What Age-Related Issues Can PRP Treat?
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a revolutionary treatment for many issues, including age-related joint pain and injuries. Read on to learn what other issues PRP can treat as you age.
4 Lifestyle Habits for Minimizing Shoulder Pain
Your shoulders contain several essential structures, including your rotator cuff. You could have shoulder pain if you injure any of these components or have a degenerative condition.
Some shoulder pain goes away on its own, while other conditions stick around for a while. There are lifestyle tips you can use to prevent or reduce your pain so you can enjoy your typical activities.
Alpha Orthopedics & Sports Medicine team understands how vital your shoulders are to your life. Suppose you're experiencing shoulder pain that you can't get rid of. In that case, our six orthopedic specialists evaluate your condition and provide state-of-the-art treatment options.
Causes of shoulder pain
Almost everyone experiences shoulder pain at some point. It’s a commonly used joint, which puts it at risk for injury and overuse.
Your shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint that allows you to move your arm in various ways. It’s the area where the upper arm bone, collarbone, and shoulder blade all meet to form your joint.
There are various reasons you could have shoulder pain. Some of the common causes of shoulder pain include:
- Bursitis
- Tendinitis
- Rotator cuff injury
- Dislocation
- Fractures
- Bone spurs
- Arthritis
You could also experience a condition called frozen shoulder. When you have this condition, the tissues in your shoulder joint stiffen up, causing pain and difficulty with movement.
Sometimes, your pain is from lifestyle habits stressing your joints. You must understand how to prevent shoulder pain in the future by incorporating specific lifestyle tips.
Habits to decrease your pain
If you notice that you're having increased pain in your shoulder, there are some steps you can take to minimize that discomfort. A few lifestyle habits our team recommends to keep your shoulder pain in check are:
1. Watch your posture
Your posture is a crucial part of your shoulder health. You want to make sure you're sitting up straight and avoid slouching at all costs. Believe it or not, how you may lead to pain in your shoulders.
If you work on a computer, use the proper ergonomics to ensure your shoulders and other body parts don’t hurt. Our team can help you figure out how to sit and stand to avoid shoulder discomfort.
2. Stretch
Stretching is an essential aspect of your shoulder health. Tight muscles and ligaments are more prone to injury than flexible ones. Make sure you're stretching before working out and when you feel tense in the morning.
3. Take breaks
Overuse injuries are common when you work a lot with your shoulders. It can happen from playing sports or at your job.
Take short breaks during the day to avoid pain and overuse problems. You must take breaks when you're using your shoulders a lot. Your tendons and muscles need time to rest to avoid strain and injury.
4. Exercise your shoulders
Exercise is another critical aspect of your shoulder health. Strengthening your shoulder joint is a great way to avoid pain and injury.
You don’t need to go crazy lifting heavy weights to strengthen your joints. Our team recommends using your body weight and resistance bands to strengthen your shoulder muscles.
When should you see our team?
Sometimes, shoulder pain is a sign of a more severe issue in your joints. If you've suffered a traumatic injury and have swelling or extreme pain, call our team immediately or head to the emergency room.
If you’ve tried to get rid of your pain with home care measures but still have discomfort, you should also make an appointment with our team. Other reasons to seek professional treatment for shoulder pain include the following:
- Decreased range of motion
- Pain with a fever or redness
- Significant swelling around your joint
- Discolored skin around your shoulder
- Pain that persists for more than two weeks
Suppose you’re experiencing numbness or tingling in your arm that you suspect is coming from your shoulder. In that case, it’s also a good idea for our team to evaluate your joint.
Mild to moderate shoulder pain often resolves with home care. However, injuries and arthritis cause significant damage, which might not improve without our team’s expert care.
If your shoulder pain doesn’t go away with home care, call our team at one of our three locations in McKinney, Prosper, and Sherman, Texas, to schedule an appointment. You may also request a consultation using our convenient online tool.
You Might Also Enjoy...
Managing Arthritis in Your Day-to-Day Life
Arthritis is tricky to live with, especially in the later stages — but you can manage pain and stiffness with daily habits and a few lifestyle changes. Read on to learn how to effectively manage arthritis to get back to the activities you love.
Should I Go to the Walk-In Injury Clinic or the ER?
Injuries like fractures or sprains are a real drag, especially when they cut into your busy schedule – but should you go to urgent care or head to the ER? Read on to discover when a walk-in clinic is okay and when the ER is needed for an injury
I Can’t Get Comfortable at Night Because of My Hip Pain
When hip pain strikes, it's hard to deal with — especially when it keeps you from sleeping at night. Keep reading to learn why hip pain worsens at night and what to do for a good night’s sleep.
Can Cartilage Be Repaired?
Cartilage is a component of the body that supports and cushions the bones in the joints — but what happens when you damage it or it wears down? Keep reading to learn if we can repair cartilage damage and what to expect from treatment.
Don’t Live With Shoulder Pain: How Arthroscopy Can Bring Relief
Shoulder pain that interferes with everyday life is a real problem that may require surgery, but what can you expect from an arthroscopy? Please read to learn how a minimally invasive arthroscopic procedure stops shoulder pain.