The shoulder is made up of a ball and socket with three main bones: the upper arm bone (humerus), collarbone (clavicle), and shoulder blade (scapula). The bones are held together by muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The shoulder joint has the greatest range of motion of any joint in the body. Because of this mobility, the shoulder is more likely to be injured.

Typical symptoms of a shoulder injury include:

• Pain, tenderness, or stiffness that hurts more at night and may interfere with sleep
• Tingling, numbness, weakness, or inflammation in the shoulder
• Shoulder pain in a specific area that worsens when exerted
• Difficulty moving the arm in any direction
• Sudden, intense pain in the shoulder

Common shoulder injuries experienced after a car accident may include:

• Rotator cuff tear
• Broken bone
• Bruising
• Strains and sprains
• Frozen shoulder
• Instability or impingement in the shoulder joint

How Do Rehabilitation and Fitness Programs Help Treat Shoulder Injuries?

Christian’s first line of treatment for his injured shoulders was a physical reconditioning program (PRP), which he underwent with his primary caregiver. When the worst of his shoulder pain was relieved, Christian turned to Ability Rehabilitation to get him back to full functioning.

“My physician and I decided to do a physical reconditioning program (PRP),” says Christian. “PRP is a non-invasive treatment, and I was really impressed. I started my first shoulder with PRP in February and my second shoulder in March. It took about eight weeks in my first shoulder because it had more damage than the other one. The other one took six weeks, and after that, the major pain went away.”

“I decided to undergo rehabilitation, and luckily someone recommended Ability Rehabilitation in Winter Park,” Christian continues. “We started working together, and they guided me in improving the most important elements for my bone structure in the shoulders and the back.”

The team at Ability Rehabilitation put together a comprehensive rehab plan to help get Christian back to full strength and his pre-injury level of function. They communicated with his doctor to ensure optimal care and a true team approach.

A World-Class Team Approach

Christian greatly appreciates the compassion, dedication, and team-oriented approach of the therapists at Ability Rehabilitation and is grateful that they have helped get him back to swimming competition again.

“The personnel is great,” says Christian. “One of the greatest things for me is they can determine what your challenges are and what you need to do to make a positive change. I go (to Ability Rehabilitation) every day because I want to make it all the way back. I had a car accident, and I had a very difficult time trying to get my problems fixed. Now I have a custom-made program we designed together at Ability Rehabilitation. I come here every day, and I work for about forty-five minutes.”

“I don’t have to go to a gym because what I do here, right now, is more important than going to a gym,” Christian continues. “My ultimate goal is to continue competing and, although I’m an old man, my therapists say I will continue to compete. In my athletic endeavors, I’ve always gone for the top, and I’m going to do it again.”