Shoulder Pain: How Osteopathy Can Help Improve Movement and Function
Shoulder pain can have a significant impact on everyday life. Reaching overhead, putting on a jacket, lifting objects, exercising or even finding a comfortable sleeping position can become difficult when your shoulder isn’t moving comfortably.
Shoulder pain can develop for many different reasons, including changes in activity, sports injuries, repetitive movements, muscle or tendon problems, or previous injuries.
View this post on Instagram
At Balance Osteopathy, we assess your shoulder and the way it moves as part of the broader movement system. This helps us understand the factors that may be contributing to your symptoms and develop an individual treatment and rehabilitation plan.
What can cause shoulder pain?
The shoulder is a highly mobile part of the body, allowing your arm to move through a large range of positions.
This mobility also means that shoulder symptoms can develop in a variety of situations.
Shoulder pain may occur after:
- Increasing gym or sporting activity
- Repetitive overhead movements
- A fall or other injury
- Lifting or carrying
- Prolonged periods of reduced activity
- Returning to exercise after a break
- Gradual changes in strength or mobility
Some people experience sudden pain following an injury, while others develop shoulder discomfort gradually.
You may notice pain when reaching overhead, lifting your arm, reaching behind your back or lying on the affected side.
How is shoulder pain assessed?
An assessment is an important part of understanding shoulder pain.
At Balance Osteopathy, your osteopath will first discuss your symptoms, relevant medical history and the activities that are currently affecting your shoulder.
They may then assess:
- Shoulder range of movement
- Strength and muscle function
- Movement of the shoulder blade
- Neck and upper-back movement
- Arm and shoulder movement during functional tasks
- Movements that reproduce or ease your symptoms
The assessment helps determine what may be contributing to your current presentation and whether osteopathic care is appropriate.
If your symptoms suggest that further investigation or another form of healthcare is required, your osteopath may recommend referral to your GP or another healthcare professional.
Why look beyond the shoulder?
Although shoulder pain is felt in a particular area, the shoulder doesn’t work in isolation.
Movement through the neck, upper back, shoulder blade and arm can all influence how the shoulder moves and functions.
This doesn’t mean that another area is necessarily the cause of shoulder pain. Rather, assessing these areas provides additional information about how your body is currently moving.
A broader movement assessment can therefore help guide treatment and rehabilitation that is appropriate to your individual needs.
How can osteopathy help shoulder pain?
Osteopathic treatment can involve hands-on techniques alongside movement therapy and rehabilitation.
Depending on your symptoms and assessment findings, hands-on treatment may be used to help improve comfortable movement and address areas of muscular or joint-related restriction.
Exercise can then be used to develop strength, mobility and confidence in the movements that are important to you.
Your rehabilitation may include:
- Shoulder mobility exercises
- Strengthening exercises
- Rotator cuff and shoulder-blade exercises
- Upper-back mobility work
- Gradual return to overhead activities
- Sport-specific rehabilitation
The exact approach will depend on your symptoms, current capacity and goals.
Shoulder pain and exercise
Shoulder pain doesn’t necessarily mean you need to stop exercising altogether.
However, some movements may need to be modified while your symptoms settle.
For someone who regularly participates in gym training, tennis, swimming or other sports, rehabilitation can focus on gradually restoring the capacity required for those activities.
Rather than simply waiting for pain to disappear, a progressive approach can help rebuild strength and confidence in movement.
Your osteopath can help determine which activities may be appropriate at each stage of your recovery.
Shoulder pain at night
Shoulder pain can sometimes become particularly noticeable when lying in bed.
You may find it uncomfortable to sleep on the affected side or have difficulty finding a comfortable position.
If shoulder pain is regularly disturbing your sleep, an assessment can help determine what may be contributing to your symptoms and whether treatment or rehabilitation may be appropriate.
Simple changes to sleeping position or activity may sometimes help, although persistent night pain should be assessed rather than simply ignored.
When should you see an osteopath for shoulder pain?
Consider seeking professional advice if shoulder pain is affecting your ability to:
- Work
- Exercise or play sport
- Sleep comfortably
- Reach overhead
- Lift or carry objects
- Perform everyday activities
An assessment is particularly worthwhile if symptoms persist, repeatedly return or are limiting your normal activities.
If shoulder pain follows significant trauma, or you experience marked weakness, loss of movement or other concerning symptoms, medical assessment may be appropriate.
Shoulder pain treatment in Melbourne
At Balance Osteopathy, we provide individualised assessment, osteopathic treatment and rehabilitation for people experiencing shoulder pain in Melbourne.
Our clinic is conveniently located for people from South Melbourne, South Yarra and the St Kilda Road precinct.
We take the time to understand your symptoms, assess how your shoulder is moving and develop a treatment approach suited to your activities and goals.
Whether shoulder pain is affecting your work, exercise, sport or everyday activities, book an appointment with Balance Osteopathy to discuss your symptoms and treatment options.