The range of motion of the shoulder makes the shoulder the most flexible joint of your body. Every movement of your arms means a corresponding movement of the shoulder as well. The joint stability of your shoulder can be compromised by the increased motion of the shoulder joints. This means that anyone can have shoulder problems — young and old alike.
Rehabilitation after a shoulder injury can take several weeks, even months. Restoring the flexibility and mobility of the shoulder as soon as possible is crucial but the healing of the muscles and tissues must be put into consideration as well.
As any other joint, shoulder problems can be caused by regular wear and tear as well as aging. Some of the symptoms of shoulder injuries are pain, inflammation, weakness, changes in color or constraints in the shoulder movements. Shoulder injuries from sports activities are common. Tasks that require repetitive motion of the arms and shoulders are also prone to shoulder injuries like painting.
Rehabilitation after a shoulder injury or surgery means using exercises to restore the full range of motion of the injured shoulder.
These exercises aim to:
- Ease the pain and swelling of the injured area
- Restore mobility and flexibility
- Improve motor control and muscle strength
A complete rehabilitation after a shoulder injury would involve stretching, strengthening and balance exercises. Initially, these exercises must be done gently and safely to avoid reinjuring the shoulder or making the injury worse. It would be best to seek the help of a physical therapist to properly guide and design a program of your rehabilitation after a shoulder injury. Your physical therapist will make sure you do the exercises properly while you gradually build up the strength of your shoulder. At the same time, a massage may also be used to reduce muscle pain.
Some things to take note while you do the exercises as rehabilitation after a shoulder injury:
- Before doing the exercises, use a warm compress to the injured area to prevent new injury
- After the exercises, use an ice pack to the injure area to decrease the swelling and to hasten the healing process.
- Do not continue with exercises that cause or increase pain
Another part of the rehabilitation after a shoulder injury is to avoid certain movements and activities that worsen your condition. Example is stretching your arm towards your back when you are reaching something from the backseat of your car.
You must remember that rehabilitation after a shoulder injury is not meant for conditioning rather it is to help you restore the full range of motion and strength of your shoulder.
Global health communities including Broomall, Pennsylvania have a collection of topics about pain including shoulder pain and injury because of the prevalence of this type of medical condition. The aim of healthcare professionals, particularly physical therapists, would always to restore the full function of the injured part.