What’s Causing That Burning Pain in Your Shoulder? Physio Can Help Identify It
Feeling a burning pain in your shoulder? You’re not alone—shoulder discomfort is a common issue that can vary from mild aches to intense shoulder blade pain that disrupts daily activities. Whether it’s shoulder joint pain, neck and shoulder pain, or that radiating burn down your arm, understanding the root cause is necessary to find relief. Many people experience persistent pain that affects their shoulder blades and sometimes even spreads to the neck, making simple tasks a challenge.
If you’re dealing with any of these, shoulder pain physiotherapy in Edmonton could be the answer. Physiotherapy not only identifies what’s behind your shoulder discomfort but also guides you toward effective treatment and pain relief. So let’s dive into why that burning pain might be there—and how physio can help get you back to feeling your best.
Understanding the Source of Your Shoulder Pain
Your shoulder is a complex structure, with multiple muscles, tendons, and bones working together. When there’s an imbalance, you may feel burning pain around your shoulder blade or experience neck and shoulder pain that travels down your arm. Identifying the exact cause of your shoulder discomfort is key to effective treatment.
Common Causes of Burning Shoulder Pain
1. Rotator Cuff Injuries:
Your rotator cuff muscles play a crucial role in stabilizing the shoulder joint. When these muscles are strained or sometimes when injured, they can lead to sharp, burning sensations that often radiate to the shoulder blade. Such injuries can occur from repetitive overhead motions, lifting, or simply from wear and tear over time.
2. Shoulder Impingement:
When the tendons in the shoulder are compressed or “pinched” during movement, it can lead to shoulder impingement. This condition often results in persistent neck and shoulder pain with a characteristic burning feeling, especially during activities that involve lifting or reaching overhead.
3. Bursitis:
The shoulder contains small, fluid-filled sacs called bursae that help cushion the tendons and muscles. Inflammation of these bursae, known as bursitis, can cause a burning pain around the shoulder blade and limit your shoulder’s range of motion, making it painful to move.
4. Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis):
A frozen shoulder restricts shoulder movement significantly, causing pain that often radiates from the shoulder blade to the neck. This condition can result from injury, overuse, or extended immobility and is characterized by stiffness and a deep, burning ache.
How Physiotherapy Can Help You Find Relief?
1. Targeted Manual Therapy for Pain Relief and Mobility
Our physiotherapists use targeted manual therapy techniques to release tension in the muscles as well as in the soft tissues around your shoulder, easing the burning pain. This includes:
- Mobilization of Shoulder Blade and Joint: Gentle mobilization helps restore smooth movement in the shoulder blade and joint, reducing friction and strain contributing to shoulder blade pain.
- Myofascial Release: This hands-on technique releases tight fascia around the shoulder and neck, helping to improve blood flow, reduce stiffness, and alleviate the radiating, burning pain associated with shoulder injuries.
2. Custom Exercise Programs to Strengthen and Stabilize
Balanced strength in the rotator cuff and scapular stabilizers is key for shoulder stability. We design customized exercises to:
Strengthen the Rotator Cuff:
Targeted exercises such as External Rotations help reinforce the rotator cuff, reducing strain on the shoulder joint. Here’s how to do this exercise:
External Rotation Exercise:
- Hold a light dumbbell or resistance band in one hand, keeping your elbow at a 90-degree and close to your body.
- Slowly rotate your forearm outward, keeping your elbow stable at your side, and then return to the starting position.
- Repeat for 10-15 repetitions on each side, focusing on controlled, smooth movements.
3. Nerve Mobilization for Radiating Pain Relief
If your burning pain extends from the shoulder blade into the neck or down the arm, it might be due to nerve compression. Our physiotherapists perform nerve mobilization techniques, which gently stretch and reposition the nerves to alleviate pressure. This can be particularly effective for relieving radiating pain and preventing future flare-ups by targeting the specific nerves that are causing your discomfort.
4. Therapeutic Ultrasound and Taping Techniques
For cases where additional support and relief are needed, therapeutic ultrasound and taping can make a significant difference.
- Therapeutic Ultrasound: Using sound waves that penetrate deeply into the shoulder’s soft tissues, ultrasound therapy promotes healing by diminishing inflammation and enhancing blood flow to the affected area.
- Taping Techniques: Taping, such as Kinesio taping, helps stabilize your shoulder in a healthy position, allowing you to maintain mobility while reducing strain. This can be especially beneficial for ongoing shoulder discomfort or burning pain during physical activities.
5. Shockwave Therapy for Deep Tissue Healing
For chronic shoulder pain that doesn’t respond to other treatments, we may incorporate shockwave therapy. This non-invasive approach uses acoustic waves to stimulate healing in deep tissues, breaking up scar tissue and promoting blood flow. Shockwave therapy can help treat conditions like shoulder impingement and chronic bursitis, providing relief from persistent burning pain and enhancing mobility over time.
Finding Relief from Shoulder Pain
If you’re struggling with burning pain around your shoulder blade or dealing with persistent neck and shoulder pain, you don’t have to endure it alone. At Eastwood Physiotherapy, we’re here to help you get to the root of your discomfort with tailored shoulder pain physiotherapy in Edmonton. Our team will assess your symptoms, identify the causes behind your shoulder blade pain, and create a plan to bring you lasting relief.
Don’t let shoulder discomfort hold you back. Contact us to Eastwood Physiotherapy today and take the first step toward restoring comfort and mobility to your daily life.