News & Updates

Recovering from shoulder sprains, strains, dislocations, tears and immobility

ByArbutus Health Team
A basketball player throws the ball to his coach, who is recovery from a shoulder injury, underneath the basketball hoop.

The shoulder joint is the most movable joint in the body. It is comprised of the collarbone, the shoulder blade, and the upper arm bone. Shoulders are prone to injury because they are by nature unstable since the ball of the upper arm is larger than the socket that holds it.

This is why it is the site of many common problems such as: sprains, strains, dislocations, rotator cuff tears, and frozen shoulder.

If you have shoulder pain or suffered an injury to your shoulder, then get in touch early to determine the exact nature of your problem. Early treatment and following the tips can result in patients having a faster and better recovery. Some shoulder problems require surgery, and professional guidance is essential during your recovery. We can help you avoid common complications after surgery, restore your strength and flexibility, and get you back to your activities as quickly as possible.

Tip #1: Get in balance

The shoulder joint needs the perfect balance of strength and flexibility to keep it in great shape and injury free. Our practitioners can assess your movement and show you how to strengthen the rotator cuff to keep the shoulder positioned optimally in the joint to prevent improper mechanics while moving the arm.

Physiotherapist helping patient raise single weight to help strengthen shoulder

Tip #2: Correct poor postural habits

Improving your movement, strengthening your shoulder muscles, and correcting poor postural habits can improve your shoulder function and reduce pain. Learning the right skills for your activity is important for preventing many shoulder injuries. Our practitioners are movement experts who can prescribe specific exercises to improve your movement and posture.

Physiotherapist showing patient how to strengthen shoulder muscles and correct poor postural habits

Tip #3: Keep it loose, keep it moving

Frozen shoulder is a debilitating and painful condition, which is a common complication of many shoulder injuries. Arbutus Physiotherapy can help with pain relief and a faster recovery, and show you how to keep the shoulder moving through the full available range of motion to maintain optimal muscle balance around the shoulder girdle. We can also provide you with specific exercises to help you correct imbalances.

Keeping your shoulder loose: exercises for shoulder injuries.

Tip #4: Specialized rehabilitation for injury protection

Because shoulders are complicated, it’s very important to get good advice. Shoulder dislocations, separations and instabilities require specialized rehabilitation to protect your injury and have you back to full activity. Consulting with us can reduce the need for shoulder surgery. If you need surgery we will refer you to a physician.

We would love to help you with pain relief, protection from further injury, and create a full rehabilitation plan.

Physiotherapist showing patient shoulder joint

The Arbutus Physiotherapy & Health Centre is a health and wellness clinic that provides physiotherapy, massage therapy, sports medicine, and coaching and training. We provide assessments and treatments to people with acute injury, chronic pain, and sports related injuries. We can help you recover and return to an active, healthy lifestyle, and peak performance.