Raise your hands up if you have a sore shoulder… and if you can’t you might want to get your shoulder checked out!

---

Shoulder pain when it starts can often be easy to put to the side and forgotten about; especially when looking after others, working or catching up on some home renovations. Shoulder pain can progressively increase and before you know it, there can be referred pain down your arm, neck, back and even contributes to headaches.      

The shoulder is a very complex anatomical structure that is extremely mobile, made up of ligaments, tendons, bones, muscles and bursae. Due to how much the shoulder moves it can place a lot of stress on the surrounding tissues, and over time this can cause pain occurring inside the shoulder capsule.

Types of shoulder pain:

Inflammation of the shoulder capsule: Inflammation of the shoulder joint can be due from injuring the joint or from medical conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Frozen shoulder is from inflammation or thickening of the tendons that lead to the shoulder being “stuck” or “frozen” in place.

Inflammation of bursa: This is a very common issue in the shoulder. These small fluid sacs that lubricate surrounding structures so that friction does not occur. An inflamed bursa typically arises from repetitive/overuse movements.

Injuries and Sprains: Probably the most common cause of shoulder related pain. These can arise from sporting injuries, repetitive movements, falls and work ergonomics.

Risk Factors

• Age: As you get older your risk of rotator cuff injuries increases.

• Manual Jobs: Occupations such as building, painting, or jobs with repetitive work loads, over time, can damage the rotator cuff.

Warning Signs of a shoulder injury:

• Is your shoulder stiff? Can you rotate your arm in all the normal positions?

• Does it feel like your shoulder could pop out or slide out of the socket?

• Do you lack the strength in your shoulder to carry out your daily activities?

How to help:

Here are some simple things you can do to help mitigate the severity of shoulder pain:

• Avoid repetitive overhead lifting and working

• Use a heat pack over your sore shoulder for 15-20 minutes

Try this simple strengthening exercise;

• Take a ball in your hand out in front of you and place it up against the wall.

• Stand tall, and try not to lean your bodyweight forwards to keep the ball against the wall.

• Think about broadening your shoulders and avoid letting them hike up towards your ears.

• Hold this position for 20 seconds, and repeat 3 times.

• For greater challenge, try drawing small circles with the ball against the wall, 10x each direction.

(If this exercise causes any pain, please stop the exercise immediately)

If your pain persists it is worth booking an appointment and formulating a treatment plan with your local osteopath. We would be pleased to hear from you, and help you achieve better health,, please give us a call on 6331 6225.

Written by Osteopath Luka Di Fabio

Radial Shockwave Therapy at Bodyfocus

THIS IS THE NEWEST TREATMENT OPTION TO BECOME AVAILABLE AT BODYFOCUS AND IT IS USEFUL FOR THE TREATMENT OF A NUMBER OF CHRONIC SOFT TISSUE CONDITIONS

You may not have realised but Radial Shockwave Therapy (RSWT) has been around since the early 1980s! It was originally intended for the management of urinary stones, however, it was later discovered that RSWT was effective in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders in the upper and lower extremities.

Contrary to its name, RSWT is not actually electrical shocks but rather sound waves. During the treatment these sound waves stimulate the muscle, tendon or connective tissue where the RSWT is being applied. The cells in these tissues receive more blood flow, start to multiply and produce new cells and connective tissue. The overall result is the tissue heals, becomes stronger and more flexible. Additionally, RSWT works on reliving pain and other symptoms long term by ‘tiring’ the nerves in the area so they temporarily aren’t as sensitive to pain.

Research in to SWT is ongoing but there is evidence to support RSWT in helping with the following conditions:

• Plantar fasciitis

• Achilles tendinopathy

• Achilles bursitis

• Patellar tendinopathy

• Knee bursitis

• Gluteal tendinopathy

• Trochanteric/gluteal bursitis

• Adductor tendinopathy

• Rotator cuff tears/tendinopathy

• Subacromial bursitis

• Tennis elbow/lateral epicondylitis

• Golfers elbow/medial epicondylitis

At Bodyfocus a common treatment block using RSWT will be 3-5 sessions, approximately a week apart. More or less sessions may be required, depending on the patient’s conditions and their response to the treatment. RSWT sessions are worked in with a standard treatment consult, with the RSWT component only taking 5-7 mins each session.

In addition to RSWT patients will receive a wholistic management strategy which may include taping, dry needling, massage, osteopathic treatment techniques, at-home exercises and load management and other lifestyle alterations/advice to enable them to function better and achieve their treatment goals.

The team at Bodyfocus are always available to chat to and can help give you professional advice as to whether RSWT is right for you!

Written by Osteopath Reid Mountney