Shoulder Injuries and Pain

Treating shoulder injuries

woman holding shoulder, experiencing should pain

Shoulder injuries frequently involve muscles, ligaments and tendons. These types of injuries are generally due to activities that require repetitive motions such as swimming, tennis, pitching, weightlifting, yardwork or playing a musical instrument.

NovaCare Rehabilitation provides expert care for patients with:

  • Bursitis
  • Frozen shoulder
  • Rotator cuff tear
  • Shoulder impingement/rotator cuff tendonitis

Regardless of your injury, the NovaCare Rehabilitation team will listen to your symptoms and overall goals and develop a personalized treatment plan to get you on the road to recovery.

If surgery isn’t required, your treatment will focus on restoring range of motion, strength, function to reduce pain and swelling. If surgery is necessary, your physical or hand therapist will work with you, before and after the procedure. In addition, our clinical team will communicate closely with your physician to ensure a seamless healing journey.

Shoulder injuries we treat

  • Bursitis is a painful condition that occurs when the small fluid-filled sac that supports the shoulder joint becomes damaged, irritated or inflamed. Symptoms of bursitis can include:

    • Pain on the tip of the shoulder
    • Pain when lying on the sore shoulder
    • Pain when rotating the arm or when pushing or pulling open a door
  • Frozen shoulder is the progressive stiffening of the shoulder due to scar tissue. It typically develops slowly and in three stages. The stages include:

    • Freezing: Moving your shoulder causes pain, and your range of motion is limited.
    • Frozen: Pain may lessen, but your shoulder is stiffer and becomes more difficult to move.
    • Thawing: Your range of motion improves.
  • Shoulder impingement happens when the rotator cuff tendons in your shoulder are overused or injured, causing pain and limiting your movement. Symptoms of shoulder impingement/rotator cuff tendonitis can include:

    • Pain with activity and while resting
    • Pain that radiates from the front of the shoulder to the side of the arm
    • Pain when throwing a ball, especially in athletes
    • Sudden pain when lifting and reaching
  • A rotator cuff tear usually happens to people who repeatedly perform overhead motions in their jobs or those involved with sports. An extensive rotator cuff tear may require surgery. Symptoms of a rotator cuff tear can include:

    • Arm weakness or limited motion
    • Discomfort when laying on the arm
    • Dull ache in the shoulder

Get the Help You Need for Your Injury