Physical Therapy for Shoulder Injuries

Published on January 4, 2013 by: Renee Kirbs

Shoulder Injury Rehab Physical Therapy

The shoulder, a bony structure, is made up for the collarbone or the clavicle, the scapula or the shoulder blade and the humerus or the upper arm bone. There are also three shoulder joints, namely, the sternoclavicular, acromioclavicular and the glenohumeral joints. A broken shoulder can cause serious health problems including pain. The major injuries to the shoulder are rotator cuff tear and fractures to any of the shoulder bones mentioned above.

Shoulder Injuries and Fractures

Clavicle Fracture

One broken shoulder condition is called the clavicle fracture. It happens when the clavicle receives a direct blow from a fall or accident. Pain and swelling can be felt in the front side of the upper chest. Pain can also be felt when moving the shoulder muscles.  Most often than not, a patient with this condition can feel the fracture through his or her skin and the bone will sometimes protrude.

Scapular Fracture

Another broken shoulder injury is called a scapular fracture and it occurs when the shoulder blade is damaged or injured. Although the scapula is sturdy, high speed vehicular accidents is one of the common causes for this condition. The patient will have reduced motion with his or her shoulder as well as swelling and pain.

Humerus Fracture

The third broken shoulder injury is the humerus fracture. The humerus is the upper arm bone and the fracture can be on the shaft, the upper end or the lower end of the bone. The proximal humerus fracture is a broken shoulder injury near the patient’s shoulder joints. The rotator cuff tendons might be affected with this condition as well. The mid-shaft humerus fracture is mostly associated with injuries to the radial nerve. The third classification is the distal humerus fracture and it occurs near the joint of the elbow.

Shoulder Injury Treatments

A physical therapist can recommend massage therapy to lessen the stiffness of a broken shoulder condition. The massage will also help in improving circulation and blood flow to the tissue injured. As lactic acid will build up in the shoulder, applying direct massage can stimulate the area and relieve any pain or spasms the patient might experience.

Stretching and Strengthening Exercises

Stretching exercises for a broken shoulder injury would focus mainly on combating stiffness and restoring range of motion. As the patient’s shoulder condition improves, he or she will slowly gain the full functionality of his or her shoulder.

Strengthening exercises can be done for a broken shoulder as soon as the shoulder starts to heal. The physical therapist can assist the patient perform exercises for improving muscular function, increasing endurance and strength and restoring full range of motion.

Shoulder Injury Treatment Plans

Whether the treatment plan for a broken shoulder is surgical or not, extensive physical therapy rehabilitation might be required for full recovery. As always, a patient should always consult qualified medical professionals for any medical course of action for this type of condition.