Shoulder pain is a more common complaint after pregnancy than you might think. This pain can be the result of repetitive movements, such as feeding your baby, carrying your baby on the same side or placing them over the same shoulder. This can result in muscle tension, pain and a loss of flexibility. Women may also experience inflammation due to the hormone activity that occurs naturally during pregnancy.

This shoulder pain can cause many women to have difficulty performing everyday tasks, working or participating in sports. Thankfully, shoulder pain during or after pregnancy can be treated with the help of a licensed physical therapist.

How can physical therapy help with my shoulder pain during or after pregnancy?

There are a number of methods a physical therapist can use to address the pain and discomfort you are experiencing in your shoulder. The end goal of any physical therapy plan is to let you return to your daily activities without pain or any restrictions on your flexibility or movement. 

Here’s how a physical therapist achieves these goals:

1. Determining the source of pain — A licensed physical therapist will screen you before starting any physical therapy plan. They will ask you questions about your pain and assess your ability to move. This helps them create a physical therapy plan tailored to your individual needs.

2. Guiding you through exercises — Therapeutic exercises are designed to help reduce pain, increase flexibility and prevent injury. Your physical therapist will guide you through exercises to help eliminate your shoulder pain and make your shoulder stronger.

3. Employing specialized techniques — Your physical therapist may use specialized techniques, such as dry needling and aquatic therapy, to help treat your shoulder pain during or after pregnancy. These techniques are tried and proven to help reduce pain and inflammation, as well as increase mobility.

How can I get started with physical therapy to treat my shoulder pain from pregnancy?

Rehab Access Physical Therapy is ready to help you live without shoulder pain during or after your pregnancy. Our team of licensed physical therapy specialists will work with you to create a physical therapy plan that is perfectly suited to your needs.

A free screening at one of our clinics will get you started. With our philosophy of providing hands-on care and one-on-one attention, we achieve excellent results with our physical therapy patients.

Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.