Shoulder Pain Treatments

At State-of-the-Art Physical Therapy, our team of physical therapists provides expert care for shoulder pain in the Tustin, CA, area.

What Causes Shoulder Pain?
Shoulder pain usually falls into one of four categories:
- Inflammation such as bursitis or tendinitis
- Instability such as dislocations
- Osteoarthritis, usually affecting older clients, which develops slowly as joint cartilage deteriorates
- Fractures caused by injuries or falls.

However, shoulder pain can also be caused by infection, nerve-related issues, or growths.

What Are the Symptoms of Shoulder Pain?
The symptoms of shoulder pain depend on the cause, but it's often accompanied by pain and discomfort, limited mobility, and weakness. We recommend that you see a professional if you are experiencing persistent or sudden shoulder pain.

How Can a Physical Therapist Help with Shoulder Pain?
At State-of-the-Art Physical Therapy serving Tustin, CA, our experienced team of physical therapists can help you with shoulder pain. After undergoing an evaluation, we may recommend some of the following treatments to reduce your pain, improve your mobility, and restore you to optimal health.

Class IV Laser Therapy
Laser therapy harnesses focused light to treat acute injuries and chronic conditions. Depending on the severity of your condition, a session should last between 5 and 10 minutes. The laser will stimulate cells to release more energy and dilate blood vessels so that they deliver more nutrient-rich blood and oxygen to injured areas. It is not painful but soothing, giving a feeling of warmth.

Our team regularly uses Class IV laser therapy to address shoulder pain caused by sports injuries, joint conditions, osteoarthritis, and more.

Manual Therapy Techniques
Manual therapy techniques are non-invasive hands-on treatments used to address shoulder pain. This includes soft tissue mobilization and massage therapy, and these treatments are often used for subacromial and/or rotator cuff-related shoulder pain.

Subacromial pain is caused by a problem in the acromion or AC joint of the shoulder. In contrast, rotator cuff-related shoulder pain is related to the muscle groups and tendons surrounding the shoulder joint.

Therapeutic Exercise
Patients suffering from shoulder pain or recovering from shoulder surgery often need to focus on moving and strengthening the affected area.

Therapeutic exercise with a physical therapist's input is often part of conservative post-operative care or as a treatment for shoulder conditions. The goal is to reduce pain and improve mobility using safe exercises that will not cause further harm.

Contact Information
Don't let shoulder pain hold you back. At State-of-the-Art Physical Therapy serving Tustin, CA, our team is ready to help you get moving pain-free. For an appointment with our physical therapists, call us now at 714-544-2188