Has your elderly loved one been complaining about an ache in their shoulder area or experiencing an inability to move and rotate it properly? Seniors are more prone to shoulder injuries than their younger counterparts for several reasons that can require additional support and physical therapy.
Why Shoulders Might Hurt More for Your Senior
Age-related long-term use can gradually add more damage to the shoulder due to wear and tear. All parts of the body begin to feel the damage that years of use and possible mistreatment have done. Something that may not have bothered your senior in their younger years now can lead to pain that’ll last for weeks.
While just general age is the most common factor for the elderly to have more shoulder problems than their younger counterparts, other health complications, such as a weakened immune system or extra weight, can make it more likely for them to experience shoulder pain as well.
Four Common Should Health Conditions
Discovering what is causing your loved one’s pain is the first step to helping them find the help they need to reduce pain and increase movement. Four common shoulder problems for seniors include:
- Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis often feels like pain in the back and shoulder areas and may travel down the arms. Your loved one may feel pain or even feel grinding when they try to lift a heavy object.
- Tendinitis: Tendinitis of the rotator cuff can lead to pain for many seniors. Most often, this pain is felt when your elderly loved one reaches over their head to grab something from a high-up cupboard or lifts their arms to put a shirt on.
- Rotator Cuff Tear: Elderly individuals are much more likely to tear their rotator cuff than those who are younger. A rotator cuff may make it almost impossible for your loved one to have the strength needed to lift even small objects, and can lead to pain that gets worse at night when they try to sleep.
- Frozen Shoulder: This painful condition causes the connective tissues in the shoulders to tighten up and thicken, making almost any kind of movement difficult, if not impossible.
Treating Shoulder Pain
Your loved one’s doctor will help you both decide what type of treatment is best for their shoulder problems. It can be simple exercises at home, over-the-counter pain relief medications, or it could be as serious as surgery to help repair damage that has been done.
If your loved one needs surgery or if the doctor recommends physical therapy as part of their recovery process, having someone who can come to your loved one’s home to perform physical therapy can be a huge help for your loved one.
When physical therapy is performed at home, the therapist can help your loved one find what works for him in the very environment where he lives. His physical therapy provider will not only help him practice the necessary exercises to strengthen his shoulders and arms, but can also help him identify areas around the home that give him the most problems. There might be some changes around the house that are easy to make and will provide your loved one with relief from painful activities.
With proper physical therapy treatment, your loved one will soon feel better.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Physical Therapy in Weston, FL, please contact the caring staff at Actify Home Care today at (954) 902-6049
Actify Home Care provides exceptional home and facility care for anyone in Broward County, including Ft. Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pompano Beach, Parkland, Sunrise, Plantation, Weston, Pembroke Pines, Tamarac, Coral Springs, Miramar, Florida, and surrounding areas.
We offer services all around the South Florida area, if you have questions for us or don’t see your area listed just ask, we’d be happy to help. Contact us today!
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