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Shoulder Sprain/Strain
We know how debilitating and painful a shoulder sprain or tear is. Apart from the pain, there is the inability to use your arm properly and this will affect your everyday activities, and sports if you are an athlete. Seeing a physical therapist when you suspect a sprain or tear is very important. The quicker your shoulder is evaluated and treatment plans are created, the quicker it is for your shoulder to heal properly, and for you to return to your normal activities. Contact a physical therapist today to learn how you can get rid of your shoulder pain without killer pain medications or surgery.
What is Shoulder Sprain or Strain?
Sprain and strain have been used interchangeably to describe the tearing and stretching of the tissues around the joints, but they are different. A shoulder sprain is a tear in the shoulder ligaments. Your ligaments are bands of tissues that help to connect the bones in your shoulder joint. Whereas, a shoulder strain is the tearing or overstretching of the shoulder muscles or tendons. Your tendons are dense tissues that connect bones to muscles.
What Causes Shoulder Sprain or Strain?
What could cause your shoulder ligaments or muscles to overstretch or tear? Some are listed below.

Injuries to the shoulder from sporting activities

Direct fall on the shoulder

A blow to the shoulder blade

Lifting heavy objects

Putting your shoulder in an awkward position for long.

However, if after conservative treatments, the conditions provide no relief, or the tear is very severe, surgery becomes the last option.
Symptoms of Shoulder Sprain or Strain?
The symptoms for both are very similar since they result from overstretching or tearing. Symptoms include

Pain in the front and around the affected shoulder joint

Swelling of the affected area

Soreness when you press the shoulder

Inability to move the shoulder or limited flexibility

inability to use the full range of the joint’s motion

The only difference in symptoms between a shoulder sprain or strain is that while a sprain may result in bruising, a strain may result in muscle spasms.
Risk Factors for Shoulder Spain or Strain
A lot of factors can lead to a sprain or strain of the shoulder. They include:
Diagnosing a Shoulder Sprain or Strain
One of our physical therapists will perform a physical examination of your shoulder. You may also be required to undergo an X-ray and an MRI-scan to diagnose the location and severity of the tear and ensure that there are no broken bones whatsoever.
Treatment for Shoulder Spain or Strain
Your physical therapist may recommend the following:
Since individual cases vary, your PT would create your custom treatment plan.
Get Started With Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation for Shoulder Sprain/Strain Today
At Polygon PT, we will recommend and perform exercises with you to relieve the pain or swelling associated with the sprain or strain. These exercises are mainly to bring motion and strength to your shoulders. If you have had shoulder surgery for your sprain or tear, rehabilitation is crucial. Patients who used physical therapy healed faster than those who didn’t. How soon you see results will vary depending on the severity of the tear. After you have seen results, it’s still important to not stress the shoulder for a couple of weeks to allow it to heal completely. Request an appointment with a physical therapist now for your shoulder sprain or strain, or any shoulder pain you might be having.