Shoulder pain impacts a lot of people, causing discomfort throughout the day and sometimes into the night. If shoulder pain is waking you up or making it hard to fall asleep, you’re not alone. Shoulder pain often flares up or becomes more noticeable at night. Nighttime shoulder pain can be frustrating and exhausting, leaving you feeling tired and sore the next day. The good news is that physical therapy can help address the root of the problem and help relieve your pain, so you can get back to sleeping soundly. Recovery is possible. Research shows that the pain gets better within six months for around 50% of people. Understanding the causes of nighttime shoulder pain can be a good first step toward finding out how you can address your discomfort and prevent recurrence.
Potential causes of shoulder pain at night
There are a variety of reasons why you might experience shoulder pain at night. Sometimes chronic conditions can cause pain when you lie down or move your shoulder at night. In other cases, persistent, nagging, injury-related pain throughout the day may simply continue into the evening.
Here are some potential reasons for nighttime shoulder pain:
- Rotator cuff injury
- Shoulder impingement
- Bursitis
- Frozen shoulder
How physical therapy can help with nighttime shoulder pain
Physical therapy can be an effective, noninvasive way to relieve shoulder pain. Physical therapy works to provide lasting relief by addressing the underlying cause of discomfort. At the start of your treatment journey, a licensed physical therapist will assess your condition. You can then work together to create a personalized treatment plan. Comprehensive PT treatment plans are designed to support you in all areas of recovery. The goal of treatment is to help you regain strength, flexibility and pain-free movement in your shoulder.
Key PT techniques for nighttime shoulder pain include:
- Targeted exercises — Exercise tends to play a fundamental role in PT. You can work with your physical therapist to build an exercise routine that suits your condition, capabilities and recovery goals. When addressing shoulder pain, strengthening exercises are often important. Building strength can improve shoulder support and stability, which may help reduce strain on injured tendons or ligaments. If you’re recovering from a rotator cuff injury, exercise can be key to regaining function. Depending on your condition, focused stretches can be crucial as well. PT stretches can help improve your range of motion and alleviate tension. If you’re recovering from frozen shoulder or a similar condition, your physical therapist may recommend a daily stretching routine. The particular exercises your physical therapist prescribes will depend on your condition and capacity. Some common PT exercises for shoulder pain include pendulum swings and cross-body arm stretches. These exercises can help restore regular movement while reducing your risk of further injury. As you progress in treatment, your physical therapist may adjust your exercise regimen. Making progress can enable you to engage in more intense exercises over time.
- Manual therapy — Manual therapy involves hands-on techniques like soft tissue mobilization, stretching and joint mobilization. Your physical therapist will use these techniques to reduce pain and improve mobility. The benefits of manual therapy range from reduced tension and improved flexibility to better circulation. Better circulation means more nutrients can reach injured tissue, which generally translates to faster healing. If you have frozen shoulder or a rotator cuff injury, manual therapy can help break down scar tissue and reduce restrictions that limit movement.
- Posture education — Poor posture tends to be a big contributor to shoulder pain. If you spend a lot of time hunched over a desk or phone, you may be more likely to experience shoulder pain at night. Slouching puts extra pressure on the shoulders. Over time, this can lead to issues like muscle imbalances and impingement. Your physical therapist can teach you proper posture techniques to relieve stress on the shoulder and improve your alignment. They may also recommend ergonomic adjustments to your workspace. Your sleeping posture may also be playing a role in your pain. If your sleeping position is putting too much pressure on your shoulder and causing discomfort, your physical therapist can help you find a viable alternative to reduce strain.
- Dry needling — Trigger points, also called muscle knots, are tight, painful areas of muscle tissue. Dry needling can target trigger points around the shoulder. By inserting thin, sterile needles into these areas, your physical therapist can release tension and improve blood flow. Dry needling is designed to reduce muscle tightness that may be causing your nighttime pain. This approach promotes lasting pain relief and healing. It may be particularly helpful for people with muscle tension caused by poor posture or overuse.
Forever Fit can help alleviate your nighttime shoulder pain
When you’re looking for a solution to your nighttime shoulder pain, you can get expert treatment at Forever Fit. Our team will work with you to create a personalized plan to address the cause of your pain and help you heal. Whether you need treatment for frozen shoulder, impingement or something else, we’re here to guide you every step of the way. Each of our locations across the state of Maryland offers a range of specialized treatments. You can get postural education at our Severna Park location, and our Rockville location offers dry needling.
Contact our team today to learn more about how we treat shoulder pain or to schedule an initial appointment.