A shoulder labral tear can result from the labrum becoming frayed over time due to intense repetitive activity or from an acute trauma like a direct blow, fall, or dislocation. The shoulder labrum is a ring of fibro-cartilage tissue that surrounds the rim of the glenoid on the scapula, providing stability to the shoulder joint. Physical therapy plays a crucial role in the management and rehabilitation of shoulder labral tears and can help athletes with shoulder labral tears regain strength, stability, function, and range of motion in the shoulder joint for a safe return to sport.

Biceps tendonitis involves inflammation of and injury to the biceps tendon, often due to repetitive overloading and overuse from sports activities that cause microtears in the fibers of the tendon. Biceps tendonitis is more common among athletes who play sports that place repetitive stress on the biceps tendon through repetitive overhead motions. Physical therapy can effectively address biceps tendonitis, decreasing pain and inflammation, improving shoulder range of motion and strength, and improving functional mobility of the arm and shoulder through a targeted exercise program.

Mangiarelli Rehabilitation physical therapist Bobby demonstrates 3 exercises you can do to prevent stiffness and regain mobility after an AC joint sprain. An AC joint sprain typically occurs due to a sudden fall on the shoulder that can push the shoulder blade away from the collarbone, straining or tearing the ligaments of the AC joint. Physical therapy is the first line of treatment for AC joint sprains and is highly effective in restoring shoulder mobility, strength, and function following an AC injury.

Physical therapy plays a critical role in recovery from a rotator cuff tear, helping individuals regain strength, mobility, range of motion, and coordination in the shoulder. Rotator cuff tears involve a partial or complete tearing of a rotator cuff tendon or muscle due to an acute trauma to, chronic overuse of, or age-related degeneration of the shoulder joint. Exercise rehabilitation is the cornerstone of physical therapy treatment for rotator cuff injuries.

Throwing injuries to the shoulder among baseball players are very common, often due to overuse and repetitive high stress of overhead throwing. Rehabilitation after a shoulder injury involves a gradual restoration of range of motion, strength, muscular endurance, dynamic stabilization, and neuromuscular control via targeted therapeutic exercise, manual therapy, rebounder therapy, and aquatic therapy. When preparing for a return to throwing, using the rebounder can be a highly effective way to prepare the shoulder gradually and safely for the dynamic act of throwing. Mangiarelli Rehabilitation physical therapist Bobby demonstrates a return to throwing progression using the rebounder to rehabilitate after a shoulder injury.

Frozen shoulder is characterized by structural changes in the shoulder joint, primarily thickening of the tissues of the shoulder joint capsule which “freezes” movement and range of motion in the shoulder. Frozen shoulder can result from diabetes, thyroid disease, Parkinson’s disease, or due to a period of enforced immobility of the shoulder due to trauma to the joint, shoulder surgery, or overuse injuries to the shoulder. Physical therapy is the first line of treatment for frozen shoulder and is highly effective in speeding up the recovery process and regaining shoulder mobility at any stage of the condition.

Check out our infographic on physical therapy for a shoulder separation. Shoulder separations occur when one or more of the ligaments that hold the clavicle and the scapula that form the AC joint become strained or torn. This is a common shoulder injury in football due to the high-contact and tackling nature of the sport. Physical therapy can effectively treat shoulder separations, helping athletes manage pain, restore shoulder mobility, and strength, and return to sport safely.

Snapping scapula syndrome involves popping, grating, grinding or snapping of bones and tissue in the shoulder blade when lifting or moving the arm. It is most common in young, active people who perform repeated overhead movements. Physical therapy is an effective way to treat snapping scapula syndrome, reducing pain and soft tissue inflammation and addressing loss of motion and muscle weakness through therapeutic exercise, strengthening, and manual therapy.

A shoulder separation, or AC joint injury, involves a strain or tear of the ligaments of the joint that result in some form of separation between the clavicle and acromion. Shoulder separations are common among young male athletes who participate in high-contact sports like football and rugby. Physical therapy is an effective treatment for AC joint shoulder separations, helping to manage pain, restore shoulder mobility and strength, and return to sport and work safely through a progressive four-phase rehabilitation program.

Overhead throwing is an extremely complex movement that places significant stress on the shoulder joint of a pitcher. The shoulder is a hypermobile joint that is susceptible to injury from the repetitive high stress of pitching. Upper extremity injuries comprise more than half of all baseball injuries, the majority of which are shoulder injuries and affect pitchers more than position players. Physical therapy can effectively treat baseball-related shoulder injuries and help pitchers prevent injury through a throwing mechanics assessment and pre-season conditioning program. A successful rehabilitation program is multi-phased, gradually re-introducing the functional demands of the pitcher’s position for a safe return to sport.