The shoulder joint is very flexible, allowing lots of movement, but this also makes it prone to injury. Many parts, like muscles and bones, can be hurt from accidents, overuse, or even everyday activities, which can lead to shoulder problems like torn rotator cuffs, stiffness, and arthritis.
Even activities like lifting heavy weights or repetitive tasks can stress the shoulder and make it absorb a lot of shock. This can lead to stretched or torn ligaments, especially around the arm, chest and back. These injuries can cause pain, tightness and difficulty moving the shoulder.
Some treatments for injuries
• Cold compress and heat therapy: One of the best methods for treating shoulder discomfort is to use a cold compress. The affected area can be treated with ice packs. This could reduce severe discomfort. By limiting blood flow, the cold packs can worsen the damage already done to the muscles and ligaments. When used consistently throughout the day, the cooling impact can aid in improving the situation. Heat therapy works best when applied 72 hours after the injury, in contrast to ice therapy, which is applied within the initial few hours following the accident. Like cold therapy, it relieves pain and allows muscle relaxation.
• Usage of Medications (NSAIDs): NSAIDs, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines, can help relieve shoulder pain and swelling and speed up the healing process. These over-the-counter pain relievers and muscle relaxants can aid in recovery by reducing inflammation and speeding up the healing process. One should seek a doctor’s advice before using them. To ensure that there are no serious adverse effects, they should only be taken under medical supervision.
• Physical Therapy: The primary mode of care for shoulder injuries is physical therapy. Strengthening muscles, increasing flexibility, and restoring range of motion are all helped by a structured exercise schedule. Physical therapists modify exercises based on the individual injury, ensuring a gradual and controlled rehabilitation process for the shoulder. For conditions where muscle weakness and stiffness are major problems, such as tendinitis and frozen shoulders, this treatment can be extremely helpful. Significant improvements in shoulder function can be achieved with the constant use of recommended exercises and regular therapy sessions.
• Exercises for strengthening and extending: Exercises for strengthening and stretching the shoulders can be useful in treating shoulder pain. Pain can be relieved by reducing joint pressure and inflammation by strengthening and stretching the muscles, tendons, and ligaments that surround the shoulder joint.
• Surgical Interventions: Surgery could be the solution necessary for more serious shoulder problems that fail to improve with conservative measures. Techniques like arthroscopic surgery enable minimally invasive repair of injured cartilage, tendons and ligaments. Chronic conditions such as arthritis might require consideration of shoulder replacement procedures. A thorough rehabilitation programme is generally implemented after surgery to regain strength and function. Patients with complex shoulder injuries now have far better recovery periods and outcomes due to advancements in surgical treatments.
Suffering from the shoulder can be mild or severe. However, there could be instances where things get worse quickly, and there can be several underlying issues at play. As soon as the pain worsens, such as when there is a “locked feeling” in the chest and shoulder, severe back, chest, or shoulder pain, or difficulty moving the shoulder, then it is important to visit a doctor.
(The author, Dr. Vinay Kumar Gautam, is a Consultant – Orthopaedics, at Manipal Hospital.)
