People have opinions on everything, including how to best care for the health of your shoulders. Most of this advice is rooted in sound science, but every so often we hear something from a patient leaves us scratching our head. But what advice should you ignore when it comes to your shoulder health? In today’s blog, we look at some shoulder advice you’d be wise to ignore.
Shoulder Care Myths
If you ever hear someone say one of these phrases about your shoulder health, you’d be wise to ignore it.
- “No pain, no gain” – We get the underlying sentiment here, but making meaningful gains shouldn’t be painful. Making improvements, whether that’s in your shoulder strength or restoring flexibility after a shoulder replacement operation, won’t be easy or comfortable, but it shouldn’t be painful. Pain is a sign that something is wrong, and pushing through pain can make a small injury much worse. You’re going to have to move out of your comfort zone if you want to improve your shoulder health after an injury or surgery, but know that physical therapy or exercise doesn’t have to be painful to be beneficial.
- “Rest is best” – Rest is wonderful, and we absolutely want you to rest your injured shoulder to protect it from additional injury, but rest is not a great stand alone treatment option. At its very core, rest is a passive treatment option that won’t help you get back to a pre-injury level of fitness. It can prevent further injury and provide an environment where some healing can progress, but rest isn’t going to be what restores strength, flexibility or stability to the shoulder area. That will come from proactive treatment methods, like physical therapy, stretching, and controlled exercise. Rest is great, but it’s certainly not best in the long-term for your injured shoulder.
- “You can always have surgery” – We’re never going to push a patient to undergo a surgery that’s not in their best interests, but it’s unwise to assume that surgery is going to act like some magic elixir for your shoulder health, especially if you’ve been putting off treatment or surgery for a long time. In many instances, patients are better off having surgery at an earlier point if conservative efforts fail to produce expected results because operative treatment prevents further damage. The worse your shoulder gets, the harder it will be for the surgeon to restore significant function. An earlier surgery can oftentimes yield better long-term results because it occurred before extensive damage took place.
- “Shoulder pain is a normal part of getting older” – Shoulder pain is never normal, so don’t assume that any new pain you are experiencing is just something you should expect as you age. Your shoulders may not be as strong and flexible as they were when you were younger, but they shouldn’t be painful when you move them or upon waking in the morning. If you’re dealing with new or chronic shoulder pain, know that this isn’t just because you’re getting older, and you’ll want to talk to a doctor about it if you’re unable to resolve it on your own.
The advice you hear from friends or read online may be well intended, but that doesn’t mean it is the truth. If you really want to understand how to best manage a shoulder issue or reduce your risk of shoulder problems in the future, consult with your primary care physician or a shoulder specialist in your area. In the greater Knoxville area, we hope you’ll connect with Dr. Holloway and his team for all your shoulder needs. Give his office a call today at (865) 410-7887 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
