Physical Therapy After a Shoulder Injury

Having a shoulder injury can interfere with everything from driving to showering to brushing your hair. If your shoulder is hurting and it’s not getting better after a week or two, it is a good idea to consider physical therapy to help get it back to working and feeling like normal again.

The great thing about physical therapy is that it can help you avoid taking medication, invasive treatments, and even shoulder surgery. Let’s talk about how physical therapy works to help relieve shoulder pain and to restore its full range of motion, and where you can go in Wayne County for excellent orthopedic treatment and shoulder care.

What Should I Expect from Physical Therapy for My Injured Shoulder?

At your first physical therapy session, your therapist will learn the details about your injury. This will include how and when it happened, the type of pain you’re experiencing, and the movement limitations that you’re dealing with due to the injury.

After that, your therapist will perform a thorough examination to assess your case, and check whether there is any damage to the shoulder structures. Then the PT may suggest some tests to exclude any bigger issues with your shoulder, or any underlying health issues that may be causing the shoulder pain.

After the tests and the examination, your therapist will formulate an individualized treatment plan for you. This will likely involve a combination of exercises, stretches, and heat or cold therapy on the shoulder.

How Can Physical Therapy Help Relieve My Shoulder Pain?

Your physical therapist (PT) will formulate a course of treatment designed especially for your shoulder using various therapy techniques, such as:

• Ice and heat therapy: Depending on what is causing your shoulder pain and your particular symptoms, your physical therapist may implement ice therapy and/or heat therapy. Your PT will explain to avoid heat therapy if you are experiencing any swelling, and to avoid ice/cold therapy if you have a heart condition or circulation issues.
• Manual (hands-on) therapy: Your physical therapist will put directed and calculated pressure on the injured shoulder area to help relax the muscles and restore some of its normal mobility.
• Stretching and strengthening exercises: Your physical therapist will show you how to perform specific movements and exercises that will help your shoulder to heal and become stronger.
• Ultrasound: Your physical therapist may apply ultrasound therapy to the hurting shoulder area to enhance the blood supply to the adjacent muscles. This is done in order to relieve pain, increase flexibility, and improve mobility in the shoulder.

Physical Therapy in Wooster, OH

Here at Wooster Community Hospital, we have a highly skilled and well-trained team of physical therapists who are always ready to help you with your musculoskeletal needs. Our medical team at HealthPoint can help you get back to enjoying your active lifestyle pain-free.

If you’d like to learn more about physical therapy and shoulder treatments at Wooster Community Hospital and HealthPoint, call us today at (330) 202-3300 or fill out our online appointment request form now. We look forward to helping you get your shoulder back to normal again!