Pain is probably the most common symptom of shoulder tendinitis, but this symptom can also come from many other shoulder conditions. Physical therapists can help you learn more about the symptoms that are specific to shoulder tendinitis.
Shoulder tendinitis occurs when the rotator cuff or biceps tendons in your shoulder become inflamed. This condition is a common one in older Americans; it’s estimated that more than 60% of Americans over 80 will develop shoulder tendinitis or another shoulder issue. Working with a physical therapist can help you learn if your symptoms are consistent with shoulder tendinitis. In addition, these specialists can help you find effective treatment for your shoulder pain and other symptoms.
Six common symptoms of shoulder tendinitis
Physical therapists are trained to treat many musculoskeletal disorders, such as shoulder tendinitis. This training gives them the ability to recognize the signs of this shoulder issue, and some of the common signs of shoulder tendinitis include:
- Pain in the front or top of the shoulder.
- Pain that radiates from the outer arm to just below the top of the shoulder.
- Difficulty sleeping comfortably, especially on the affected side.
- Trouble remaining asleep.
- Symptoms that get worse when reaching above the head or behind the back.
- Clicking noises in the shoulder when raising the arm.
How can physical therapists help treat your shoulder tendinitis?
There are a variety of therapy methods that physical therapists can use to treat shoulder tendinitis. A few of these techniques are:
- Therapeutic exercises designed to strengthen and stretch the shoulder and upper arm muscles.
- Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) sessions intended to prevent scar tissue from forming in your healing shoulder.
- Joint mobilization that can help improve your shoulder mobility and flexibility.
- Cupping therapy that focuses on improving blood flow to the injured shoulder tendon.
- Work hardening therapy designed to prepare your shoulder for movements you perform while working.
- Sports injury therapy intended to prevent future shoulder injuries while playing sports.
Find help for your shoulder tendinitis symptoms at Whatcom PT
Ready to find top-notch treatment for your shoulder tendinitis symptoms? Our Whatcom Physical Therapy team is primed to help you get the effective treatment you need. We offer free screenings that can confirm you have shoulder tendinitis. Also, our physical therapists excel at building personalized therapy plans designed to offer benefits like:
- Reducing pain.
- Improving shoulder function.
- Increasing your ability to do normal daily tasks.
- Decreasing the risk of future shoulder problems.
You can even sign up for a virtual therapy session with our team to get treatment right from your home.
Contact our team today for more information about how we can help address your shoulder symptoms or to schedule an initial appointment.
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