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Physical Therapy For Shoulder PainIn Fort Collins, Windsor & surrounding cities

Shoulder pain resulting from an injury or from overuse can be an incredibly frustrating problem.

Depending on the injury, surgery may be recommended, but is not always necessary or may not be the best fit for your lifestyle and functional needs. Seeing a physical therapist for shoulder pain can be an effective and efficient way to eliminate pain and return to your normal activities.

Common Causes of Shoulder Pain

Anything from sports injuries to a long term job that requires continuous overhead work can cause painful and debilitating shoulder injuries. Often, the muscles and tendons that stabilize the shoulder joint, collectively called the rotator cuff, can become torn or caught during overhead or lifting activities. These tears or impingements can lead to long term damage and dysfunction in the shoulder and cause shoulder movements to be very painful for many patients. Fractures, labral tears, or nerve compression can also occur at the shoulder. Depending on the severity, some shoulder injuries need medical or surgical intervention, while some issues can be managed conservatively with a physical therapist.

Shoulder Stretches For Pain Relief

Trying to decide what treatment route to take after a shoulder injury can be challenging, but our physical therapists at Colorado in Motion can help you determine whether you should seek another opinion or stick with physical therapy. Our clinicians can provide shoulder pain relief by treating the underlying issue through evidenced based techniques and interventions. Often a combination of stretching, strengthening, and joint mobilizations can help many patients reduce their shoulder pain and return to their normal activities. A physical therapist will evaluate your shoulder on your first visit to see if you will benefit from physical therapy, and will refer you to an appropriate physician if they feel you would be better helped by orthopedic surgical intervention.

When to Seek a Physical Therapist

Seeing a physical therapist is a great option to address persistent and frustrating shoulder pain. Many times, our patients come to physical therapy after undergoing surgery, or before surgery to strengthen and mobilize the joint. However, seeing a physical therapist for shoulder pain can also be a cost-effective alternative to surgery in some cases. Colorado in Motion serves patients in Fort Collins, Windsor, and other surrounding cities. Make an appointment today to see how our physical therapists can help relieve your shoulder pain!

The Colorado in Motion Difference

Specialty-Level Care

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More Board Certified Experts

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Caring Physical Therapists

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Shoulder Pain Treatment Locations

Frequently Asked Questions

  • A physical therapy visit lasts about 40-60 minutes. The actual contents of the visit vary based on your diagnosis/need, but typically what happens is:

    1. You check in with the receptionist, make any appointments necessary, and we discuss your health insurance benefits with you.
    2. You go into the gym. You can change clothes if you need to, then begin therapy.
    3. You perform 6-8 various exercises and stretches. These can include therapeutic band exercises, light body weight exercises, or minimal weights. The stretches will promote strength, stability, improved range of motion, and pain relief.
    4. We can initiate other techniques to include manual work, taping, cupping, and dry needling as needed.
    5. The therapist makes recommendations based on your progress. These can include altering the frequency of visits, making additions/alterations to your home exercise plan, or things to do before your next visit.
  • We recommend budgeting 40-60 minutes for a typical therapy session. The only exception to this will be your first visit, which can take about 20 minutes longer due to the physical therapy evaluation your therapist will provide. We also recommend showing up about 10-15 minutes early to your first visit. This way, you can complete the paperwork before your visit time and streamline the process.

  • If we are asking you to do something that is hurting too much, let us know! Physical therapy should not be severely painful. It is not common to be so sore that patients are in pain or it affects their daily life. If this ever happens during or after an appointment, let us know and we will adapt your program.

  • During your initial evaluation, your therapist may ask you a number of questions to determine what the cause of your pain is. This can include questions about your sleep habits, activity level, and work environment. They will also ask for a medical history, and then typically ask direct questions about where and when you experience pain.

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