Mr Williams presented at my clinic and on taking a detailed history it became clear that certain movements aggravated the shoulder joint, the top of the arm and the neck. The pain was absent when resting, however it frequently awoke the patient in the early hours of the morning. The patient had no other medical conditions and all was reported to be healthy, other than his shoulder. The specific pattern of the patient’s shoulder problem together with the associated stress he had been experiencing made the diagnosis of tendonitis probable. I examined the patient and aftering excluding any internal disease process I was able to confirm the diagnosis of Supraspinatus tendonitis.

The program of treatment began immediately with the patient happy to proceed. A series of techniques tailored to the specific and developing requirements of this patient facilitated a 20 % improvement in the patient’s symptoms with notably increased movement for the shoulder and arm. The patient was treated weekly for 4 weeks then every other week for the final 2 sessions of treatment. He was provided with recommended rehabilitative exercises for his shoulder problem, which he regularly performed. Also advice was given on what was to be avoided during his rehabilitation. Over the following 8 weeks the patient proceeded with his improvement to remain pain free and importantly for him, ‘he suggested his golf swing had improved.’

A shoulder problem can take a very long time to settle down; 3-6 months would not be unusual. The sooner you seek treatment the quicker you will be better.

For more information on shoulder conditions please click the link below:

Shoulder Problem

Written by David Gray, Registered Osteopath. To contact David, please click here