Do Shoulder Braces Really Work To Alleviate Pain?

Do Shoulder Braces Really Work To Alleviate Pain?

what are the best shoulder braces for pain

Depending on your condition a shoulder brace can help alleviate your pain.

A shoulder support brace is designed to support your shoulder to help speed up the recovery process after an injury. It does this by taking the pressure off of your shoulder, allowing it to get more rest and heal faster. 

Not only that it can protect your shoulder:

A rotator cuff shoulder brace does this by decreasing the risk of re-injury or dislocation by limiting certain shoulder movements that can cause injury.

Some other benefits are: 

  • Reduces the effects of inflammation by providing compression to your shoulder joint.
  • Puts your shoulder in the optimal position to quicken recovery.
  • Improves blood flow by elevating your shoulder which is crucial for healing.

What Are Other Treatment Options For Your Shoulder?

Now a shoulder brace for rotator cuff or bursitis can help alleviate your pain by just treating the symptoms. However, it doesn’t address the root cause of your pain. That’s where Physiotherapy can help.

Physiotherapy can alleviate your pain through creating a customized treatment plan that addresses specific areas in your shoulder.

You see your shoulder is composed of a group of muscles and tendons that surround your shoulder joint allowing it to move freely and keep it stable. 

Physiotherapy can help rotator cuff injuries by strengthening all the surrounding muscles to compensate for the damaged tendons and by improving your shoulder mobility. 

A Physiotherapist will also help strengthen your scapula (shoulder blade) which is critical for shoulder stability and preventing injuries.

Shoulder Exercise courtesy of Market Mall Physiotherapy (Read the caption)

How To Reduce pain when dealing with Shoulder Injuries

1.) Avoid reaching back in your car without turning. This puts a lot of stress on your shoulder.

2.) Avoid putting your shoulders in the same position during repetitive movements. For example, painting where you are stroking in the same position for a long time. This causes specific muscles or tendons in the shoulder to become overworked which can cause your shoulder to be inflamed resulting in tendinitis.

3.) Temporarily avoid overhead throwing movements like swimming or baseball. As you get better you can gradually return to these types of activities.

4.) If you go to the gym, temporarily avoid challenging lifts like behind the neck presses and bench presses. These exercises place lots of load on the rotator cuff and may be irritating. Beginning with completing easier lifts like bicep curls and bent over rows may help you recover quicker.

Check out this swipe post to learn what are the most common shoulder injuries courtesy of BeActive Physiotherapy and Wellness

How To Sleep With Shoulder Pain and Get a Better Nights Sleep

First, let’s start with the worst sleep position, where you lie on your back and place your hands behind your head. Instead put your arms to your sides or place a pillow under your elbows with your hands resting on your belly. Avoiding the overhead position when you have shoulder pain should help you improve quicker. It is important to note that this position is a completely safe position to sleep in when you don’t have shoulder pain.

Side lying is a good position to sleep in when you have shoulder pain. It may be uncomfortable to sleep on the side of pain, so you can try sleeping on the non-painful side. It is advisable to add some pillows when lying on your side. Just place two pillows beside you and rest your painful arm on them. This puts your shoulder in it’s natural resting position plus it’s a very comfortable sleep position. Additionally you can try placing a pillow between your body and your painful arm to keep it in a comfortable position.

Try these sleep positions above and you’ll probably notice you have less pain when you wake up in the morning. 

Now if you would like a Physiotherapist to create a customized treatment plan that addresses the root cause of your pain so you’re not dependent on a shoulder brace then I’d recommend you use the search box on this page to schedule a free consultation with one of our Physiotherapists. 

Here is one eccentric exercise given to reduce the load on the shoulder and help strengthen the surrounding muscles courtesy of PhysioPlus Health Group (Read the caption)

Book Your BACK NECK SHOULDER KNEE ELBOW HIP WRIST FOOT Pain Consult

This appointment is your opportunity to tell us what hurts and discover whether physiotherapy or chiropractic care is a good fit for you! During this session, you will talk with a physiotherapist or chiropractor on a phone call (or online) and create the right care plan specifically for your pain. There is no obligation on this session is to find out whether physiotherapy or chiropractic care can help you getting back to doing the things you love in life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Generally for a small tear or tendinitis 2-4 weeks. Larger tears may take 6-12 weeks.

It can feel like a toothache type sensation. Additionally you may experience popping, catching, and locking sensations in your shoulder

Medical Disclaimer:

The information presented in this blog post is for educational purposes and should not be interpreted as medical advice. If you are seeking medical advice, treatment or a diagnosis, consult with a medical professional such as one suggested on this website. The Clinic Accelerator Inc. and the author of this page are not liable for the associated risks of using or acting upon the information contained in this article.

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