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By: Noah Bray
PT Student, University of Montana
The shoulder joint is one of the most amazing joints in the human body! Have you ever considered what life might look like if we did not have a means to feed ourselves, groom our hair, brush our teeth, or interact with our loved ones through physical touch? Well, due to the fact that we are blessed with an amazing joint, we can do all these things!
A common source of shoulder pain is shoulder impingement, or inflammation of the rotator cuff tendon, long head of the biceps tendon, and/or a shoulder bursa due to either primary, secondary, or internal sources. Primary impingement occurs when there is a space occupying entity “pinching” the aforementioned structures. The source of the pain may be caused from impingement of the acromion process (the part of the shoulder blade that wraps around the front and top of the shoulder joint) or a calcified tendon. Secondary impingement is likely due to rotator cuff dysfunction or capsular stiffness. Lastly, internal impingement, or posterior impingement, can occur with faulty mechanics and excessive external rotation mobility of the shoulder (outward rotation).
Shoulder Impingement often is a result of poor biomechanics of the entire shoulder girdle. Minor alterations in movement may cause micro-trauma, if the movement is not precise, and can lead to macro-trauma if this movement is allowed to continue. Contributing factors to the precision alterations can include changes in muscle length, stiffness, strength, and sustained postural patterns. If pain is identified and correlated to these contributing factors, then correction of the altered movement or contributing factors most likely will alleviate the symptoms.
If you currently are experiencing pain with your normal day-to-day activities such as combing your hair or reaching overhead...
WE CAN HELP!
We at TAI Athletic Club Bend are committed to ensuring that your shoulder health is of utmost importance. We are able to offer a comprehensive shoulder exam and full body movement screen that will address your current functional impairments contributing to your participation in recreational and daily activities. TAI is dedicated to decreasing your pain, increasing your range of motion, and strengthening your shoulder to the point of participating in the activities you enjoy. The therapists at TAI will be able to determine alterations in movement that may be contributing to your shoulder impingement, educate you on correcting those alterations, and ultimately supply you with corrective tools to live a life with less pain and restriction!
Call to make your appointment today. You do not need a physician’s referral to see us but your insurance plan may require it to cover our services.
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