Chronic shoulder pain is a problem for many people, with half of people between the ages of 50 and 64 reporting disabling shoulder problems.
An injury, overuse, or aging can cause instability in the shoulder, weakness in the rotator cuff muscles and tendons, or inflammation of the surrounding tissues. Many patients believe shoulder pain must come from visible tissue or bone damage in their joints and expect it to show up in ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging, but this is not always the case.
The cause of chronic shoulder pain can be complicated. It often springs from a gradual deterioration of the shoulder tendons and a breakdown in the joint’s complex connections among tendon, bone, and muscle. Physical therapy can nearly always greatly help with these problems.
Dozens of studies in the past couple of years show that patients with shoulder pain do much better if they try physical therapy before resorting to surgery. According to a 2024 study covering 381 patients, nearly all patients had a sharp reduction in pain and increased joint mobility after 6–12 weeks of physical therapy. Physical therapy also reduces the likelihood that patients will need surgery.
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The trick is to dive into working with your physical therapist and trust that the process will help! The 2024 study shows that a patient’s attitude plays a big role in determining how well physical therapy reduces pain and strengthens muscles and joints.
If you are experiencing chronic shoulder pain, ask your physician to refer you to a physical therapist. A customized gentle exercise program can help heal your shoulder, reduce discomfort, and get you back to your customary work or sports activity. We have experienced physical therapists helping patients with shoulder pain. Don’t hesitate to contact us today for a consultation!
