The human body’s shoulders are designed like a ball-in-socket joint. These sockets are shallow, which are a stark contrast to the deep sockets of the hips. A good visual of the shoulder is a golf ball sitting on a tee. Due to the shallow depth of the shoulder, the surrounding muscles and ligaments are important to maintain stability and mobility. 

If these structures become imbalanced, it leads to a condition called impingement. Impingements occur when the rotator cuff tendons or the bursa become pinched. This can happen from repetitive motions, overuse or simply years of poor posture. 

When shoulder pain develops, it’s important to get it checked out right away. It could be something as simple as a strain, which can be treated with physical therapy. If it’s a more serious condition, like a tear, surgery may be required, with physical therapy prescribed pre and post-surgery. 

How Therapy Helps Repair Shoulder Injuries 

If left untreated, impingement can lead to chronic inflammation. This leads to significant pain and reduction in quality of life. If tendons are continually pinched, they can tear, which will require surgery to repair. When quickly and properly addressed by a physical therapist, many shoulder issues can be resolved without surgery.

Hands-on, manual therapy can break the cycle of impingement and restore range of motion and reduce stiffness and inflammation. Research shows that hands-on shoulder therapy, along with performing specific exercises significantly restores normal function and quickly reduces pain.