Shoulder injuries can happen to anyone. They can result from repetitive stress, improper lifting or throwing, falls, or even poor posture—all of which can trigger a chain reaction of harmful body mechanics.

If you’ve ever had a shoulder injury, you know how debilitating it can be. The pain isn’t just persistent—it also limits your range of motion, making everyday tasks like grabbing a cup from a high shelf or brushing your hair feel nearly impossible.

At G3 Physical Therapy, our team of physical therapists works with you to identify and resolve the underlying causes of your shoulder pain. Whether surgery is needed or not, we offer both acute pain relief and comprehensive rehabilitation through physical therapy—often eliminating the need for surgery altogether!

Why Shoulder Pain Shouldn’t Be Ignored

Shoulder pain is often a sign of abnormal strain and stress that damages the shoulder joint and surrounding muscles, such as the rotator cuff, due to poor body mechanics. Think of it like a car with a flat tire—ignoring it will only make things worse. Resting might seem like the answer, but unless you address the underlying mechanics, the problem will just resurface once you resume movement. Additionally, resting too long, or immobilizing the shoulder for too long, can lead to painful frozen shoulders.

At G3 Physical Therapy, we take a whole-body approach to uncover the root causes of poor body mechanics. By addressing posture, alignment, mobility, and strength, we can reduce recovery time, prevent further injuries, and get you back to your activities faster. With shoulder pain, it’s especially important to act quickly. A small pinch in the rotator cuff can quickly turn into a tear that requires surgery. However, with early intervention—through postural corrections and exercises—surgery can often be avoided.

What Causes Shoulder Pain?

The shoulder is an incredibly complex ball-and-socket joint with several moving parts, including:

• Three bones: the humerus (arm bone), scapula (shoulder blade), and clavicle (collarbone)
• Soft tissue: Cartilage that protects the bones, ligaments that connect them, and bursae (small fluid-filled sacs that protect tendons)
• Muscles and tendons, especially the rotator cuff, which supports the joint
• Overlapping muscles and fascia connecting the three bones to the neck, upper back, and ribcage

When posture or alignment is off, or when the upper back is tight, the smaller shoulder structures can become strained or compressed, leading to pain, weakness, and immobility. While some shoulder injuries result from sudden impacts—like a hard fall on the field—overuse injuries are just as common. Repeated overhead movements (e.g., throwing or swimming) can wear down the shoulder joint. Even poor posture or improper form can contribute to overuse injuries by increasing strain on the shoulder muscles.

Preventing shoulder pain is all about avoiding overuse injuries. Small changes in your routine can help keep your shoulders strong and pain-free!