How can physical therapists address back, shoulder and elbow pain?

If you experience back, shoulder and elbow pain simultaneously, then you are probably suffering from a musculoskeletal issue affecting these bodily regions. Musculoskeletal pain occurs whenever you have an injury or a condition that affects the muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments and even your nervous system. This means that there can be a wide variety of culprits responsible for your pain. The good news is that there are effective treatment options to help provide you relief. 

Are you wondering how physical therapists can help address your back, shoulder and elbow symptoms? Physical therapy is an effective and safe treatment option that can target the cause of your pain. 

How physical therapy can help address your back, shoulder and elbow pain

The first step a physical therapist will take is analyzing your medical history. To determine the best treatments, a physical therapist will try to get to the root of what’s causing your back, shoulder and elbow pain. They will perform a physical evaluation, which will help inform them of the best steps to take for your treatment. Here are some of the common treatment techniques for musculoskeletal pain: 

• Ergonomic adjustments — You may not realize it, but your posture can affect your back and shoulders. A physical therapist can evaluate your posture to determine if you need to make any adjustments. Maintaining proper posture can help reduce stress and tension in these areas of your body, which can help relieve pain. 

• Joint mobilization — Joint mobilization is a form of manual therapy. It is a hands-on method for relieving pain in joints like the elbows. A physical therapist will use their hands to move a stiff or aching joint through its normal range of motion. This movement is not supposed to be painful, but actually it is intended to loosen up your elbow joint. Joint mobilization can improve elbow flexibility. It may also reduce any stiffness causing discomfort or even pain. 

• Therapeutic exercise — Strengthening and stretching exercises are a natural approach to pain management and also to prevent further pain in the future. Poor muscular structure can cause pain from increased stress on your joints, which can even contribute to poor posture. Exercise seeks to remedy this and help build a robust muscular structure to support all areas of your body, like an aching back. Furthermore, exercising can help stimulate the muscles, which offers a relief in tension.

Are you tired of living with back, shoulder and elbow pain? Peak Performance is ready to help you tackle your pain today

Living with pain can not only present physical difficulties, but emotional ones as well. Pain can put a damper on your mood and even make your whole day feel off. Our physical therapists at Peak Performance Sports and Physical Therapy are experts in dealing with a variety of painful conditions. We understand how frustrating pain can be, which is why we’re prepared to build you a personalized treatment plan that targets the cause of your pain.

Contact us today for more information about back, shoulder and elbow pain or to schedule an initial appointment.