When it comes to our athletes here at CardioFlex Therapy, the most common sports injury is of the Shoulder but you don’t need to be a professional athlete to cause injury. Most people hurt their shoulder from the comfort of their own home doing day to day tasks because it is the second worst lever in the body due to the arm being so long and the shoulder is so small. If you try to hold something that’s really heavy with your arm being completely flexed you can’t no matter how strong you are because the more the length of the arm is increased, the less power you have.
The shoulder is the most movable joint in the body but it is also an unstable joint because of its range of motion because the ball of the upper arm is larger than the socket of the shoulder, it is at risk of injury. The shoulder joint is supported by soft tissues but this is not a fact the average person knows therefore causing injury. Shoulder injuries are frequently caused by athletic activities that involve excessive, repetitive, overhead motion, such as swimming, tennis, pitching, and weightlifting. Injuries can also occur during everyday activities such painting, hanging curtains, and gardening.
Should you experience pain in your shoulder, simple stretches or protocols such as icing or applying heat can help relieve that pain and prevent it from becoming a frozen shoulder. The shoulder is the only joint in the body that will become “frozen” if not being moved. If left untreated, pain can increase over time becoming unbearable preventing you from doing daily tasks; you should see a Physical Therapist. A frozen shoulder will not unfreeze itself unless properly treated. A PT can help you to recover faster and work with you one on one to relieve that shoulder pain.
In most states, you can see a Physical Therapist first without needing to see anyone prior which is something not a lot of people know. Usually someone Experiencing Shoulder Pain will go to the doctor and get prescribed cortisone shots, which can provide relief but only masks the pain for a while. A series of different exercises and stretches with a PT is offered until most of the motion has returned for the patient experiencing shoulder pain. No matter how a shoulder injury occurs, everyone wants the same result: a fast recovery.
About the Author
Terry Abrams is the President & Director of Physical Therapy for CardioFlex Therapy, a start-up company founded in 2005 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Delivering both Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy, CardioFlex Therapy’s Outpatient Clinic is centrally located in Davie, FL serving the towns of Cooper City, Weston, Pembroke Pines, Plantation, Southwest Ranches, Hollywood, Miramar, Sunrise, & Fort Lauderdale. For Home Physical Therapy, CardioFlex sends its therapists to homes located in Broward, Dade, & Palm Beach counties.
