ShoulderPain
Skip to content

Follow us

2381 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena CA

SHOULDER PAIN TREATMENT & RECOVERY PLAN

Are you suffering from Shoulder Pain?
Check out Muscle Labs Recovery page and learn more about your injury, our treatment methods and preventative measures to take for next time around.

TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR YOUR SHOULDER PAIN:

STEP 1:

TREATMENT ASSESMENT

Here at Muscle Lab your health and recovery are the main priority. We've created Recovery plans specifically aimed at your injury. Your recovery process will begin with an injury assessment to determine the grade and depth of your shoulder pain. Health information about how the injury occurred and the amount of pain and swelling you're experiencing are vital.

STEP 2:

COMPRESSION THERAPY

Normatec Compression Therapy is designed in a specific pattern to maximize healthy blood circulation and extract lactic acid through the lymphatic system. The compression system has arm attachments to treat soreness from the shoulder joint to the arm bone. Compression therapy mainly reduces recovery time, which can help keep you on track with your health goals.

STEP 3:

LOCALIZED TREATMENT

After you've done your compression therapy, Muscle Lab has developed some localized treatments to target your injury directly. Instead of using ice packs, we offer Local Cryotherapy treatments that use liquid nitrogen to aid in recovering your sore shoulders. Localized cryotherapy is designed to focus the benefits of cryotherapy on one specific area of the body — in this case, your shoulder blade area. The cold treatment can decrease your pain and any swelling.

Cryotherapy is the #1 remedy for treating inflammation and muscle pain, and multiple studies have shown its healing properties. This particular service is useful for post surgical needs, injuries, or targetted pain. Relief from swelling and pain can be shown directly after the first session. It’s recommended to combine localized cryotherapy, compression therapy, and rest on an inflamed/injured area. Although results will be shown directly after 1 session, it is highly recommended to treat an injured area at least 5 times. Localized cryotherapy will target a specific area for about 10 minutes. Providing the attention to a specific area will allow it to heal faster.

So what’s the difference between icing at home and localized cryotherapy at Muscle Lab? We’ve had multiple clients shocked by the speedy recovery time localized cryotherapy provided. Cryotherapy works on healing the inflammation from the inside out, whereas icing is directly focused on the top layer of skin. Icing can be time consuming, messy, and painful.

STEP 4:

STRETCH THERAPY

Stretch Therapy is similar to a massage as it targets the parts of your body that need healing and tension relief. But unlike a massage, the Stretch Therapy involves a wide variety of techniques, including foam rolling, myofascial release and active range of motion movements, in addition to traditional passive stretching.  

Our Muscle Lab stretch therapists can help you target the pain in your shoulder, upper back, and neck. They will guide you in stretching the palm in different positions. Stretch therapy can help tired muscles with better functional mobility. The stretching techniques also allow your muscles to synchronize more properly, thus enhancing your muscular coordination. The stretches used during your session can also aid in improving blood circulation, which increases blood flow to your muscles and can shorten your recovery time and reduce muscle soreness. The therapist will focus on movements that target tendons, the rotator cuff, and connective tissue around your shoulder joint.

The Stretch Therapy has a targeted focus on the areas that need it most, which can minimize and reduce your predisposition to injuries. Increasing the flexibility of muscle-tendons promotes better performance and helps prevent future injury. As you develop strength and flexibility in your shoulders, you'll be able to withstand more physical stress and you'll rid your body of muscle imbalances.

STEP 5:

CUPPING TREATMENTS

Cupping therapy is the practice of applying suction to the body to promote optimal recovery and maintain high performance levels. It is typically seen performed on larger muscle groups that tend to undergo hyperactivation or over use — like the shoulders.

Clients who complain of chronic pain have been known to see dramatic relief and increased range of motion with cupping therapy. Cupping is effective in managing arthritis, fibromyalgia, and pain from physical activity. It is a non-invasive treatment that promotes soft tissue mobilization, therefore in order to maximize the results, it is important to continue stretching and maintaining mobility.

Because cupping causes an influx of blood to the treated area, it creates healthy blood circulation that allows the body to speed up its healing process. Blood is drawn to targeted areas of the body to promote toxin removal and fluid build up. This blood movement can ease sore and fatigued muscles for a quicker recovery time. It is also known to help treat varicose veins as new blood vessels are created. The body naturally holds stress and tension within the joints and muscles. Cupping is the optimal way to lower stress levels and tension that have accumulated in the body over time.

The body naturally holds stress and tension within the joints and muscles. Cupping is the optimal way to lower stress levels and tension that have accumulated in the body over time. Often, tension in the upper body, shoulders, and neck can lead to headaches and migraines, therefore it is best to treat the area before it becomes problematic.

