Upper Limb Conditions

Shoulder injuries

Shoulder injury:

The shoulder is anatomically quite an unstable joint relying on the rotator cuff muscles for stability. This makes it vulnerable to injury. Those who use their arms repetitively above shoulder level can be susceptible to shoulder injury. There are several common conditions of the shoulder:

Rotator cuff injuries: The most common shoulder problems involve the rotator cuff tendons, particularly supraspinatus. This may vary from a simple tendonitis to degeneration or complete tears.

Your physiotherapist aims to reduce pain and inflammation, restore full range of movement, restore scapular control, address any neck or thoracic spine issues related to the problem, restore full power, and re-train for return to sport or work. Treatment may include manual therapy of your shoulder and neck (if necessary), acupuncture, correcting faulty movement patterns and neurodynamics, stretches, electrotherapy, massage and taping. At Gorey Physiotherapy and Lymph Clinic your physiotherapist will assess your shoulder fully and correct any deficiencies detected from this. You will be given a home exercise programme to help rehabilitate your shoulder.

What you can do:

Early injury management of an acute injury includes rest, ice, compression and elevation. In the early stages rest is very important. However, after the first 72 hours you need to get moving again to avoid further problems such as muscle weakness or tightness. However, it is wise to avoid any sharp pain, or repetitive movements at shoulder level, such as painting. Ice is also very important in the first 72 hours. Protect your skin from the ice to avoid burns. Ice will help with pain and inflammation. You may prefer heat to ice which can help reduce muscle spasm and ease pain.

Bursitis:

Shoulder bursitis is an inflamed bursa of the shoulder. Bursae are fluid filled sacs situated to reduce friction in your shoulder. Impingement of the bursa between the tendon and bone can create inflammation of the bursa.

Your physiotherapist aims to reduce pain and inflammation, restore full range of movement, restore scapular control, address any neck or thoracic spine issues related to the problem, restore full power, and re-train for return to sport or work. Treatment may include manual therapy of your shoulder and neck (if necessary), acupuncture, correcting faulty movement patterns and neurodynamics, stretches, electrotherapy, massage and taping. At Gorey Physiotherapy and Lymph Clinic your physiotherapist will assess your shoulder fully and correct any deficiencies detected from this. You will be given a home exercise programme to help rehabilitate your shoulder.

What you can do:

Early injury management of an acute injury includes rest, ice, compression and elevation. In the early stages rest is very important. However, after the first 72 hours you need to get moving again to avoid further problems such as muscle weakness or tightness. However, it is wise to avoid any sharp pain, or repetitive movements at shoulder level, such as painting. Ice is also very important in the first 72 hours. Protect your skin from the ice to avoid burns. Ice will help with pain and inflammation. You may prefer heat to ice which can help reduce muscle spasm and ease pain.

Shoulder instability:

Instability of the shoulder can lead to a dislocation. This can often be treated conservatively with a specific strengthening regime. Surgery may be needed for recurrent dislocations.

Your physiotherapist aims to reduce pain and inflammation, restore full range of movement, restore scapular control, address any neck or thoracic spine issues related to the problem, restore full power, and re-train for return to sport or work. Treatment may include manual therapy of your shoulder and neck (if necessary), acupuncture, correcting faulty movement patterns and neurodynamics, stretches, electrotherapy, massage and taping. At Gorey Physiotherapy and Lymph Clinic your physiotherapist will assess your shoulder fully and correct any deficiencies detected from this. You will be given a home exercise programme to help rehabilitate your shoulder.

What you can do:

Early injury management of an acute injury includes rest, ice, compression and elevation. In the early stages rest is very important. However, after the first 72 hours you need to get moving again to avoid further problems such as muscle weakness or tightness. There is a very specific protocol of exercises for rehabilitating a shoulder following dislocation so you need to be careful which exercises your undertake. Protect your skin from the ice to avoid burns. Ice will help with pain and inflammation. You may prefer heat to ice which can help reduce muscle spasm and ease pain.

