A shoulder injury can impact almost every activity in daily life. It can make it challenging to pick up your children, lift heavy objects, do your job, or even reach something on a high shelf. The good news is that occupational therapy is an excellent treatment option for shoulder pain!
An occupational therapist specializes in finding new, safe ways to help you do everyday activities without jeopardizing your comfort, privacy, or independence.
An occupational therapist’s goal with shoulder pain is to help you regain function and independence that you may have lost or are at risk of losing due to an injury or pain condition affecting your shoulder.
Your occupational therapist can assist you in performing daily tasks in a more efficient manner.
Is your shoulder pain making your life much more complicated than it needs to be? Request an appointment with DynamX Physical Therapy today, and let us help you solve your shoulder pain problem!
What causes shoulder pain?
Shoulder pain can be caused by a variety of factors, ranging from the temporary discomfort of a pulled muscle to the agonizing bone-on-bone friction of arthritis. This condition makes it difficult to lift or stretch to reach items.
A condition known as “frozen shoulder” is one of the most common causes of shoulder pain. Frozen shoulder is most commonly caused by an injury or in conjunction with another shoulder problem. Most occupational and hand therapists recommend that patients with frozen shoulders get plenty of rest in between treatments to avoid the formation of scar tissue in the shoulder. If scar tissue develops around the shoulder, the muscles surrounding it may eventually lock up, limiting your range of motion.
Tendinitis is another common cause of shoulder pain. Tendinitis is a common ailment that causes inflammation in the shoulder area, and it has been known to lead many people to seek treatment from a therapist.
People who engage in physical activity or work in jobs that require repetitive motions are more likely to develop this condition. If you play tennis or are a professional painter, you may be prone to shoulder tendinitis.
If you are predisposed to tendinitis, remember that resting your shoulders on a daily basis, in addition to your treatment plan, can help you avoid chronic pain.
Whatever the cause of your shoulder pain, it is likely that it makes performing daily tasks difficult. Our occupational therapy clinic, however, has a solution.
What can I expect from my occupational therapy appointments?
The first thing an occupational therapist will do after being referred to them is assess the patient’s shoulder’s health and identify which potential everyday activities will interfere with the healing process. Once the therapist has determined what type of demands will be placed on the joint, they can design an exercise program to strengthen the joint, increase mobility, and, hopefully, prevent shoulder pain.
The therapist will begin by assisting you in regaining as much range of motion as possible during OT. As your range of motion improves, the therapist will start to increase the level of activity while gradually adding light weight.
Gently moving the joint will help to reduce inflammation, allowing the joint to remain flexible and functional. Occupational therapy is a gradual process that helps the person to regain strength as the joint heals naturally gradually.
As the shoulder heals, the occupational therapist will teach the patient exercises that can be done at home, allowing them to continue working on the injured area daily. The therapist will instruct the patient on performing the exercises correctly, lowering the risk of re-injury to the shoulder. While mild pain may occur when the shoulder is exercised, moderate or severe pain should be reported to an occupational therapist or physician immediately.
Make an appointment with DynamX Physical Therapy today.
If your shoulder pain has taken over your life, an occupational therapist may be able to help.
An occupational therapy plan is all-inclusive, including an individual evaluation to determine your goals and the development of customized intervention activities to improve your daily tasks and activities. Your occupational therapist will also conduct an outcome evaluation to determine whether your goals were met, make changes to the plan, or extend the length of time you are in treatment. Contact us today!