Cupping is also an effective way to manipulate soft tissue and loosen muscles. Treating the body’s underlying muscle tissues can contribute to increased flexibility and better posture in your shoulders. Maintaining proper posture allows for a better sense of mobility and prepares the body for movement and peak performance.

STEP 6:

THERAGUN MASSAGE

Let a Muscle Lab therapist loosen your shoulders up with a Theragun Massage — a deep muscle treatment that can accelerate recovery and repair your body. Studies have found that the percussive therapy treatment can increase your range of motion without hindering your muscle power.

The Thergun Massage is like a deep tissue massage with a more concentrated focus on the muscle group that needs the most attention. The massage gun is perfect for tight muscles around the neck and shoulders and for trigger points that need some relief with a deep muscle treatment. The Theragun device has a wide range of motion and adjustable speed settings that are scientifically calibrated to relieve soreness at a pace that feels good for you and that can target any muscle group.

If you want lasting pain relief without the harmful effects of prescriptions, the Theragun massage may be the ideal solution for you. The device can manipulate several levels of tissue and muscle, easing tension, relieving joint pain, and ultimately providing natural relief and fast recovery. The Theragun has attachments for areas of the body that are hard to reach, allowing even those small crevices to benefit from the deep tissue massage. By targeting your neck and your shoulders, along with pressure points throughout your body, a Theragun Massage can also help reduce tension and stress in your body, and relieve migraines.

The Theragun Massage works to reduce inflammation in the body by flushing extracellular fluids out of the muscle tissue and into the circulatory system. The massage can help relax tight muscles, break up scar tissue and adhesions, and minimize muscle soreness and tension.

SHOULDER PAIN


What we often refer to as just "the shoulder" is really several joints that combine with tendons and muscles to allow a wide range of motion in the arm. That mobility, however, can lead to problems with instability or impingement of the soft tissue or bony structures in the shoulder, resulting in pain. Maybe you only feel pain only when you move your shoulder, or maybe you feel it all of the time. The pain may be temporary or it may continue. Muscle Lab is here to take that pain away!

CAUSES OF SHOULDER PAIN


OSTEOARTHRITIS

Osteoarthritis cartilage is a smooth, cushiony tissue that covers the ends of your bones where they meet in a joint. Healthy cartilage helps joints move smoothly. But with time, cartilage can become worn or even damaged due to injury or an accident, leading to the development of osteoarthritis.

INFLAMMATION OF THE SHOULDER CAPSULE

Synovitis is when your synovial membrane becomes inflamed as a result of another condition or as a result of an injury. Adhesive capsulitis, also known as frozen shoulder, is a condition that occurs when your shoulder capsule thickens and becomes inflamed and tight. There may also be less synovial fluid to lubricate the joint. As a result, your shoulder becomes hard to move. Frozen shoulder may occur as a result of another condition, like diabetes; if the shoulder has been immobilised, like due to surgery or injury; or the cause can unknown.

INFLAMED BURSA

Pain associated with an inflamed bursa is also common in the shoulder. A bursa is a small fluid-filled sac that reduces friction between two structures, such as bones, muscles, and tendons. The bursa in your shoulder that sits between the rotator cuff tendon and the bony tip of the shoulder can become inflamed, most commonly with repetitive movements.

NECK AND UPPER BACK ISSUES

Problems with the joints and associated nerves of your neck and upper back can also be a source of shoulder pain. The pain from your neck and upper back is often felt at the back of the shoulder joint and/or through to the outside of your upper arm.

INJURY TO THE AXILLARY NERVE

The axillary nerve can be injured if you dislocate your shoulder or break your humerus.

DISLOCATION

If your shoulder is pulled back too hard or rotated too far, the top of your arm might pop out of its socket and become dislocated. You may feel pain and weakness in your shoulder and have swelling, numbness, and bruising.

OSTEOARTHRITIS ROTATOR CUFF TEAR

Rotator cuff tendons and muscles keep your shoulder stable and positioned correctly for your shoulder and arm to move.

SEPARATION OR FRACTURE

Separation can affect the joint where your collarbone and shoulder blade come together, called the acromioclavicular (AC) joint. A fall or hard blow can tear the ligaments holding the AC join together. If your collarbone gets pushed out of place, you’ll see a bump on top of your shoulder.

Fracture can occur when a bone can break or crack if you fall or take a hard hit. The most common breaks are to the clavicle and the humerus. If collarbone breaks, your shoulder may sag and you might not be able to lift your arm.

WHEN SHOULD I WORRY ABOUT SHOULDER PAIN?


If you feel shoulder pain radiating down your arm, or if you’re experiencing a tight feeling across the chest and shortness of breath, contact your healthcare provider immediately.

@MUSCLELAB