A physical therapist often uses a variety of techniques to treat a shoulder injury, although the first step is to correctly diagnose the problem. Shoulder physiotherapy initially focuses on reducing swelling and controlling pain. This is often achieved through ice packs and, in some cases, ultrasound therapy. The therapist will also usually create a rehabilitation program that includes flexibility and strength exercises.
Unless the injury has already been diagnosed, shoulder physiotherapy nearly always starts with an assessment. The therapist will look at the joint’s range of motion, the actions causing pain, and the severity of the discomfort to determine from where the pain originates. A shoulder injury isn’t always straightforward to diagnose; as a result, it’s essential that the therapist knows what type of injury you have before treatment begins.
If the injury is acute, which means it occurred recently, shoulder physiotherapy often involves treatment to try and reduce swelling. Ice packs applied to the injured area are usually effective for this purpose. The therapist might use an ultrasound machine, however, because this can treat deeper into the shoulder. Depending on your physical condition, the therapist may recommend taking a short course of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen because this can decrease recovery time. If conservative treatments are unsuccessful, an injection of steroids into the inflamed area can be very effective at reducing inflammation and pain, at least temporarily.
Maintaining and increasing flexibility are also essential parts of shoulder physiotherapy. A physiotherapist will often teach you several different stretches for muscles surrounding the shoulder because increased flexibility will reduce pressure on the injured area. You will usually be expected to perform the stretches on a regular basis at home because muscles quickly revert back to a compressed state when not being stretched. The specific stretches generally depend on the type of injury and how much pain you are in.
Along with flexibility, increasing the strength of supportive muscles is also important during shoulder physiotherapy. If you have a shoulder injury, to protect the joint you may not move it around as much as usual. This can lead to muscle wastage and cause additional problems in the future. Muscle strengthening exercises focus on minimizing the amount of muscle lost due to injury as well as strengthening supportive muscles to reduce pressure on the injured area. You will usually be expected to perform a routine of exercises regularly at home to decrease recovery time.
