Shoulder complaints

A shoulder complaint can arise suddenly after a sudden trauma, such as a fall, but it can also develop gradually. We have listed several ways it can develop below. You can then click on the link to have the pathology or condition explained further and see what your physiotherapist can do about it. Shoulder pain can vary from not being able to lie on the shoulder, pain when lifting or reaching, to a constant, nagging sensation in the shoulder area.

During exercise, the muscles of the shoulder girdle can become injured. A sharp, stabbing pain is characteristic of an acute complaint. The cause of this may lie in impaired mobility in one of the shoulder muscles, such as with instability of the shoulder blade. But even a sudden movement can overload a muscle or tendon and cause an injury.

Sports-related or after a fall/trauma: muscle injury

A muscle injury causes a sharp and often stabbing pain at the moment of occurrence and when stressing the muscle. With a muscle injury, it is important to know which muscle(s) are affected. At Cardo Healthcare, we use ultrasound to accurately diagnose the involved muscle, the location and extent of the injury, and the severity. Our skilled team provides the right advice and guidance for resuming activities and sports. In the meantime, recovery is closely monitored using ultrasound, and the appropriate therapy is adjusted accordingly. For such an injury, Shockwave therapy can also be applied if desired. For more information, visit shockwaveveldhoven.nl.

Bruised hairstyle

After a trauma, not only the muscle tissue but also the shoulder capsule can be affected. The capsule tends to shorten in the case of an acute injury. This is a natural and associated functional mechanism to support recovery. In some cases, this capsule can become structurally shortened, resulting in a “frozen shoulder.” For this reason, it is important that the shoulder is thoroughly examined, a proper treatment plan is made, and you are further guided in exercise therapy. Shockwave therapy can also provide a solution for capsule shortening. For more information, visit ShockwaveVeldhoven.nl

When vague complaints occur that are not constantly present, it may be a case of a hidden overuse injury of muscle or tendon tissue. In severe cases, the bursa can also become inflamed. Not being able to lie on the shoulder while sleeping is often an additional symptom indicating inflammation in the tissue.

These complaints limit activities such as sports, work, but also daily tasks like dressing and self-care. The most common complaints with shoulder wear are:

• Pain around the shoulder that worsens with strain, such as lifting, reaching, etc.
  
• Night pain, especially when lying on the affected shoulder.
  
• Stiffness of the shoulder and loss of mobility above the head, behind the back, and in rotational movements.
  
• Loss of strength due to weakening of the muscles around the shoulder joint.

If there is a suspicion of a tendon injury, ultrasound diagnostics will first be used. Additionally, exercise therapy and, if necessary, shockwave therapy will be applied. For more information about shockwave and ultrasound diagnostics, we refer to the website ShockwaveVeldhoven.nl

This tendon runs through a groove and tendon sheath up to the shoulder joint to attach to the shoulder capsule. If the tendon or tendon sheath is thickened or damaged, friction can cause irritation and the tendon can become inflamed. This results in localized pain at the front of the shoulder head and the shoulder roof, which can be triggered by applying pressure to the shoulder head or the groove. There is pain when lifting the arm and pain when exerting force with the biceps muscle, such as when lifting an object with an underhand grip. To determine the extent of tendon involvement, ultrasound diagnostics can be used and, if indicated, shockwave therapy.

The exact cause of a frozen shoulder is not entirely clear to medical science. It is not exactly known what the cause is. There are many theories that could explain the development of a frozen shoulder.

• It could be due to an underlying inflammatory process, such as a capsule inflammation or bursitis. Often, calcification is seen in one of the tendons around the shoulder joint. This does not necessarily have to be the cause of the frozen shoulder. The capsule in the shoulder gradually thickens and contracts. As a result, the mobility in the shoulder joint becomes stiffer, leading to reduced movement.
  
• A frozen shoulder can also develop after a prolonged restriction of movement as a result of a minor trauma, such as a fall.
  
• A long period of immobilization (for example, after fractures) or a surgical procedure in the shoulder joint.
  
• Repetitive stress involving prolonged one-sided actions, for example in work or sports.

Symptoms of Frozen Shoulder

The symptoms of a frozen shoulder develop slowly and gradually. The pain ranges from a dull ache to sharp pain during movements. Everyday activities become more restricted. Overhead movements, lifting and carrying, and even dressing and undressing and driving can be very limited.

Instability complaints are often the result of an imbalance in the rotator cuff, a group of four muscles that ensure the stability of the shoulder joint. If the balance in the function of these muscles is disturbed and the shoulder blade shows an abnormal position or movement, this is referred to as scapular dyskinesia. Targeted exercise therapy will be necessary to get these muscles functioning properly again and to address the shoulder complaints.

To understand how a bursitis treatment is put together, it is helpful to understand exactly what bursitis is and what causes it. A bursa is a small cavity filled with fluid that lies between the muscles and bones and functions as a lubricant and cushion. When you move a muscle, it changes in size as the body contracts or relaxes the muscle fibers. However, bones cannot change in size. That would be problematic, if it weren’t for the bursa, which allows the muscles to move smoothly along the bones. Without a bursa, every movement would be stiff and painful. When inflammation occurs in the bursa, it is called bursitis.

The treatment of bursitis focuses mainly on two goals: pain relief and healing. These two are not necessarily connected, but they do positively influence each other. As the inflammation heals during treatment, the pain subsides. When the pain subsides, it becomes easier for the patient to use the arm normally again, which promotes the recovery of the bursa.

You can also have your bursitis treated in a different way. This is interesting for those who have seen little benefit from the traditional treatment method, but also for those who want to get rid of their inflammation as quickly as possible. Shockwave therapy uses vibrations to target the inflammation very precisely. That may sound scary and painful, but shockwave therapy is painless. In practice, the treatment is also much less futuristic than it sounds. The shockwave therapist uses a special device that they press against the inflammation. The vibrations do the rest of the work. Shockwave therapy is not only painless, but also affordable. Furthermore, the results speak for themselves. Whether you have been dealing with bursitis for a day or a year, bursitis treatment through shockwave therapy can help you get rid of it easily and quickly. Do you have questions about this new treatment method? Then get in touch with us. We are happy to assist you.

Sometimes we see that neck complaints can play a role in the development of shoulder problems. For this reason, it is important to take a thorough history of the complaint and perform a complete physical examination. Involving the spine in the examination is done if our physiotherapists see reason to do so, depending on the symptoms that are reported.

The most common shoulder complaints are:

• Frozen shoulder
  
• Shoulder instability
  
• Tendonitis
  
• Involvement of the long biceps tendon
  
• Degenerative complaints
  
• Bursitis