Is physiotherapy good for shoulder pain?

Millions of people around the world suffer from shoulder pain. Whether it's due to an injury, overuse, or arthritis, that nagging shoulder pain can be frustrating and debilitating. While there are many treatments available for shoulder pain, one option that is growing in popularity is physiotherapy. But does physiotherapy really work? And is it right for you? In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at shoulder pain and explore whether physiotherapy is a good treatment option. We'll also discuss the benefits of physiotherapy and provide some tips on how to find a qualified physiotherapist.

What is shoulder pain?

Shoulder pain can be a common complaint among adults, but it's also one of the most complex and difficult injuries to diagnose. Shoulder pain can be caused by all sorts of different things, including arthritis, bursitis, tendonitis, an injury, or overuse. Many people suffer from shoulder pain at some point in their lives, and it's estimated that up to 1 in 5 adults experience chronic shoulder pain.

How Physiotherapy will help?

Physiotherapy can be used to treat a wide range of shoulder injuries. A physiotherapist will be able to assess the nature and severity of your injury and recommend a suitable treatment plan. Some people opt to see a physiotherapist for ongoing treatment, which may include exercises designed to increase strength, improve balance and mobility, and relieve pain. Physiotherapy helps in different ways like:

1. Decrease muscle spasms
2. Increase range of motion
3. Reduce inflammation and swelling
4. Promote healing of tissues around the shoulder joint
5. Enhance strength around the shoulder
6. Improve coordination, balance, and endurance
7. Mobilize joints in the neck, ribs, shoulders, and back
8. Reduce stiffness in affected joints
9. Prevent future injury or aggravation of injured ligaments or tendons surrounding your shoulder.

Physiotherapy is effective in treating many common shoulder conditions:

1. Rotator Cuff Injuries
2. Shoulder impingement syndrome
3. Labral Tears
4. Frozen Shoulder Syndrome
5. Tennis Elbow
6. Golfer's Elbow
7. Sciatica and other back pain problems.

Does physiotherapy work?   

There is good evidence to show that physiotherapy exercise works well for the treatment of shoulder pain. A recent systematic review of randomized controlled trials suggests that physiotherapy is an effective treatment option for a number of common shoulder injuries, including impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tendinopathy, and biceps tendonitis. In fact, the evidence showed that physiotherapy resulted in significantly greater improvements in pain and function compared with exercise and modalities.

What are the benefits of physiotherapy?

There is a wide range of different treatment options available for people who suffer from shoulder pain and other injuries. Surgery, medication, and injections can all be used to treat certain conditions. However, not everyone wants to take this route, so they look at alternative treatments such as physiotherapy.

In addition to providing pain relief and increasing strength, flexibility, and range of motion around the shoulder, physiotherapy is a good way to ensure that you stay in peak condition. Physiotherapy teaches you how to look after your injury at home, which reduces the risk of further injury or complications developing. In fact, there is evidence that an intensive home exercise program after physiotherapy significantly reduces the risks of surgery.

You can also read:

Physiotherapy for Chest
Physiotherapy Exercise
Physiotherapy Exercise for Pelvic Floor