Shoulder Physiotherapy - F.R.O.M. Toronto Pain Relief Clinic

The shoulder is a complex and highly mobile joint that plays a crucial role in our daily activities. It consists of several key components, including the humerus (upper arm bone), scapula (shoulder blade), and clavicle (collarbone), as well as various muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Understanding the anatomy of the shoulder is essential for diagnosing and treating common injuries that can affect this region.

The shoulder complex itself is made up of four separate joints, and each can have individual or overlapping issues, resulting in pain, swelling/ inflammation, loss of strength/range of motion and function.

Glenohumeral – Where the rounded head of the humerus sits meets the shoulder blade, and is stabilized by a shallow socket known as the labrum. Common injuries include osteoarthritis, labral tears, SLAP lesions, biceps and supraspinatus muscle tendinopathies, rotator cuff tears, or strains, external or internal impingement, calcific tendonitis or repetitive strain injuries, dislocations and subluxations.

Acromioclavicular – Commonly known as the AC joint, this is where your collarbone aka clavicle, comes into contact with the top of your shoulder blade. This is an area of common injury, as the glenohumeral joint is just below, and all the muscles of the rotator cuff attach under the acromion. Common injuries include AC joint sprains, osteoarthritis, rotator cuff sprains and strains, separations, dislocations and subluxations.

Scapulothoracic – This Is where the shoulder blade sits on the back of your ribs. Did you know, seventeen muscles attach to the shoulder blade, and all are needed to work in sequence to raise your arm above your head? This sequence of muscle activation while raising your arm, is often known as your ‘Scapulothoracic Rhythm.’ In order to allow your arm to raise above your head, your shoulder blade first rotates, clearing space for your arm to raise above your head without pinching muscles between your arm and your shoulder blade. This ideally means we want our shoulders straight, not rounded, so our shoulder blades can sit flat and ride smoothly against our ribs as we raise our arms. Common injuries include: winging scapula, snapping scapula, thoracic kyphosis, scoliosis.

Sternoclavicular – This is where your clavicle meets your chest. You may not notice often, but your clavicle rotates backwards as your arm raises, again to allow space for muscles to not get pinched at the AC joint. Common injuries include joint separations, sprains and strains, and osteoarthritis.

Common shoulder injuries often include:

The rotator cuff: overuse, trauma, or degeneration
Rotator cuff tears
Shoulder dislocations and instability
Tendonitis
Impingement syndrome
Frozen shoulder/adhesive capsulitis
Labral tears
Sternoclavicular joint injury

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How Can Physiotherapy help?

Physiotherapy plays a vital role in the rehabilitation of shoulder injuries. Treatment at F.R.O.M. typically involves strengthening exercises, stretches, manual therapy, and modalities like heat or cold therapy laser and shockwave therapy. F.R.O.M. Toronto Pain Relief Clinic’s physiotherapists combine their functional understanding of shoulder anatomy with both old and new therapies to best manage your symptoms and their underlying conditions.

Oftentimes, pain and range of motion limitations are due to scar tissue, swelling and weakness. We use shockwave to flatten scar tissue and laser therapies to reduce swelling, relieve pain, improve tissue circulation – including blood and lymphatic fluid.

We use EMS to improve blood flow and strength of all the muscles in your shoulder, including deep postural stabilizing muscles, which are hard to activate and keep active on our own. We then follow up with AI-generated treatment plans that are instantly revised based on the client’s progress. This enables the patient to maximize each session with one of our licensed therapists.

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Services

Chiropractic

Chiropractic therapy is one of our specialty services. This non-invasive and gentle therapy corrects spinal and joint misalignment. Working on the nervous system gives relief from neck pains, improves posture, and mobility.

Massage Therapy

Massage therapy is a holistic approach to calm down the body and mind. It applies an expert way of muscle and tissue manipulation, which relaxes the body. It relieves soreness, muscle injury, and physical strain.

Clinical Counselling

Clinical counselling is a type of talk therapy by trained mental health professionals. This therapy helps individuals understand and build coping techniques with the struggles of various psychiatric conditions, including stress, trauma, grief, relationship difficulties, and anger, or life transitions.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is a hands-on, evidence-based treatment for pain rehabilitation and the restoration of body function. It supports recovery with guided exercises, manual therapy, and advanced therapeutic techniques. It helps restore the body from chronic pain and mobility limitations.

Mental Health

Mental health therapy supports rehabilitation from various cognitive issues. It includes anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, workplace burnout, or other emotional difficulties. These therapeutic services often foster mind-body and spiritual alignment, enabling people to live peaceful lives with coping skills.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy helps people with rehabilitation for any kind of emotional, physical, or cognitive challenges. It helps patients recover faster, return to daily life, achieve a higher quality of life after injury or illness, and perform daily activities safely.

Custom Orthotics

Custom orthotics are provided and long-term biomechanical support for people suffering from any kind of foot abnormalities. It is a solution for various issues, such as foot pain, plantar fasciitis, flat feet, high arches, and knee or back pain related to foot mechanics. This will reduce foot and joint pain, improve posture, and provide better walking comfort.

Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathic medicine is a holistic approach to healing the mind and body naturally. It boosts overall health and treats underlying causes by activating the body's natural healing power. It’s the best organic form of traditional medicine for treating modern diseases.

Shockwave Therapy

Shockwave therapy uses acoustic waves to stimulate healing in injured tissues. People with chronic tendon pain, plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow, shoulder pain, Achilles tendonitis, and other musculoskeletal conditions. It helps to reduce pain, improve tissue regeneration, speed healing, and restore mobility.

Laser Therapy

Laser therapy uses low-energy laser light that penetrates deeper through the skin. It stimulates the healing process; repairs damaged cells and reduces inflammation. It is beneficial for patients experiencing joint pain, inflammation, back pain, arthritis, nerve pain, or sports injuries.

Bracing

Bracing provides medical-grade support to stabilize injured or weak joints and muscles. It supports the recovery of individuals who have suffered injuries, undergone surgery, have arthritis, have ligament tears, or have joint instability. It prevents injury, reduces pain, and speeds of healing.

Independent Medical Examinations

An independent medical examination is a medical assessment conducted by a qualified professional. This will provide a professional medical report based on an unbiased evaluation of an individual’s health status and functional ability, for insurance claims or as proof of physical or mental disability in legal matters.

MVA Rehab

MVA rehab provides structured therapy and treatment for injuries sustained in car accidents. It is for healing whiplash, soft tissue injuries, back pain, concussion symptoms, or mobility issues after an accident. It also reduces pain, helps people regain mobility, and safely returns them to normal activities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Physiotherapy treats shoulder pain with exercises, stretching, and advanced modalities like heat or cold therapy, laser, and shockwave therapy. It reduces swelling, relieves pain, and enhances tissue circulation. EMS also improves blood flow and muscle strength, providing a comprehensive approach to shoulder rehabilitation.

If you’re experiencing shoulder pain, have limited range of motion, or have recently sustained a shoulder injury, it’s important to consider starting physiotherapy. To get an accurate diagnosis and determine when physiotherapy is appropriate, consulting a healthcare professional is essential. Early intervention can help prevent further damage and promote a faster recovery. Physiotherapy can be helpful in both the acute and chronic stages of shoulder injuries.

Wear loose and comfortable clothing during shoulder physiotherapy sessions. A sleeveless shirt or tank top is advisable for easy access. Choose attire that does not restrict movement and allows for comfort during exercises and stretches.

Shoulder Injury

How Can Physiotherapy help?