Shoulder Strain | Arunalaya Healthcare

Best Shoulder Strain Treatment in Delhi

What is Shoulder Strain ?

A shoulder strain refers to an injury to the muscles or tendons in the shoulder, where the fibers are stretched or torn. It is important to distinguish this from a shoulder sprain, which involves the stretching or tearing of ligaments (tissues that connect bones to other bones).

The shoulder is a complex joint with many muscles and tendons that work together to provide a wide range of motion and stability. Therefore, a “shoulder strain” can involve various muscles, but often it refers to the rotator cuff muscles (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis) or other surrounding muscles like the deltoid, biceps, or pectorals.

Causes of Shoulder Strain

Shoulder strains typically occur due to:-
- Overuse or Repetitive Strain: This is a very common cause, especially in activities involving repetitive overhead motions. Examples include:
- Sports: Baseball (pitching), swimming, tennis, volleyball, weightlifting (especially overhead presses).
- Occupations: Painters, carpenters, electricians, construction workers.
- Hobbies: Gardening, cleaning (washing walls, hanging curtains).
Acute Trauma/Sudden Force:
- Lifting heavy objects incorrectly or too quickly.
- Sudden, forceful movements, like throwing a ball with excessive force.
- Falling on an outstretched arm or directly onto the shoulder.
- Insufficient Warm-up: Not properly preparing the muscles for activity can make them more susceptible to injury.
- Muscle Imbalance or Weakness: If some shoulder muscles are weak or imbalanced, other muscles may become overused and strained to compensate.
- Poor Technique: Incorrect form during sports or exercises can put undue stress on shoulder muscles.

Symptoms of Shoulder Strain

The symptoms vary depending on the severity of the strain (mild, moderate, or severe tear). Common symptoms include:-
- Pain: Localized pain in the shoulder area. This pain can be a dull ache or a sharp, sudden pain. It often worsens with movement, especially overhead activities or lifting.
- Tenderness: The affected muscle or tendon will be tender to the touch.
- Weakness: Difficulty or inability to lift the arm, perform certain movements, or apply force.
- Limited Range of Motion: Pain may restrict the ability to move the arm fully in different directions (e.g., reaching overhead, reaching behind the back).
- Stiffness: The shoulder may feel stiff, especially after periods of rest.
- Swelling and Bruising: May be present, particularly with more severe strains.
- Muscle Spasms: The strained muscle may involuntarily contract or twitch.
- Clicking or Popping: While more common with tears or instability, some strains might produce these sounds.

Advanced Physiotherapy for Shoulder Strain

Ice Application: Regular icing to reduce pain and swelling.
Gentle Passive & Active-Assisted Range of Motion (PROM/AAROM): Carefully guided movements to prevent stiffness and maintain mobility without stressing the injured tissues. Pendulum exercises are often used.
Pain-Free Isometrics: Gentle muscle contractions without movement to activate muscles and prevent atrophy in the early stages.
Manual Therapy: Soft tissue massage and gentle mobilizations (if appropriate) to address muscle tightness and improve tissue healing.

Restoration of Range of Motion and Flexibility:

Progressive Stretching: Targeted stretches for the affected and surrounding muscles (e.g., pectorals, latissimus dorsi, upper trapezius, rotator cuff) to restore full, pain-free mobility. Techniques like PNF (Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation) stretches may be used.
Joint Mobilization Techniques: If joint stiffness contributes to the strain, a physiotherapist may use specific manual techniques to improve joint play and range.

Progressive Strengthening and Endurance:

Isolated Muscle Strengthening: Targeting the specific strained muscle(s) (e.g., rotator cuff, deltoid, biceps) with low-resistance exercises and gradually increasing intensity.
Scapular Stabilization: Crucial for shoulder health. Exercises focusing on strengthening the muscles that control the shoulder blade (rhomboids, serratus anterior, lower trapezius) to provide a stable base for arm movements. Examples include rows, pull-aparts with bands, and prone Y/T/W exercises.
Functional Strengthening: Incorporating multi-joint, multi-planar exercises that mimic daily activities or sport-specific movements. This includes progressive resistance with weights, resistance bands, and cable machines.
Eccentric Training: Focusing on the “lengthening” phase of muscle contraction, which is important for tendon healing and strength, especially in overuse injuries.
Endurance Training: High repetitions with lighter weights to improve muscle stamina and resistance to fatigue.

Neuromuscular Control and Proprioception:

Proprioceptive Exercises: Exercises to improve the body’s awareness of the shoulder’s position in space. This includes balance exercises, exercises on unstable surfaces (e.g., wobble board for closed kinetic chain), and controlled movements.
Dynamic Stability Exercises: Incorporating movements that challenge the shoulder’s stability under load and speed, like rhythmic stabilization drills.

Functional and Sport-Specific Rehabilitation:

Movement Pattern Retraining: Analyzing and correcting faulty movement patterns that may have contributed to the strain. This includes assessing posture, lifting techniques, and sports mechanics (e.g., throwing mechanics for athletes).
Gradual Return to Activity/Sport: A carefully structured progression that gradually reintroduces the demands of the sport or activity. This involves:
- Low-impact activities.
- Progressive increase in intensity, duration, and frequency.
- Sport-specific drills (e.g., throwing progression for baseball players).
- Plyometric exercises (for power and explosiveness, once sufficient strength is achieved).

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