Sore Shoulder?

Shoulder pain can affect anyone at any age and there's a wide range of shoulder issues that can occur. However the most common are:

• Shoulder Bursitis
• Tendonitis
• Impingement Syndrome
• Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy

General symptoms for any of these can include:

• Pain and stiffness when raising or lowering arm.
• Minor pain present during activity and rest.
• Pain radiating from the shoulder down the arm.
• Loss of strength and motion.
• Difficulty placing the arm behind the back.

 

What is the difference between Bursitis and Tendonitis?

Tendons connect muscle to bone and when they are inflamed, it is referred to a Tendonitis. A bursa is a slippery structure designed to reduce friction where tendons pass over bones. When the bursa is inflamed, it is referred to as Bursitis. These two conditions can be closely related because both can become inflamed simultaneously.

 

What is Impingement Syndrome?

Inflammation within the shoulder joint can cause symptoms known as “impingement syndrome” and is typically caused by either Bursitis or Tendonitis. The impingement occurs because inflamed tendons are restricted and unable to slide smoothly.

This is typically caused by an injury that sets off a cycle of inflammation and pain in the tendons and bursa, causing them to thicken and become trapped in between the bones, irritating them further and leading to impingement syndrome.

 

What is Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy?

The shoulder is a ball (humerus) and socket joint (scapula) held in place by a network of four muscles known as the Rotator Cuff that come together as tendons to form a covering around the humerus. The rotator cuff attaches the humerus to the shoulder blade and helps to lift and rotate the arm, as well as keeping the humerus stabilised within the socket. The bursa allows the tendons to glide freely, but when the tendons are injured or damaged, the bursa can also become inflamed leading to Bursitis and Impingement Syndrome as mentioned above.

When one or more of the rotator cuff tendons are torn, the tendon no longer fully attaches to the head of the humerus. Most often, torn tendons begin by fraying, usually through injury or degeneration. As the damage progresses, the tendon can completely tear.

 

Physiotherapy Treatment

At Motion Health, our Physiotherapists can provide effective treatment of Bursitis, Tendinitis, Impingement Syndrome and Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy by stabilising the muscles and improving both the range of motion through exercise and manual therapy.

 

Experiencing shoulder pain? Contact us today to book your Free Initial Assessment!