Pain in the shoulders can significantly decrease your quality of life. Whether you have had to stop playing your favorite sport or you are having difficulty lifting your young loved ones, Dr. Michael Bercik and our team at Lancaster Orthopedic group can provide specialized care suited for your needs.

Shoulder ArthritisDr. Michael Bercik graduated Magna Cum Laude from Georgetown University before completing his degree at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. After becoming a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Bercik went on to further develop his skills in international fellowships under some of the most renowned shoulder surgeons in the world. He was able to study some of the most complex techniques to deliver outstanding results to patients with minimal recovery time, and Dr. Bercik combines these techniques with traditional knowledge to create innovative care solutions.

Exercises for Osteoarthritis of the Shoulder

Osteoarthritis can be extremely painful, especially if symptoms are not managed early on. One non-invasive way for patients to manage symptoms is through the activities they perform on a daily basis. Strategic exercise and gentle movements can help to alleviate stiffness, improve cartilage health, increase circulation, strengthen surrounding tissues, and reduce pain in the area. However, avoiding certain movements and activities to reduce stress is also an important component of symptom management. Lifting heavy items, consistently raising the arms overhead, and repeated movements can aggravate symptoms. When you seek physical therapy, your therapist can help guide you through an exercise and movement regimen that is tailored to your needs.

Because of the hypermobility of the shoulder joint compared to other joints in the body, it is important to maintain strong and stable soft tissues around the shoulder. This is especially important with arthritis, as stiff tissues or instability can aggravate discomfort. By keeping surrounding muscles healthy, many patients can increase their range of motion and prolong healthy function in their shoulder joints.

When you work with a physical therapist to build your exercise routine, they will personalize the types of movements based on your condition. For most cases of osteoarthritis, they are likely to include these three key types of exercises:

Shoulder Strengthening: Rotation Focused

Shoulder rotation is important to perform many daily tasks, including reaching overhead. To maintain safe rotation of the shoulder with minimal pain, exercises focused on strengthening the small muscles in the shoulder can help to provide stability, alleviate stiffness, and improve rotation of the shoulder.

Shoulder Strengthening: Flexion, Abduction, and Extension Focused

In addition to rotation exercises, isometric exercises are important to stabilize the joint and build strength. To do this, your physical therapist will walk you through exercises that involve contracting the muscle and holding a position, such as lifting the arm straight in front of you. They also may walk you through movements that involve flexion and extension of the joint with minimal rotation.

Scapular Muscle Stabilization

Scapular muscle stabilization is another important type of strengthening exercise to improve shoulder stability and support structures of the shoulder. Having well-rounded strength exercises can help to minimize imbalances in the shoulder and provide optimal support for the structures within the shoulder.

Contact Us Today

Ready to begin your journey to improved shoulder mobility? Dr. Michael Bercik and our team at Lancaster Orthopedic Group can help you minimize symptoms of shoulder arthritis and get back to the activities you love. To get started, click the “Schedule An Appointment” link in the top right of the website or call (866) 564-1000.