We work with a lot of clients who come into clinic presenting with all types of shoulder problems.
At the initial appointment we take a detailed client history and get a timeline of their problem. Then we extensively test their shoulders with a battery of orthopaedic tests to determine what the particular problem is for that client. Then we build bespoke shoulder rehabilitation programs for them.
By this point we will have broken down a clients shoulder problem and determined that they fall into one of three categories which are:
Weak and Painful Shoulder. This category will include clients with Tendon issues, Rotator Cuff issues (including rotator cuff tears), Bony Spurs or Bursitis (inflammation of one of the shoulder bursa). The Rotator Cuff is the group name for four little muscles (the Teres Minor, Supraspinatus, Infraspinatus and Subscapularis muscles if your interested!) that help to both stabilise and move the shoulder joint. No other joint in the body has muscles like these that actually insert into the shoulder capsule in order to help stabilise what is a relatively unstable joint. We need this potential “instability” however in order for our shoulder to have it’s amazing Range of Movement (ROM) which allows us to get our hands all the way up above our head etc! We do a lot of Physio work with the Rotator Cuff to promote greater shoulder stability which greatly help improve our clients’ painful movements.
Stiff and Painful shoulder. This category will include Frozen shoulders and shoulders with Osteoarthritis (OA). We have worked with Frozen shoulder clients post Hydrodistention (Hydrodilatation) procedures which will have been performed in your shoulder surgeons clinic. This injection of saline and steroid (other substance combinations can be used but this is the most common) is used in an attempt to un-freeze the shoulder. We then perform Physio to aid this process.
Unstable and Painful shoulder. This includes clients with previous shoulder dislocation from sport (often rugby) or accidents. Clients who were born Hypermobile and clients who have simply worn their shoulder to the point of instability. This category will also include clients who have problems with the Long Head of their Bicep Tendon (LHBT) and/ or potentially a SLAP tear (Superior Labral Anterior Posterior tear). SLAP tears are most commonly caused by an injury, often from falling over and putting their arm out to catch themselves.
Our rehabilitation programs are primarily Physio programs where we guide the client through a 12-16 week graded exercise program of increasing intensity until the problem is resolved!
Please see our testimonial section for some client views of the results.
