A local massage therapist is a wellness professional who treats injuries and disorders of the soft tissues of the body, which includes your tendons, ligaments, connective tissue and muscles. Whether a patient has been in a car accident or is managing a chronic disease such as arthritis or heart disease, they may also work with a local physiotherapist.

A local physiotherapist is a medical provider who uses non-invasive techniques to prevent and treat dysfunction and injury. You may work with both a local physiotherapist and a local massage therapist to recover from injury or spine surgery and manage a variety of conditions, from back and sciatic pain to pelvic malalignment syndrome.

The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body, and is prone to a number of injuries, from shoulder dislocation to rotator cuff issues. The usual treatment for shoulder injuries is non-surgical options such as medications, bracing and physiotherapy. Shoulder surgery is generally only explored if the non-operative options fail, and the type the orthopaedic surgeon performs depends on the severity of your issue. Whether your shoulder injury treatment or surgical or non-surgical, you can benefit from the help of a physiotherapist during your recovery. 

Physiotherapy for Shoulder Injuries

Usually, your physiotherapist will start you off with exercises to improve your range of motion and strengthen your arm and shoulder. If you’ve been hospitalized for shoulder surgery, your physiotherapy treatment may begin in the hospital, and continue once you’re home. 

Types of Physiotherapy for Shoulder Injuries

• Range of motion and strengthening exercises targeting a range of muscles including the deltoids, trapezius muscles, biceps, triceps, supraspinatus and infraspinatus
• Manual therapy (hands-on manipulation)
• Ultrasound: This deep heating treatment is administered by your physical therapist using a wand that’s connected to an ultrasound machine pressed against your skin.
• Dry needling and/or acupuncture: Some patients find relief from a practitioner inserting short, thin needles into pressure points.
• TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation): Your physiotherapist may use this technique to decrease pain around the injury.
• Taping: Your Massage Therapist  may tape the injured site to provide support and stability while you heal.
• Heat therapy: The physiotherapist may incorporate heat into your treatment to reduce pain, increase circulation and relax the muscles.
• Massage and other soft tissue techniques

Your massage therapist can help you avoid activities and exercises that trigger pain and discomfort. Helping you regain functional use of your arm and shoulder is the primary goal of your physiotherapist. The sooner you see out a physiotherapist for treatment after an injury or surgery, the better your outcome will be. 

Useful Resources

Canada

Canadian Massage Therapy Association

British Columbia

Ontario

Newfoundland and Labrador

New Brunswick

United States of America

American Massage Therapy Association