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 ShoulderSpain or Strain
A lot of factors can lead to a sprain or strain of the shoulder. They include:
- Your environment. Floors that are wet or slippery can lead to a fall, which could injure the shoulder
- Sports. athletes who play sports that require them to move their shoulders in a repetitive motion are more prone to sprain and strain
- Improper or lack of warming-up. It is important to warm up before and after exercises to prevent injury. Not doing this, or warming up incorrectly increases the chances for a tear.
- Fatigue. When you are tired, you are less likely to keep a good posture.
- Being out of shape. When you are out of shape and don’t exercise your muscles, ligaments grow weak.
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 ShoulderSpain or Strain
Your physical therapist may recommend the following:
- Rest. Allow your shoulders to rest, and discontinue activities that may have caused the tear
- Place an ice bag on the affected area at least 2-3 times daily for a minimum of 30minutes
- Wrap the shoulder lightly in a bandage or put your arm in a sling to restrict movement.
- Motion and strengthening exercises for your shoulder.
- Electrotherapy using ultrasound or laser treatments to relieve pain and inflammation.
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.
