Why Does My Shoulder Hurt?

Shoulder pain often creeps up on us after waking from a full night's sleep on your side. A very common cause of shoulder pain is from a condition called "impingement syndrome."

In this condition, the shoulder bursa (subacrominal bursa) or one of the rotator cuff tendons (the supraspinatus), or both, are essentially being impinged or compressed within the shoulder (under the acromial arch)  as we lift our arm overhead. Daily activities, such as washing your hair, lifting laundry or groceries, or reaching upward and outward, can become painful. 

How is shoulder pain treated?
The good news is this is a very treatable condition. As physical therapists, we will often perform hands-on manual therapy to soft tissues, which appear restricted (such as the latissimus and pectoralis muscles.)
We will also treat strength deficits in your shoulder blade (scapula) and shoulder (glenuhumeral joint) muscles. 
​To properly assess your condition, we will need to do an evaluation and subsequently prepare a plan of treatment and rehabilitation.