Pain is a highly indispensable signal that indicates something is wrong with your body and you need medical intervention to improve your condition. And shoulder pain is no exception to the rule. Yes, if you are experiencing should pain from quite some time now, and you have already tried a variety of home remedies to get rid of it, but none of them is showing any concrete results, then perhaps it’s time to consult a healthcare expert.

Shoulder pain, which can affect anyone from small children to teens, and adults to seniors, remains one of the most important reasons for doctor visits. In the US alone, thousands of people seek medical attention to treat their shoulder pain. On top of that, it’s also one of the most common causes of missed work days.

Common causes of shoulder pain include rotator cuff injury, muscle strains, osteoarthritis, injuries to collarbone and shoulder blade, frozen shoulder, and bursitis, etc.

According to NCBI, “Shoulder pain is the third most common musculoskeletal presentation in primary care after back and knee pain. Annually 1% of adults are likely to consult with new shoulder pain.” It also says that ” The four most common underlying causes are rotator cuff disorders (85% of cases), glenohumeral disorders, acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) pathology, and referred neck pain.”

If you do not want to take painkillers to relieve your pain because they have side effects on your body, then it’s better to rely on physical therapy as it’s a drug-free and surgery-free treatment approach.

Here are the ultimate advantages seeking physical therapy for shoulder pain.

It Addresses The Root Cause

Your physical therapist will not only focus on relieving your pain, but they will work towards addressing its primary cause. In short, they aim at offering a permanent solution to your problem. During the first meeting, your physical therapist will try to understand your signs and symptoms. They will also refer your medical history to figure out whether you are suffering from a chronic illness or not.

Your therapist will also conduct a physical examination to get a better understanding of the severity of your pain. And after identifying the primary source of your pain, they will create an effective care plan to address it.

Relieves Pain

No matter why you are experiencing pain in your shoulder, physical therapy is one of the best ways to relieve it. Based on what is causing pain in your shoulder, your therapist will use the most appropriate physical therapy technique to subside it.

For example, if the actual cause of your pain is a muscle strain, then your therapist might include therapeutic exercise in your care plan.

Similarly, if the root cause of your pain is osteoarthritis, then your therapist might use a manual therapy technique such as joint mobilization to reduce your pain.

According to Park Avenue Physical Therapy, “It involves the passive movement of specific joints using the skilled application of force, direction, and technique. A physical therapist can use his or her hands to mobilize an affected joint or may elect to use specific tools, including straps, to help deliver the desired treatment effect.”

However, if you have injured your shoulder while playing a sport, then your therapist might try to relieve your pain with Kinesio Taping. It’s one of the best ways to address the pain that occurs due to sports injuries. Kinesio Taping offers that much-needed support to your joint and improves your mobility. Your therapist will apply a therapeutic tape in your shoulder, which will start functioning after receiving your body heat.

Increases Joint Mobility

Physical therapy techniques are also crucial for increasing joint mobility. Whether you talk about joint mobilization, Kinesio Taping, or therapeutic exercise, all these techniques play an indispensable role in improving shoulder joint mobility.

So, if you experience pain and discomfort when you move your arm to perform daily activities, make sure you consult a physical therapist as early as possible. They will use an ideal physical therapy technique to improve your joint mobility.

Speeds Up the Healing Process

Your physical therapist not only focus on minimizing your pain, but they also work towards strengthening your muscles, ligaments, tendons, bones, and joints, which plays a vital role in accelerating the healing process.

And whether you talk about therapeutic exercise or techniques like Kinesio taping, soft tissue massage, and joint mobilization, they increase circulation, which speeds up the healing process.

Improved circulation accelerates the healing process by supplying those crucial nutrients to injured tissues, which help them recover from injuries.

Strengthens Muscle & Joint Health

The care plan that your therapist designs for you, strengthen your muscles and joints. The kind of exercises that they incorporate in it improve the overall fitness of your shoulder.

So, if you are struggling from shoulder pain, but want to treat it naturally, don’t hesitate to consult a reputed physical therapist.