The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body and has a very large range of motion. These two factors increase the probability of experiencing pain or sustaining an injury to this joint that we use constantly in everyday life.
Although most shoulder problems or slight shoulder pain is short lived, it’s important to know what’s normal and what isn’t so normal in terms of shoulder aches and pains.
What’s normal:
It’s quite common to have a slight pain after playing a game of sport that involves a lot of overhead movements. There are four major tendons that essentially make up the rotator cuff and the biceps tendon. These can easily become inflamed after activities like overhead throwing, overhead lifting, pitching and shooting a basketball or netball. This is a common occurrence.
Should you continue to experience a little shoulder pain during sport, try to limit the amount of overhead shoulder activity, take it down a notch and usually that irritating pain will subside.
It’s not just those who participate in sport who can be prone to mild shoulder pain. Office workers can often experience painful shoulders. This has a lot to do with posture.
Being slumped over a desk, constantly reaching for your mouse and typing away all day can commonly cause shoulder irritation and discomfort. Simple measures such as ensuring your shoulders are pulled back in line with your hips and pulling in your belly button can help.
What’s not so normal:
It’s important to listen to and understand your own body. Only you know your body better than anyone else. If your shoulder pain starts to interfere with everyday activities or you experience pain without motion, it may be time to seek a professional opinion and assessment.
Another red flag that can point to a potentially serious shoulder problem is pain and discomfort at night. Some of the most common shoulder problems include:
– Shoulder dislocation
– Acromioclavicular joint (AC joint) injuries
– Rotator cuff injuries
– Labral tears
– Thrower’s shoulder
– Impingement injuries
– Bursitis & fractures
Thankfully, many of these common shoulder conditions can be treated and managed overtime thanks to physical therapy. If you’re concerned about your shoulder pain and would like a thorough assessment, the experienced team at Progressive Sports & Spinal Physiotherapy in Penrith can help you.
Contact us today to arrange an assessment on (02) 4721 7798.
At Progressive Sports and Spinal Physiotherapy Penrith, we are able to assess, treat, educate and manage all musculoskeletal injuries. We focus on hands-on treatment, exercise prescription and self management techniques tailored to your specific needs. We utilise evidence based treatments to maximise your outcomes.
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Elin, is an alumni of St. Edward’s University and holder of a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology, furthered her academic journey by attaining a Doctor of Physiotherapy from Macquarie University in 2022.
Her passion for sports, particularly football (soccer), is evident in both her academic pursuits and personal endeavors. Specialising in the comprehensive well-being of athletes, Elin focuses on restoring them to peak performance while actively preventing future injuries.
Elin’s professional expertise is centered on musculoskeletal rehabilitation, with a specific emphasis on addressing and preventing knee injuries. Her approach integrates expert treatment with a commitment to educating and empowering patients, fostering their active involvement in enhancing their health and overall quality of life.
As an active participant in NPL football with SD Raiders, Elin brings firsthand experience and a profound understanding of the sport’s demands. Beyond the field, she extends her influence by contributing sports coverage over the weekends.
Christopher (Chris) Han graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Therapy, and then completed the Doctor of Physiotherapy program at Macquarie University in 2018. Chris is currently undertaking his PhD at the University of Sydney and Institute for Musculoskeletal Health in the field of low back pain and is due to complete this in early 2024.
Chris is currently an assistant Physiotherapist for the NRL Referees. Chris has previous experience as the head Physiotherapist at Panthers Premier League Netball and a number of elite sporting athletes in the private setting.
Through Chris’ experiences, he has a particular interest in all areas of the body and musculoskeletal physiotherapy, sports, vestibular rehabilitation, and Men’s Health (pre and post prostate surgery).
Suzanne graduated from Western Sydney University with a Bachelor of Health Science (Sports and Exercise Science) in 2015. She then went on to continue her studies at Macquarie University graduating from the Doctor of Physiotherapy post-graduate degree in June 2019.
Since graduating, Suzanne has worked in the local Penrith area in both private practice and Sports Physiotherapy. Suzanne has worked with sporting teams including Penrith District Netball Association, Mt Druitt Rangers (NPL), Penrith Valley Figure Skating Club, and local dance and cheer schools.
Suzanne has a particular interest in working with artistic athletes including cheerleaders and dancers. She has a professional background in both cheer and dance and has previously worked as both a cheer coach and dance teacher. Suzanne’s previous experiences are an invaluable resource to her as a physiotherapist, as she has a thorough understanding of the level of physical fitness and skill acquisition that these athletes must have in order to be successful on stage and in competition.
Suzanne’s other areas of clinical interest reside in lower limb musculoskeletal injuries, spinal pathologies and women’s health.
Nathanial graduated as a physiotherapist in 2012 which saw him work in private practice and hospital settings gaining experience in all areas of physiotherapy including hand therapy, splinting/casting, pre/post-operative care, Men’s Health and general musculoskeletal, occupational and sports physiotherapy. Since then he has gone on to complete further studies in physiotherapy enabling him to be the only dual titled Musculoskeletal, Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist in Penrith.
Nathanial has a strong background in sports physiotherapy achieving accreditation with NSWIS as a service provider and working with many elite sports teams.
Nathanial has a particular interest in working with elite athletes, complex cases and in particular assessment and management of knee, hip and shoulder pain.
Andrea graduated from the Australian Catholic University completing her Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science in 2018 and Master’s of Clinical Exercise Physiology in 2020. After graduating she attained accreditation with ESSA as an Exercise Physiologist.
During her studies she gained clinical experience in both hospital and private practice settings, in cardiac rehabilitation, neurological conditions, cancer and chronic musculoskeletal injuries.
Since working at Progressive, Andrea has a specialist interest in treating musculoskeletal injuries, helping people in the mid-late stage of rehab to get them to return to sport or work. As well as helping people manage chronic conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis and diabetes.