Shoulder Care

Shoulder pain can limit your ability to reach, lift and enjoy everyday activities. At CentraCare, our orthopedic specialists evaluate and treat a wide range of shoulder conditions, focusing first on conservative care. When needed, we offer advanced surgical options designed to relieve pain, restore motion and help you return to the activities you love.

Conditions We Treat

Rotator cuff injuries – Injury that affects the group of muscles and tendons that help lift and rotate the shoulder and cause pain with reaching overhead, throwing and other activities
Shoulder instability and dislocation – Occurs when the head of the humerus (arm bone) is naturally “loose” or “pops” out of the socket leading to pain and repetitive dislocations
Impingement and bursitis – Occurs when tendons or a fluid-filled sac in the shoulder become irritated, causing pain with movement
Frozen shoulder – A condition that causes stiffness, pain and reduced movement in the shoulder joint
Shoulder arthritis – Occurs when the cartilage that cushions the shoulder joint wears down, causing pain, stiffness and reduced movement
Labral tears – A tear in the cartilage ring around the shoulder socket involving the biceps tendon
Fractures

Doctors & Care Team Locations

Nonsurgical Treatments

Lifestyle and activity modifications
Physical therapy and exercise
Medications
Injection options
- Cortisone (steroid) injection – Reduces inflammation and pain with a higher dose of medication than you could take by mouth.
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) – Delivers a high dose of platelets from your body to the site of an injury to speed up the healing process. You can receive injections in a clinic, so you don’t need to visit the hospital for treatment. That makes your care more affordable and convenient.

Additional Therapies

Physical therapy-based modalities – Hands-on techniques, guided exercises and movement retraining
Pain-relief therapies – Such as TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation)
Heat or cold therapy – To help reduce pain and stiffness
Activity modification and ergonomic guidance – Adjusting daily movements to reduce strain on the shoulder
Bracing or supportive devices – Used short-term in select situations

Surgical Treatments

Arthroscopy (e.g., rotator cuff repair, labral repair) – A type of minimally invasive surgery, arthroscopy is safer and causes less scarring than surgery that creates a long incision. You’ll likely go home the same day as your procedure.
Shoulder joint replacement options
Fracture repair

Rehabilitation

Your treatment plan may begin with rehabilitation, which helps you improve your abilities and reduce pain. You might benefit from:

Occupational Therapy – Teaches you how to regain the use of your shoulder for everyday tasks
Physical Therapy – Builds strength and flexibility with exercise, stretches and hands-on techniques