Shoulder Pain?
Pain between the shoulders is indicative of dysfunction occurring elsewhere in the body such as the lower cervical spine, upper thoracic spine, or rotator cuff. But how can you get relief, when you don’t where the trouble is?
Pt Health has the answers with its Pain between the Shoulder Recover Program where our physiotherapists show you how to properly strengthen those tight muscles and lengthen the spine in just a matter of weeks. Leave your pain alone however, and it’s likely the condition will worsen as the spinal nerves become more irritated. So why not sit tall and give your back a break.
The pt Health Pain Between Shoulders Recovery Program
- Does not involve medication or painkillers.
- Actively involves you in your own recovery.
- Is covered by most extended health plans.
- Starts quickly with next day appointment availability.
The sooner you can change the pain between the shoulders the better off those muscle imbalances will be which is why we introduced the pt Health Pain between Shoulders Rehab Program. Our physiotherapists will help rearrange your posture by strengthening the back and forward muscles. They will also help you adjust mid back mobility using a clinical approach that takes into account your condition, injury, post-surgical status, risk factors, lifestyle, and work function. It’s all about strengthening, recovery, and relief no matter your age, so you can go back to doing the things you love.
Shoulder Pain Symptoms
Typically a patient will describe pain between the shoulders as, “burning,” along with general weakness. There can also be some associated arm numbness if the spine is involved. And finally, pain can worsen at night, after working, or all-day activity. It’s important to note anyone who experiences between the shoulder blades that has no known reason and is unchangeable with position should seek help from their doctor.
Shoulder Pain Treatment
- Provide a therapeutic approach designed to ease the pain between your shoulders.
- Offers preventative strategies to help you deal with lifestyle, work, and other risk factors.
- Addresses the root cause pain between the shoulders as well as the symptoms.
- Prescribes appropriate stretches, strengthening exercises, and movements that you can do at home to encourage continuous improvement and progress.
Find a Clinic
Treatment Plan
The Physiotherapy Assessment
When you first come to pt Health for pain between the shoulders, your physiotherapist will want to rule out any significant injuries or conditions as we treat any type of back pain as a very serious issue. If a more advanced spinal complication is suspected, they may refer you to your primary physician for more tests. If however, there are no additional concerns your physiotherapist will begin your physiotherapy treatment program right away. To start, they will monitor your resting posture and also evaluate the following range of motion characteristics:
- Neck
- Mid back
- Shoulder
- Shoulder blades
Evaluating the Spinal Nerves
Next, your physiotherapist will assess the spinal nerves to ensure they are providing adequate signals to the muscles of the upper extremity. They will then observe muscle strength surrounding the shoulder blade and rotator cuff along with the mechanics of the shoulder and spinal joints.
At this time, your treatment will primarily be hands-on, in that your therapist will perform manual modalities meant to ease the joints that need to be moved. Massage therapy can also be used to help with tight muscles prior to your exercise program.
Individual Exercise Plan
Poor posture is a major culprit for pain between the shoulders and in order to combat these muscle imbalances your physiotherapist will also get you started with proper exercises meant to strengthen the spine. They may also incorporate an occupational therapist to look at your work station positioning and make adjustments accordingly.
Get Back Your Independence
The goal for physiotherapy is to return to your pre-injury self. You visits will become less frequent and you may be prescribed exercises you can do at home thus having a lasting effect on your recovery.
How long will My Treatment Last?
Total recovery time for pain between the shoulders lasts between four to six weeks.
What is the Prognosis for Pain between the Shoulders?
Prognosis is excellent as long as you are fully compliant with your physiotherapy plan.
Call us today and discover how the Upper Back Pain Program can help you feel better sooner than you think! 1 (866) 749-7461
Max’s Story
Will Pain Between the Shoulders Keep this Father From Staying Active?
Max, a father of two wanted to stay active with his kids and so he gladly purchased a new bike to keep up with them. After a week of riding however, Max soon felt like he was at a major disadvantage as he began to experience pain between his shoulders.
“It felt like a lightning rod was shooting up my back,” said Max. Instead of heading out for a family bike ride after dinner, Max found himself lying on the couch unable to even roll over. Not wanting to miss work, his spouse encouraged him to visit his doctor who assured him there weren’t any major issues going on with his back, but that a visit to his physiotherapist would likely help him regain his back strength and ease his tight muscles.
Happy to oblige, Max visited Jennifer at pt Health where at first he felt silly for coming in. “I mean, there I was a 40 year old guy, and I felt much older!” Jennifer assured him it was common for patients to come in with this exact type of pain.
Physiotherapy Addresses Poor Postures
“I often see patients complaining of pain between the shoulders because so many of us are glued to our computers all day long. As a result of being hunched over, the rest of the spine compensates for our muscular imbalances and the referring pain ends up between the shoulders. It’s really a matter of poor posture, and so many of us are guilty of that.”
Poor Posture Leads to Muscle Imbalances
In Max’s case, it wasn’t just the new bike that did him in. He soon learned it was a combination of postural errors he was making throughout the day. “There’s no doubt I probably injured myself by lifting my five year old, sitting at the computer all day long, and then to top it off I get on the bike and my posture is all wrong,” said Max.
“Max did the right thing by coming in,” said Jennifer. “If he had waited, the lower back muscles would have constricted even more and we’d be looking at a longer recovery period.”
In order to correct Max’s posture, the two worked on core strengthening exercises, leg movements, and weights so he could stand tall, and ride his bike well into the evening with his family.
Call us today and discover how the Upper Back Pain Program can help you feel better sooner than you think! 1 (866) 749-7461
What Causes Pain Between Shoulders?
Pain between the shoulders can happen for many reasons. Perhaps you picked up something too heavy such as luggage, a child, or even the laundry when you suddenly feel a twinge of pain that slowly becomes more advanced over time. But sometimes the reason can also be due to office work environments, where you sit hunched over a computer. When this happens, a person might come into the clinic with their shoulders slumped forward.
Coverage Options
At pt Health, we know that sorting out insurance paperwork can be time-consuming and confusing. We want your focus to be on getting well and staying well. With that in mind, we do our best to help you navigate through the necessary forms. We speak with your insurance providers and we’ll answer any questions you may have about your coverage.
- RCMP
- DND
- Canadian Forces
- Veterans Affairs
For any treatments that are only partially covered, you may be asked to co-pay the difference at each visit.