Don't Let Shoulder Pain Sideline Your Summer
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
Summer brings more opportunities to get moving—whether you are golfing, swimming, playing pickleball, or tennis, working in the yard, kayaking, lifting equipment, or returning to a favorite outdoor activity. But when your activity level increases suddenly, your shoulders may be asked to do more than they are ready to handle.
One of the most common sources of shoulder pain involves the rotator cuff, a group of four muscles that helps stabilize the shoulder during reaching, lifting, pushing, pulling, throwing, and swinging. Repetitive movement, overuse, a fall, or returning to activity too quickly can irritate these muscles and surrounding tissues.
A little muscle soreness after activity may be normal, especially when trying something new. However, shoulder pain deserves attention when it continues to worsen, interrupts your sleep, causes noticeable weakness, or makes it difficult to reach overhead or behind your back. You may also begin changing the way you move to avoid discomfort, placing added stress on other areas of the body.
To help protect your shoulders this summer:
Warm up before sports, exercise, or strenuous yardwork.
Increase activity gradually instead of doing too much at once.
Use proper technique when lifting, swinging, throwing, or exercising.
Allow time to recover between demanding activities.
Avoid repeatedly pushing through worsening or more frequent pain.
Physical therapy can help determine what may be contributing to your discomfort. A licensed physical therapist will assess your pain, mobility, strength, posture, shoulder-blade control, and the movements required for your work, sport, or daily life. Treatment may include guided exercises, hands-on care, activity modifications, and a personalized plan to restore comfortable movement and reduce the risk of further injury.
Shoulder rehabilitation has long been an important area of care here at David Gilboe & Associates. Since 1979 we’ve been serving our community, and our knowledgeable therapy team has helped many patients regain strength, improve mobility, and return to the activities they enjoy.
Don’t wait until shoulder pain completely sidelines you. Depending on your insurance coverage, you may be able to begin physical therapy without a physician’s prescription. If you or someone you care about is experiencing shoulder pain, give us a call. We are happy to help you learn more or schedule an evaluation.
Enjoy these summer months!
