Health blog

The most likely cause of burning pain in your shoulder

February 2nd, 2021
Burning Pain in Shoulder

Burning pain in your shoulder can hamper your ability to do many normal daily tasks. For instance, you might have difficulty driving, or you might find getting yourself dressed in the morning a painful chore. One issue that’s likely to cause this type of pain is subacromial bursitis. 

Subacromial bursitis occurs when a bursa in the shoulder becomes inflamed, and one study found that 65.5% of patients surveyed for shoulder pain had this issue in one of their shoulders. There are many underlying issues that can lead to subacromial bursitis. A physical therapist can help you learn which issues are triggering this condition in your shoulder. These specialists can also help you find effective treatment for the burning pain in your shoulder caused by subacromial bursitis. 

Underlying issues that can cause subacromial bursitis

Typically, burning pain in the shoulder from subacromial bursitis is a result of underlying issues, and these issues often develop over time. Some underlying issues that can lead to subacromial bursitis include: 

  • Repetitive arm movements.
  • Poor shoulder mechanics during sports.
  • Poor posture.
  • Impacts to the shoulder.
  • Wear and tear caused by aging. 
  • Poor shoulder flexibility.

What can physical therapists do to treat subacromial bursitis?

There are a variety of ways that a physical therapist can treat the burning pain in your shoulder from this condition. Some techniques your therapist may use to help your pain include: 

  • Aquatic therapy designed to reduce stress on the shoulder while doing therapy movements. 
  • Therapeutic exercises that can help stretch and strengthen shoulder muscles and decrease subacromial bursa irritation. 
  • Dry needling intended to break up knots of tension in shoulder soft tissue. 
  • Joint mobilization that focuses on improving the flexibility and mobility of the shoulder joint and its supporting soft tissue. 

Find treatment for subacromial bursitis at Rehab Access PT

Are you experiencing burning pain in your shoulder? Our physical therapists at Rehab Access Physical Therapy are ready to help you find the cause of your pain and treat it effectively. To start, our specialists will evaluate your shoulder to pinpoint the source of your pain. Next, we’ll create a unique therapy plan for you that’s designed to offer benefits like: 

  • Reducing pain.
  • Improving your ability to do normal daily tasks.
  • Increasing shoulder flexibility. 
  • Decreasing your risk of future shoulder problems. 

You’ll even be able to work with one of our physical therapists in your home if you sign up for a virtual therapy session

Contact our team today for more information about our shoulder pain treatment services or to schedule an initial appointment.