Treating Shoulder, Neck, and Back
Pain With Our Integrated Approach
Shoulder, neck, and back pain are all relatively common complaints–and they can keep you from performing your daily routine. Fortunately, the multidisciplinary team at Leaps and Bounds Performance Rehab has extensive experience treating all manner of musculoskeletal pain.
Furthermore, we understand how shoulder, neck, and upper back pain are sometimes connected, so we can help you get the right care for your needs.
What’s Causing My Pain?
The first step in addressing neck, back, or shoulder pain is identifying the cause. However, it’s important to understand the distinctions between these three areas and how they’re connected. Let’s break things down.
Understanding The Spine’s Structure
Your spine stretches from your neck to your lower back. It consists of stacked vertebrae separated by intervertebral discs–soft cushions that sit between your vertebrae and act as shock absorbers. These vertebrae are connected by ligaments that hold your spine in position and allow you to bend, twist, and move. Finally, deep core muscles wrap and support your spine, helping to stabilize it.
We often hear about lower back pain because that area of the spine carries most of the body’s weight, making it more susceptible to injury and degeneration. However, pain can develop in any part of the spine and the surrounding soft tissues.
So, where does the shoulder fit in? While it’s not part of your spine, your entire body is connected. So, for example, an injury in the intervertebral discs of your cervical (neck) spine can lead to pain in the shoulder and arm. Shoulder blade pain often stems from the neck and is not actually a shoulder issue. Postural issues can also impact your entire body, so weak upper back muscles might contribute to pain in your neck or shoulder.
That said, let’s examine some of the common causes of neck, back, and shoulder pain.
Neck & Back Pain Causes
- Sprains (tears in the spine’s ligaments)s
- Strains (tears in the neck or back muscles or tendons)
- Degenerative changes to the cervical discs
- Herniated discs, in which a disc bulges or ruptures and presses on a nearby nerve
- Osteoarthritis
Shoulder Pain Causes
- Tears in the rotator cuff, a group of muscles that wrap and support the shoulder joint
- Inflammation in the tendons or bursa (small sacs that cushion the joint)
- Arthritis, including both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
- Frozen shoulder, a condition that causes intense pain and restricted shoulder mobility
Often, injuries to the back, neck, or shoulder are related to repetitive use, meaning they gradually develop over time. You won’t be able to pinpoint a specific injury but will instead notice increasing levels of pain or immobility. These kinds of injuries develop for a couple of reasons:
- Repeated movements
- Poor posture
- Muscular weakness and imbalance
They also make you more susceptible to an acute injury, which occurs due to a sudden, traumatic event. Whiplash-related injuries are a good example of acute injuries to the cervical spine. Examples in the shoulder include dislocations and severe rotator cuff tears.
Our Patients Are Getting Results
“I saw Anthony at Leaps and Bounds with shoulder/neck issues and from the very first session I felt an improvement. He put together an easy to follow exercise plan to do at home, and combined with regular visits, the pain I was experiencing is now gone completely. Anthony was very knowledgeable and genuinely invested in my progress – I would highly recommend him. Thanks Anthony!” – M.G.
Stay Active Safely This Winter with Physiotherapy
Do you find it harder to stay active when the temperature drops? You’re not alone. Cold weather and icy conditions can make it challenging to keep up your exercise routine — but physiotherapy can help you stay moving safely all season long.
Staying active during the winter is just as important as any other time of year. Simple activities like walking to look at holiday lights, shovelling snow carefully, or playing outside with your kids can boost your strength, balance, and mood.
At Leaps and Bounds Performance Rehab, our physiotherapists can design a personalized plan to help you stay active and injury-free through the colder months. We’ll help you improve your mobility, strength, and balance while reducing your risk of slips, strains, or other winter-related injuries.
Benefits of staying active include:
- Improved energy and sleep
- Reduced stress and anxiety
- Stronger muscles and bones
- Lower risk of chronic conditions
- Better balance and coordination
Regular movement — even in short bursts — helps support your immune system and overall wellness. If you’re not sure how to stay active safely this winter, our team can guide you every step of the way.
Contact Us Today To Get Started!
The Leaps and Bounds Performance Rehab team will help you understand the particulars of your upper body pain and provide the tools you need to address it. Call us today to set up an initial appointment.
Our Annual Food Drive
This month we will be collecting non-perishables at the clinic for the Oakville Fareshare Foodbank from November 24 to December 19!
Our Caring Team Is Here For You
Andrew Convery, BAHSc Hons AT, CSEP-PT
Certified Athletic Therapist (C)
Carolina Rotondo, MPT, Hons BSc, Cert MDT
Registered Physiotherapist
Christina Camilleri, RMT, BAHSc Hons AT
Certified Athletic Therapist (C), Registered Massage Therapist
Dr. Roslyn Eng, DC, Hons BSc Kin
Doctor of Chiropractic
Michelle Davies
Client Experience Manager
Onika Green, Cert MPC, MHK
Mental Performance Consultant
Pat Stanziano, MPT, Hons BScKin, Cert MDT, Dip Sport Physio
Registered Physiotherapist, Sport Physiotherapist
Thomas Stavro Sholdoff, MscPT, Hons BA Kin
Registered Physiotherapist
Tania Tajik, MScPT, Hons BSc, Cert MDT
Registered Physiotherapist
Welcome Prashna Singh
NOW AVAILABLE!
We’re excited to announce that Prashna Singh, Physiotherapist and Certified Respiratory Educator, is now offering Cardiorespiratory Therapy.
If you or a loved one is living with COPD, Asthma, or another chronic lung condition, Prashna is here to help you breathe easier and feel stronger every day.
Appointments are available on Saturdays between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Recipe of the Month: Sweet Potato Casserole
Ingredients:
- 3 cups cold mashed sweet potatoes (prepared without milk or butter)
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 cup 2% milk
- 1/4 cup butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons cold butter
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 325°. In a large bowl, beat the sweet potatoes, sugar, eggs, milk, butter, salt and vanilla until smooth.
- Transfer to a greased 2-qt. baking dish.
- In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, pecans and flour; cut in butter until crumbly.
- Sprinkle over sweet potato mixture. Bake, uncovered, until a thermometer reads 160°, 45-50 minutes.