My orthopedic doctor gave me two steroid injections in my shoulder. The next step is to see a physical therapist. What will this do for me?

May 2nd — admin

My orthopedic doctor gave me two steroid injections in my shoulder. The next step is to see a physical therapist. What will this do for me?

Physical therapy may be helpful when there is a subacromial (SA) bursitis or impingement syndrome. SA bursitis is a condition caused by inflammation of the bursa. The SA bursa is a small, fluid-filled sac that forms a cushion between bones and tendons or between muscles and joints.

SA impingement or pinching of the bursa and tendon occurs when the arm is raised up overhead. The supraspinatus tendon of the shoulder and its bursa get pinched between the head of the humerus and the end of the clavicle (collarbone). The bursa is the area where the steroid injection is directed.

Once the inflammation is under control, the therapist will help you learn how to move your arm properly. The goal is to avoid pushing the supraspinatus tendon up against the acromion (end of the clavicle). In some cases, this condition occurs because of injury or weakness to the supraspinatus. This tendon is part of the shoulder rotator cuff.

In other cases, weakness or imbalance of the scapula (shoulder blade) contributes to the problem. This is called scapular dyskinesia. The scapula and shoulder move together in a smooth and rhythmical way. When this is disrupted by scapular dyskinesia, then shoulder impingement can occur. The therapist will guide you in getting back your normal scapular position and motion.

If the shoulder is unstable, physical therapy is aimed at improving the function of the muscles that provide dynamic shoulder stabilization. A strengthening program to restore normal movement patterns may be needed. 

For more information on this subject, call The Zehr Center for Orthopaedics at 239-596-0100 or visit www.zehrcenter.com. The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of a visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic.

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Mastectomy could be cause of shoulder pain

January 28th — admin

I’m a 48-year old woman and I had a mastectomy for breast cancer three months ago. Now that I’m back to swimming, I notice I’m having trouble with my stroke. My husband says when I reach forward to stroke, the shoulder blade pops out noticeably. Could this be caused by the mastectomy?

You may be describing an injury to the long thoracic nerve that controls the serratus anterior (SA) muscle. When there is weakness in the SA the shoulder blade or scapula can’t rotate and slide like it should when the arm is lifted up. The result is called scapular winging.

Mastectomy is one possible cause for this problem. During the surgery for the mastectomy, the nerve can get stretched from the position of the arm. There are many other possible reasons such as a viral illness, working with the arms overhead, or lifting a heavy weight.

The best way to know for sure what’s going on is to have some testing done. Electromyography or EMG studies can find out for sure which muscles are involved. Nerve conduction velocity (NCV) tests can be done to see if the nerve is damaged. Talk to your doctor about these symptoms and see what he or she suggests.

For more information on this subject, call The Zehr Center for Orthopaedics at 239-596-0100 or visit www.zehrcenter.com.The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic.

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What is snapping scapula syndrome?

September 21st — admin
What is snapping scapula syndrome?

 
Snapping scapula syndrome is a fairly rare condition where the shoulder blade thumps, grates, or snaps as it moves along the chest wall. It can happen when the bursa between the shoulder blade and chest wall becomes inflamed. (A bursa is a lubricated sac that cuts down on friction between muscles, tendons, and bones during movement.) People who have had a fractured rib or shoulder blade sometimes feel grating because the bones may have healed out of alignment. Weak muscles under the shoulder blade can increase the chances of having snapping scapula syndrome because there is less muscle padding between the shoulder blade and chest wall.

The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic. For more information on this subject, visit www.zehrcenter.com.

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Does your shoulder snap, crackle and pop?

July 20th — admin
Why do I sometimes feel popping and snapping in my shoulder when I move my arm?

 
It depends on where and when you feel the popping. If it is in the back part of the shoulder blade, the popping might be coming from a problem called snapping scapula. Snapping scapula causes feelings of grating, grinding, or snapping under the back part of the shoulder blade when you move your shoulder.

Popping felt during shoulder movement can also happen when a tendon rolls over a bony bump. The acromioclavicular joint is formed where the shoulder blade meets the collarbone. This joint tends to wear out earlier than other joints and can also start to pop and click with shoulder movement.

Most cases of popping or snapping in the shoulder are not serious. They often can be helped by a well-rounded exercise program designed by a physical or occupational therapist.

The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic. For more information on this subject, visit www.zehrcenter.com 

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