Shoulder Injuries

Shoulder Injury

Overview

Craig Boettcher was awarded his PhD in 2010 by the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Sydney for his research into shoulder function. He leads a very experienced professional team here at Regent Street Physiotherapy. Our team of practitioners use evidence based practice and stay up to date with the latest research and technologies to ensure that our clients receive the best care possible.

Our team have the expertise and knowledge to perform a thorough diagnosis and implement an appropriate treatment plan. Shoulder pain is an extremely common complaint that can occur in people at any age. There are many causes of shoulder pain. It is critical that you receive an accurate diagnosis of the origin of your shoulder pain so you can receive appropriate treatment targeting the root cause.

The shoulder is made up of three bones, the humerus (upper arm), the scapular (shoulder blade) and the clavicle (the collar bone). There are four major shoulder joints, the glenohumeral joint, the acromioclavicular joint, the scapulothoracic joint and the sternoclavicular joint. These major shoulder joints assist us in achieving a complex range of motion.

Many shoulder problems are caused by the breakdown of soft tissues through traumatic injury, overload or excessive use of the shoulder. Here at Regent Street Physiotherapy we are able to assist you with your shoulder rehabilitation needs for injuries such as;

Frozen shoulder
Impingement syndrome
AC joint injuries
Tendonitis
Supraspinatus tendinopathy
Sub-acromial bursitis
Dislocated shoulder
Post operative rehabilitation
Labral injuries
Cartilage tears
Osteoarthritis
Biceps tendinopathy
Rotator cuff tears
Swimmer’s Shoulder
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

A frozen shoulder is a common condition that leads to stiffness of the joint. Movement becomes very restricted and can be very painful which may also cause significant disruption to sleep. Bursitis occurs when the bursa (which is a small fluid filled sac and helps to protect the shoulder joint) is inflamed.

Osteoarthritis is essentially wear and tear of the shoulder that can cause considerable pain. Shoulder tendinopathy refers to tiny tears that occur in the tendon. These tendons can become pinched or impinged and usually occur because of repeated trauma to the rotator cuff tendons. Symptoms of shoulder injuries can include;

Shoulder weakness
Pain during movement
Loss of motion and power
Pain when elevating the arm
Pain during heavy lifting
Pain at the top of front of the shoulder
Pain when rotating the arm
Pain above shoulder height or down the arm
Pain at night mainly when sleeping.

The Physiotherapist’s at Regent Street Physiotherapy will conduct a thorough assessment of your shoulder problem during your initial consultation. Specific tests will be used to assess the integrity of the shoulder structures such as the rotator cuff muscles, labrum, tendons and ligaments. The physiotherapist will provide you with an accurate diagnosis and devise a treatment plan specifically tailored to your problem.

Treatment of shoulder conditions can include massage, stretching, joint mobilisation, dry needling, taping to give temporary support or stability, prescription of an exercise program which will be designed to strengthen the shoulder and improve your motion.