Shoulder injuries how to assess, diagnose and treat: Healthfix Physiotherapy advice
By Caitlan Skillicorn, Senior Physiotherapist M. Physio & B. Ex. and Sport Sc.
Your shoulder: what you need to know
Its the most unstable joint in the body (imagine a golf ball on a tea or a beach ball on dinner plate!)
Its the only upper body bony attachment where the sternum and clavicle meet
The muscles and ligaments are heavily relied on for stability due to the range of movement the joint can function in. The two groups involved in shoulder activation include:
Stabilisers – Rotator cuff (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis and teres minor)
The subjective assessment will drive the objective assessment, this means that we delve into the cause of the pain first by getting a thorough history from you including:
Any history of trauma such as a fall
If there has been a sudden increase in training loads (gym, housework, renovations etc)
How long you have experienced pain for especially if it is low levels of pain for a long period of time
After reviewing this information, we then do a series of objective testing to see how your shoulder is moving and which movements elicit a pain response, these may include:
Active range of movements and repeated movements to see if any fatigue changes the movement pattern
Resisted movements
Special tests and manual muscle testing using a device
The purpose of these tests are to see what movements produce pain or limitations amongst the anatomy of your shoulder.
How do Physiotherapist’s diagnose your shoulder complaint?
The three key areas physiotherapists use to diagnose shoulder injuries include:
Is it torn? (trauma or degenerative)
Is it stiff? (frozen shoulder, osteoarthritis, post-operative)
Is it irritable? (tendinopathy, bursitis etc)
When is it likely that your symptoms are not actually coming from your shoulder?
Often we find that clients symptoms are not directly related to their shoulder. The most common indications of this are if you experience:
Nerve related symptoms so things like pins and needles, numbness or burning sensation in your hands and fingers
If experience pain specifically in the upper trapeziues muscles
If you have restricted neck range of movement
If these are true then it is most likely that you
If you are unsure if you need to see a Physiotherapist
The most common complaint we see in active clients who are training in the gym is impingement which means the pain is triggered at the end of the range of movement or after 90 degrees of flexion. If this is you we recommend you change the angle of your movement and reduce the weight and volume (kgs and reps) and if symptoms don’t settle within a week then your best off to see a Physiotherapist for assessment and treatment.
Do you have a shoulder issue or are unsure about whether physiotherapy treatment will help your condition? To arrange to speak with one of our expert physiotherapists get in touch with us now! getfixed@healthfix.com.au
An industry vet, Joel has been practicing physiotherapy since 2006 in Sydney and most recently Singapore. Over the years he has built extensive knowledge in treating acute and chronic injuries, helping people navigate often challenging times with honest, constructive and successful treatment solutions. He has had the pleasure of treating and learning from some amazing people along the way, from weekend athletes, ultra marathon runners, professional golfers, global CEO’s to high level lifters. Joel takes pride in delivering the highest quality physiotherapy care to each and every patient. Joel knows that pain and injury can be both complex and confronting, therefore cutting through the technical medical jargon and helping people understand their injury with effective and applicable information is critical. Joel applies his commitment to professional and personal development, allowing him to constantly evolve as a physiotherapist and as a person. This enables him to understand the person as well as the injury, ultimately leading to a fast and effective fix.
Why did you choose to pursue a career in physiotherapy?
Joel Bates chose physiotherapy as it combined what he loved at school – human movement and helping people to be active and solve problems. He spent way to much time at physiotherapists as a teenager with stress fractures from cricket and shoulder problems from swimming, so he got to know what it was all about and love it. He has a deep passion for helping people and solving problems. No two injuries are ever the same so there is always a rewarding challenge each day and meeting great people along the way makes it good fun.
So what does Joel like to get up to outside of the clinic?
Joel is an avid sports fan and has mastered the art of watching an entire game of footy while chasing his young family around the house, backyard & beer garden. He has run a couple of half marathons whilst living in Singapore (which he tells himself are like full marathons in normal climates!). He makes sure he practices what he preaches with a mix of running, weights & golf keeping fitness fun for him. Book in to see Joel Bates today!
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