Are You Experiencing Arm Pain? Physical Therapy Could Provide A Long Term Solution!
Physical Therapy Can Help Improve Upper Extremity Pain.
Are you experiencing arm pain and weakness in your arm? Is it difficult to lift and hold things you use in your daily routine? You could be suffering from tendon or nerve dysfunction or even a problem in your neck joints.
Whether your pain results from an injury or repetitive stress, it’s often the result of irritation or inflammation of the tendons, cartilage, or nerves in the arm. Your pain can be so severe that doing routine activities of daily living seems impossible. While the pain may feel serious, it’s entirely curable.
At iMove PT, our physical therapists are movement experts skilled at treating any musculoskeletal condition that may be causing your symptoms. No matter where you are experiencing your problem, we will trace it back to the source and help you resolve it once and for all!
Call us today to make an appointment.
Causes Of Upper Extremity Pain
The location and type of symptoms you’re experiencing can help your physical therapist identify the source of your condition. The more localized a condition, the more likely it is to come from a nearby source, whereas diffuse symptoms and multiple locations are often coming from a region further away.
Limited shoulder mobility due to pain, injury, or weakness can affect a person’s ability to perform daily activities (eating, dressing, personal hygiene) and work responsibilities. Factors such as heavy lifting, repetitive motion (especially in overhead positions), and awkward movements and/or positions influence the severity of symptoms and disability.
The most common causes of shoulder and arm pain are:
- Rotator cuff disorders (i.e., tendinopathy and tears)
- Joint disorders (i.e., cartilage and ligament injuries)
- Degeneration and arthritis
- Referred neck pain
- Bursitis
- Faulty postures and mechanics
Overuse injuries and/or traumas are the leading causes of elbow pain. Many sports, hobbies, and jobs require repetitive movements leading to overuse, whereas falls are the most common traumatic injuries. The leading causes of elbow pain and dysfunction are:
- Tennis and Golfer’s elbow (i.e., tendinitis)
- Ligament sprains and tears
- Degeneration and arthritis
- Broken and/or dislocated elbow
Wrist pain is most common in groups participating in physically demanding activities like manual labor and jobs that require computer use or repetitive movements. The leading causes of wrist pain are:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Degeneration and arthritis
- Broken wrist
- Wrist tendinopathy
- Referred neck pain
While it is sometimes possible to take action to prevent an injury from developing, it is crucial to be able to recognize when an injury develops and to get help. Find your physical therapist so he/she can identify what may have caused the pain to create and what you can do to resolve it.
What Do My Symptoms Mean?
Clarifying the location of your pain will help your physical therapist figure out the source of your arm pain and the appropriate plan to resolve it.
For example, a ligament injury is often felt at the injury’s exact location and decreased range of motion is often associated with arthritis. In comparison, an injury to the joints in the neck can irritate the nerves. This, in turn, can send symptoms to the tip of the fingers. Having a physical therapist that understands the musculoskeletal system is the first step to finding relief.
Aching or stiffness around the front or the side of the shoulder is often due to a tendon/rotator cuff injury. In comparison, pain in the back of the shoulder is likely coming from the joint itself. Shoulder blade pain often comes from the neck and not the shoulder itself.
The inner and outer aspect of the elbow is commonly thought to be where most people experience tendon or ligament injuries. Typically, the pain will be sharp at the junction of the tendon and bone but may refer that the forearm generally is due to tendon-related injury or inflammation.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common disorder with multiple interrelated factors that contribute to the condition. Although the main factor seems to be repetitive movements, it is also common for the condition to develop due to poor postural habits. At iMove PT, our physical therapists understand the interconnectedness of the body and how an issue at the neck can be the primary cause of a condition like carpal tunnel syndrome at the wrist.
Ignoring your arm pain or waiting too long to be seen can make the problem worse and eliminate simple solutions.
What To Expect At Physical Therapy
Physical therapists assess your particular condition to identify the contributing factors and address all of them. Your therapist is skilled at hands-on intervention and exercise selection for the most comprehensive and appropriate intervention to help you resolve your pain and/or restore your function.
Physical therapy treatments typically include manual therapy, joint mobilization manipulation, exercise instruction, education, and techniques like KT taping. These have all been proven to help alleviate pain and restore function.
Interventions such as education, manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, nerve and tendon glide techniques are widely used for effective results!.
Request An Appointment Today
Addressing the pain early on is the best way to prevent an issue from becoming more debilitating. Physical therapy is the ideal tool for identifying the source of your problem and effectively alleviating pain.
Your Next Steps…
Request An Appointment
Receive A Custom Treatment Plan
Work Hard and Progress In Your Recovery
Recover & Enjoy Life Pain-Free!