Healing a Shoulder Injury

A shoulder injury can, depending on severity, seriously limit shoulder joint function and cause extreme pain. Therefore, treating a shoulder joint injury should be geared towards healing the injury while at the same time reducing shoulder joint pain and improving shoulder joint function.

Rest

• Resting an injured shoulder and avoiding any unnecessary shoulder movements can be an effective treatment option that can reduce shoulder pain and speed healing of the injured tissues.

Ice Treatment

• Applying ice to an injured shoulder joint can help reduce swelling and irritation of the injured tissues and promote healing. Ice can best be applied using an ice pack or a bag of crushed ice wrapped in a light towel.

Bracing

• Keeping an injured shoulder fixed in a rigid position with a shoulder brace can help to reduce pain and reduce swelling.

Heat Treatment

• Heat treatment can help improve shoulder joint flexibility and prevent muscle cramping. Heat is best applied to a shoulder using an electric heating pad or a microwaveable heating disc.

Range of Motion Exercises

• Exercising an injured shoulder joint throughout its allowable range of motion can help increase circulation, which can improve function and promote healing.