Rotator cuff injuries span the spectrum from acute strains to chronic tendon pain (tendinopathy) and rotator cuff tears. Physical Therapy remains the gold standard, first line treatment for all rotator cuff injuries due to its’ cost and clinical effectiveness treating these disorders. A Physical Therapy first strategy has been reinforced by recent research demonstrating equivalent...
Rotator cuff tears are a common finding among middle aged adults with shoulder pain, but are also found among their peers without shoulder pain. Many of us will develop these tears as we age and as we have discussed in previous blog posts there is no difference in outcomes at 1 or 2 years if...
Photo Credit: radiopaedia.org Are you grappling with the discomfort of a bone spur on your shoulder, wondering about its potential impact on your rotator cuff? Worried you’ll regret not getting surgery? At Mend Colorado, we understand the concerns associated with shoulder health, and we’re here to guide you through evidence-based solutions. Read on to learn...
Our current understanding of posture has changed dramatically over the past 20 years due to the influx of scientific literature on posture and muscle and joint pain. Previously, posture was thought to be strongly associated with muscles imbalances including tightness or weakness. For example, forward shoulders were thought to be associated with shortened pectoral muscles....
Subacromial impingement syndrome is the most common cause of shoulder pain. These symptoms are easily treated with Physical Therapy interventions including manual therapy and exercise. Specifically, strengthening exercises for the shoulder blade and shoulder muscles improve both the quantity and quality of shoulder movements treating both the source of impingement pain and the underlying cause....
Yoga is a popular form of individual and group exercise designed to improve flexibility, movement quality, and strength. Participants benefit from sustained position holds designed to target different body regions. As expected, the work of the stabilizing muscles increase with greater balance and weight bearing demands. A recent study examined which exercises were best for...
Adhesive capsulitis or frozen shoulder is a painful shoulder condition hallmarked by acute pain and a progressive loss of shoulder range of motion. This diagnosis can have a lengthy recovery requiring up to 24 months in some patients. The medical evidence highlights the importance of early diagnosis (acute pain, loss of motion especially external rotation),...
MRI testing of the shoulder is no different than testing in other body regions. Pathologies such as bursa changes, tendinopathies, labral and rotator cuff tears are very common in asymptomatic populations and tend to increase with an individual’s age. Many of these MRI findings do not contribute to a patient’s current symptoms and may be...
Shoulder impingement is the most common cause of shoulder pain and is commonly treated with Physical Therapy interventions including upper body strengthening and manual therapy. Dry needling is gaining traction in both clinical practice and the medical research as an effective treatment option for musculoskeletal pain. When combined with other forms of manual therapy, including joint...
In our previous blog post we described how few (16%) partial rotator cuff tears progress over time. Understanding the non progressive nature of the injury allows patients an opportunity to explore non surgical options including Physical Therapy. In this study they followed partial rotator cuff tears over time, but a more recent study followed patients...