There are all sorts of reasons why you might be experiencing shoulder pain – from underlying injuries caused by sport or activity to the pressure of carrying heavy items for work or when out and about. You need only consider the weight of the average woman’s handbag to understand just how much strain we put on our shoulders, often without even considering the lasting damage we could be causing to our muscles.
All of this can, over time, culminate in aches and pains which simply won’t budge, and which if left untreated can limit your range of movement and make everyday tasks more difficult to complete.
This is why we believe it is always best to take steps towards managing and treating the root cause of shoulder pain. Far from simply reaching for a heat patch and painkillers when the pain starts to flare up, we are big believers in finding out what’s causing the pain and taking proactive steps towards managing it, with our comprehensive shoulder pain treatment in Chelmsford.
Here are three of the most effective ways in which we help our clients to manage and treat their shoulder pain.
1. Controlled movement and stretches
The only way to restore full movement and motion in your shoulder is to complete regular exercises which combine stretching with controlled exercises. In order to protect and retain muscle mass and as much strength as possible, even with an injured shoulder, you need to consistently manipulate the muscles and move the shoulders as much as possible – with a professional physiotherapist able to devise a series of exercises which will safely but effectively activate your shoulder muscles.
2. Targeted Massage
If you’ve ever competed in a sporting event, then you may be familiar with the concept of sports massage as a direct treatment for aches and pains. Long-distance athletes often engage the services of a sports massage therapist in helping to manipulate their muscles following a long race or training session, with the heavy-handed techniques of sports massage designed to maximise blood flow and keep the muscles warm.
3. Strength building
Once your shoulder is able to complete a full range of motion again, it’s time to focus on strength building – which is where the work of your physiotherapist and at-home exercises come together. Using a program of strength-building movements diagnosed by your physiotherapist, it is only by completing specific movements that you will gradually but effectively find your shoulder regaining some of its lost strength.
All three of these techniques are designed to work together to first maximise the healing process and then support the shoulder as it regains some strength and movement following an injury or damage. Whether caused by the demands of your lifestyle and routine or as a direct result of a fall or accident, seeking professional physiotherapy support is one of the best ways of treating shoulder pain from its root cause, taking steps to heal rather than conceal the pain.
