Are shoulder pain and stiffness limiting your everyday activities? Have you noticed a grinding sound in your shoulder joint? There’s a chance your discomfort could be arthritis, as the two most common types affect the shoulder. Managing shoulder arthritis can be challenging, but the team at Kaizen Physical Therapy is here to help!
Arthritis has no cure, but there are things you can do to manage your symptoms and slow the progression of the condition so you maintain functionality for as long as possible. Physical therapy is essential in this process.
Through a customized program of targeted exercises and non-invasive pain management techniques, we can help ease shoulder discomfort, enhance your range of motion, and help you perform day-to-day activities. Keep reading to learn more about managing shoulder arthritis the Kaizen Physical Therapy way!
What Exactly Is Shoulder Arthritis?
There are over a hundred different types of arthritis, all of which cause joint pain and inflammation. However, most people with shoulder arthritis have either osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.
Both conditions can cause pain and limit your shoulder’s mobility but have different underlying causes.
Shoulder Osteoarthritis (OA)
- OA develops over time as the cartilage in your shoulder joint degenerates. This cartilage acts like a cushion between your bones, and as it thins, your bones may start to rub against each other, leading to pain, stiffness, and a reduced range of motion. This type of arthritis is strongly associated with aging.
Shoulder Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
- RA is an autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of the joints, causing inflammation, pain, and swelling. Over time, this inflammation can damage the cartilage and other tissues in the shoulder, leading to similar symptoms as osteoarthritis. However, because rheumatoid arthritis involves inflammation, managing it often includes techniques to reduce inflammation, improve joint function, and alleviate pain.
Physical therapy can manage both types of arthritis. It offers personalized strategies to help reduce discomfort and enhance shoulder mobility.
How We Can Help You Manage Shoulder Arthritis
Managing shoulder arthritis with physical therapy is one of the most effective ways to reduce pain, improve mobility, and maintain a better quality of life. Through a combination of exercises, manual therapy, and simple lifestyle adjustments, we can help you regain function and ease discomfort, allowing you to stay active despite the challenges of arthritis.
The reason physical therapy is such a great way to manage arthritis is that movement is essential in arthritis management–and physical therapists are movement experts! However, we recognize that arthritis can make moving your joints difficult, which is why we offer noninvasive pain management techniques to help prepare your body for exercise.
Manual therapy techniques, such as shoulder mobilization or careful manipulation of the soft tissues in your joint, help promote circulation and improve joint range of motion, which can alleviate pain and enhance shoulder function. We typically start our sessions with these techniques before moving on to your prescribed exercises.
Exercise is essential in managing shoulder arthritis. We’ll help you develop a personalized exercise program focused on strengthening the muscles in your shoulder and upper back, helping to stabilize the joint, and reducing stress from damaged tissue. Exercise also promotes mobility and can slow down the progression of arthritis.
We can also provide insights into lifestyle changes and home exercise programs tailored to your condition. This knowledge empowers you to manage symptoms and avoid flare-ups in the long term.
Start Managing Your Shoulder Arthritis Today!
Don’t let shoulder arthritis keep you from living a full, active lifestyle! To get started, schedule an initial consultation at Kaizen Physical Therapy’s Seattle, WA clinic.
