The shoulder is a complex joint made up of several bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments that all work together to provide a wide range of motion for your arm. There are many ways you can experience shoulder pain, ranging from mild to severe. One condition you may have heard about before is a pinched nerve in the shoulder.
A pinched nerve occurs when bone spurs form around the discs between the vertebrae in your spine. These bone spurs can irritate the nerves running through the spine, which can cause a pinching sensation in your shoulder.
Your pinching shoulder pain may also have nothing to do with your spine or nerves. What you might think is nerve pain could actually be a pinched muscle or tendon in your shoulder, which is known as shoulder impingement.
Either way, when you have prolonged shoulder nerve pain or a pinched shoulder, you need to visit a physical therapist for treatment.
Treating shoulder nerve pain
Treatments for shoulder nerve pain or a pinched muscle or tendon vary. Your doctor may prescribe some medications to help reduce the inflammation and manage the pain. Often, a physical therapist can help improve the strength and flexibility of your muscles and soft tissue to help reduce the pain and improve your range of motion.
Physical therapists use a wide range of techniques to help treat shoulder pain. What’s used in your treatment will be personalized to your needs according to your condition and other factors, like age, weight and medical history.
Physical therapy treatments for shoulder pain often include:
- Gentle exercises and stretches
- Soft tissue mobilization
- Joint mobilization
- Posture guidance
- Patient education
Visit Panther Physical Therapy for shoulder pain treatment
Do you have a pinching sensation in your shoulder and/or neck? Our team at Panther Physical Therapy is here to help. We can examine your condition and guide you through a personalized treatment to help you reduce the pain. Contact our team for more information about treating shoulder pain or to schedule an initial appointment.