and neck designed to move your shoulder and neck forward until you get your speed up again. The physical therapist will incorporate different levels of stretches that will target the shoulders as well as the spine and neck, depending on the injury.
4. Joint Mobilization
A physical therapist’s help is necessary for this type of therapy. Joint mobilization will increase the mobility of injured shoulders and neck by stretching the joint capsule. This therapy requires a professional and trained physical therapist to perform the process.
5. Electrical Stimulation
Electrical Stimulation therapy is the way to stimulate the nerves that will strengthen the muscles of the injured shoulder and neck. It is used to reduce inflammation and administer medication.
6. Ultrasound
Therapeutic ultrasound is a type of physical therapy for shoulders and neck pain. In this type of therapy, tendons, muscles, and other soft tissues are treated to a session of deep heating. The heat will alleviate pain and improve the circulation in the tissues. Therapeutic ultrasounds assist in healing the injury and help increase the elasticity of muscles. Therapeutic ultrasound is especially beneficial in cases of frozen shoulders and neck.
Sometimes people get confused between a physiotherapist (PT) or an occupational therapist (OT). They may seem similar but they have different goals and techniques. This article may help you in distinguishing them- OT vs PT
To get these physical therapy treatments for your shoulders and neck pain, visit the health and wellness center near you.