Bicipital tendonitis:

The tendon of the long head of biceps may be involved in impingement syndrome. Your physiotherapist aims to reduce pain and inflammation, restore full range of movement, restore scapular control, address any neck or thoracic spine issues related to the problem, restore full power, and re-train for return to sport or work. Treatment may include manual therapy of your shoulder and neck (if necessary), acupuncture, correcting faulty movement patterns and neurodynamics, stretches, electrotherapy, massage and taping. At Gorey Physiotherapy and Lymph Clinic your physiotherapist will assess your shoulder fully and correct any deficiencies detected from this. You will be given a home exercise programme to help you rehabilitate your shoulder.

What you can do:

Early injury management of an acute injury includes rest, ice, compression and elevation. In the early stages rest is very important. However, after the first 72 hours you need to get moving again to avoid further problems such as muscle weakness or tightness. However, it is wise to avoid any sharp pain, or repetitive movements at shoulder level, such as painting. Ice is also very important in the first 72 hours. Protect your skin from the ice to avoid burns. Ice will help with pain and inflammation. You may prefer heat to ice which can help reduce muscle spasm and ease pain.

Frozen shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis):

Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis follows a pattern of increasing sign and symptoms followed by a plateau stage before a slow spontaneous recovery of partial or complete function. It is self-limiting condition but physiotherapy can help accelerate the rate of recovery.

Your physiotherapist aims to reduce pain and inflammation, restore full range of movement, restore scapular control, address any neck or thoracic spine issues related to the problem, restore full power, and re-train for return to sport or work. Treatment may include manual therapy of your shoulder and neck (if necessary), acupuncture, correcting faulty movement patterns and neurodynamics, stretches, electrotherapy, massage and kinesio taping. At Gorey Physiotherapy and Lymph Clinic your physiotherapist will assess your shoulder fully and correct any deficiencies detected from this. You will be given a home exercise programme to help you rehabilitate your shoulder.

What you can do:

Early injury management of an acute injury includes rest, ice, compression and elevation. In the early stages rest is very important. However, after the first 72 hours you need to get moving again to avoid further problems such as muscle weakness or tightness. However, it is wise to avoid any sharp pain, or repetitive movements at shoulder level, such as painting. Ice is also very important in the first 72 hours. Protect your skin from the ice to avoid burns. Ice will help with pain and inflammation. You may prefer heat to ice which can help reduce muscle spasm and ease pain.

It is important to know what is causing your shoulder pain in order to treat it effectively.

Elbow injuries

Elbow injury:

Early intervention can be very effective for elbow injuries. Ignoring the problem can make the injury more difficult to treat. Your physiotherapist can usually assess and treat your specific elbow problem.

Tennis elbow:

Tennis elbow is damage to the tendon on the outside of your elbow. Occasionally it can be referred pain from your neck. Your physiotherapist will aim to reduce your pain, encourage tissue repair, restore joint movement and muscle strength, restore normal neurodynamics and function. Treatment may include gentle mobilisations of your neck, acupuncture, correct faulty neurodynamics, stretches, electrotherapy, massage and taping. Early injury management includes rest, ice, compression and elevation. In the early stages rest from any aggravating movement is very important. However, after the first 72 hours you need to get moving again to avoid further problems such as muscle weakness or tightness. Ice is also very important in the first 72 hours. Protect your skin from the ice to avoid burns by wrapping ice pack in a damp towel. Ice will help with pain and inflammation. Compression if possible will help reduce swelling in the early stages. Elevation is also very helpful in the first few days of injury.

Golfer’s elbow:

Golfer’s elbow is damage to the tendon on the inside of your elbow. Occasionally it can be referred pain from your neck. Your physiotherapist will aim to reduce your pain, encourage tissue repair, restore joint movement and muscle strength, restore normal neurodynamics and function. Treatment may include gentle mobilisations of your neck, acupuncture, correcting faulty neurodynamics, stretches, electrotherapy, massage and taping. Early injury management includes rest, ice, compression and elevation. In the early stages rest from any aggravating movement is very important. However, after the first 72 hours you need to get moving again to avoid further problems such as muscle weakness or tightness. Ice is also very important in the first 72 hours. To avoid burns protect your skin from the ice by wrapping icepack in a damp towel. Ice will help with pain and inflammation. Compression if possible will help reduce swelling in the early stages. Elevation is also very helpful in the first few days of injury.

Thoracic outlet syndrome:

Thoracic outlet syndrome is a complex condition where blood vessels and nerves are compressed as they exit the neck and shoulder area. This leads to symptoms such as pain, pins and needles, numbness, and altered sensation in the arm or hand. Symptoms are worse with movement of your arm or neck. Waking at night with your symptoms is common. The cause of the syndrome needs to be ascertained to determine the most appropriate course of action. Your physiotherapist will aim to reduce your pain, encourage tissue repair, restore joint movement and muscle strength, restore normal neurodynamics and function. Physiotherapy treatment can include posture correction, gentle mobilisations of your neck, acupuncture, correcting faulty neurodynamics, stretches, electrotherapy, massage and kinesiology taping.

Pinched nerve:

Nerves can be pinched at any part of the body. Your neck muscles are the second most common site in the body and can lead to referred pain down your arm. Your physiotherapist will aim to reduce your pain, encourage tissue repair, restore joint movement and muscle strength, restore normal neurodynamics and function. Common physiotherapy treatments for this are manual therapy, acupuncture, deep neck stabilization exercises, posture correction, soft tissue massage, kinesiology taping, electrotherapy, strengthening and stretching.

Wrist injuries

Wrist injury:

Wrist injuries are usually due to sports injury, work related injury or everyday use. Wrist pain can also come from your neck joints or a trapped nerve. Your physiotherapist can diagnose and treat many of these conditions. Wrist pain can originate from:

Repetitive strain injury(RSI):

Repetitive strain injury (RSI) usually refers to an overuse injury of the upper arm and forearm. In particular it involves inflammation of muscles, nerves, tendons and tendon sheaths. Symptoms include burning, shooting or aching pain, lack of strength, weakness, and occasionally cold hands. RSI can be caused by overuse, repetitive work, insufficient breaks, lack of training and variety of tasks. Physiotherapy treatment can be very effective in the acute stages of this injury so don’t delay having treatment. Your physiotherapist will aim to reduce your pain, encourage tissue repair, restore joint movement and muscle strength, restore normal neurodynamics and function. Treatment may include gentle mobilisations of your neck, acupuncture, correcting faulty neurodynamics, stretches, electrotherapy, massage and kinesiology taping.

De Quervains tenosynovitis:

This is caused by inflammation of tendons as they pass through a tendon sheath at the side of your wrist. Your physiotherapist will aim to reduce your pain, encourage tissue repair, restore joint movement and muscle strength, restore normal function. Treatment may include manual therapy, acupuncture, stretches, strengthening, and electrotherapy.

Hand and wrist arthritis:

Osteoarthritis is common wear and tear as we age, especially where hands have been overworked. Your physiotherapist will aim to reduce your pain, encourage tissue repair, restore joint movement and muscle strength, restore normal function. Treatment may include gentle mobilisations hand/wrist, acupuncture, stretches and strengthening, electrotherapy, and massage.

Carpal tunnel syndrome:

This is caused by pressure on the median nerve leading to pain, numbness and pins and needles. This can be caused by pregnancy, repetitive work and arthritis. Your physiotherapist will aim to reduce your pain, encourage tissue repair, restore joint movement and muscle strength, restore normal function. Common physiotherapy treatments for this are manual therapy, acupuncture, deep neck stabilization exercises, posture correction, soft tissue massage, kinesiology taping, electrotherapy, strengthening and stretching.

Referral from neck:

There are some indications that your arm pain may be referred from your neck including pins and needles, neck stiffness and pain, arm numbness, or burning, sharp or dull pain radiating down your arm. Your physiotherapist will aim to reduce your pain, encourage tissue repair, restore joint movement and muscle strength, restore normal neurodynamics and function. Common physiotherapy treatments for this are manual therapy, acupuncture, deep neck stabilization exercises, posture correction, soft tissue massage, kinesiology taping, electrotherapy, strengthening and stretching.

To find out more about our services or to book an appointment please call 053 9480 861 or email us at rachelrichardsonmiscp@yahoo.ie