Upper Extremity Injuries
Accelerate Physical Therapy
Physical Therapy for Upper Extremity Injuries
The Doctors of Physical Therapy at Accelerate Physical Therapy treat a variety of injuries sustained to the musculoskeletal system, and even more specifically injuries of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand. Injuries to any of these body regions can be caused by a number of reasons, many of which include: motor vehicle accidents, blunt trauma, repetitive strain, overuse, postural, and reaching or grasping among many others.
From your initial evaluation, we will determine the extent and cause of your injury, the source of your pain, your prognosis (i.e. how long your recovery will take in our professional opinion), and a customized treatment plan based on your learning style and specific injury.
Each of your physical therapy visits will be one on one with your Doctor of Physical Therapy, and because continuity of care is our highest priority you will see that same physical therapist for the duration of your treatment (outside of unforeseen circumstances).
To learn more about our physical therapy services or to schedule an appointment, call or text (949)502-3388, or click on the “Schedule Appointment” button below.
Injuries We Treat
Types of Lower Extremity Injuries We Treat
We offer evaluation and treatment for a variety of shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand injuries. Listed below are some of the most common we see; however, if there is not an injury or condition you recognize on this list we highly recommend you speak directly to one of our Doctors of Physical Therapy to determine if it’s something we can treat and assist you with. If it is something that is out of our scope of practice, we will connect you with the resources you need to address the issue.
Our number one priority is to ensure you find the right treatment and know all available options to address your injury. We are available via email at info@ptaccelerate.com and by text/phone at (949) 502-3388 for any specific questions as they pertain to your specific injury and condition.
Muscle Strains
Ligament Sprains
Fractures
Tendinitis
Post-Surgical Injury
These are common injuries you will research or hear about from an orthopedic specialist, pain management specialist, or your primary care physician. Ultimately, if it deals with bones, muscles, joints, tendons, and ligaments, a Doctor of Physical Therapy can be of service to you.
Benefits of Physical Therapy for Upper Extremity Injuries
In general, physical therapy treatment intends to reduce the amount of time it takes for an injury to heal. Although the body is designed to heal on its own, many factors can affect how quickly it recovers. The biggest factors and most pertinent to physical therapy include habitual postures, movement patterns, and daily routines involving posture and movement. Physical therapy aims to restore your body’s natural movement patterns, with reinforcement through education and movement retraining. This can include visual and tactile (touch and feel) cues combined with reminders on your specific postural and movement habits.
Specific to the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand are ways to reduce strain, which includes reducing excessive motion through each of these regions. Whether it’s how you reach overhead, lift a heavy object, drive, grasp items, or write, the strategy you use can make all of the difference. Physical therapy provides you with the knowledge to understand and learn the body through anatomy and biomechanics in order to alter your movement and apply these changes in daily life.
Physical Therapy Techniques
Physical therapy uses various techniques to improve your mobility, motor control, and muscle performance. Each of these things can be improved with education on the body, “hands on” soft tissue and joint mobilization, stretching, strengthening, scar tissue mobilization, exercise and movement re-education. It is directed at those individuals searching for pain resolution, improved movement, and a fast, non-invasive remedy for injuries. It can prevent surgeries, provide a second opinion after seeing a medical doctor, and determine whether there are functional ways to prevent pain. Last and not least, it can save you money. Research has shown physical therapy treatment is one of the most cost-effective ways to resolve pain and recover from an injury.
Services
Tools We Use to Treat Upper Extremity Injuries
We offer a range of orthopedic physical therapy treatment methods designed to deliver maximum results for upper extremity injuries, helping reduce pain, restore mobility, and improve function in the shoulders, elbows, wrists, and hands.
Manual therapy for upper extremity injuries is a highly structured, hands-on approach that uses specific manual pressure, joint mobilization, and soft tissue mobilization to reduce tension, strain, guarding, muscle spasm, and scar tissue restrictions. These techniques target tissues commonly affected by upper extremity injuries, including muscles, joints, tendons, and ligaments in the shoulders, elbows, wrists, and hands.
Advanced manual therapy techniques may include IASTM (Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization), myofascial release, cupping, foam rolling, and scraping (i.e., gua sha). These treatments help improve joint mobility, decrease pain, and restore proper movement patterns, allowing the upper extremities to move more efficiently while reducing stress and strain on injured tissues.
Therapeutic exercise for upper extremity injuries involves targeted movements designed to correct dysfunction and restore proper movement mechanics. These exercises help address impairments, improve muscular and skeletal function, and increase blood flow to injured tissues in the shoulders, elbows, wrists, and hands.
Common therapeutic exercises include strengthening, endurance training, flexibility, and coordination exercises. The Doctors of Physical Therapy at Accelerate Physical Therapy create individualized exercise programs for upper extremity injuries based on your condition, prognosis, and specific injury, helping reduce pain, improve stability, and restore functional use of the arm and hand.
Movement analysis for upper extremity injuries focuses on evaluating how the shoulders, arms, elbows, wrists, and hands move during daily activities. Your physical therapist will assess both the quality and quantity of movements that may contribute to your pain, including reaching, lifting, pushing, pulling, gripping, and overhead activities.
Through one-on-one movement analysis you will gain insight into how your movement patterns impact your upper extremity injuries. Your physical therapist will provide education on proper movement mechanics and positioning to reduce stress on joints and soft tissues, and reinforce improved movement patterns in your daily activities. Follow-up sessions are designed to build long-term habits that support recovery and prevent re-injury.
Neuro re-education for upper extremity injuries is a specialized physical therapy technique used to restore proper movement by improving the connection between the brain and the muscles of the shoulder, arm, and hand. This approach targets motor control deficits often associated with pain, weakness, or dysfunction.
It focuses on when, where, and how muscles activate, including coordination, timing, and sequencing of movement. Your physical therapist will use visual, auditory, and tactile cues to improve movement patterns, activate underused muscles, and relax overactive muscles. This helps restore efficient, pain-free movement and is essential for long-term recovery from upper extremity injuries.
Upper Extremity Injury FAQ
Find answers to common questions about physical therapy for upper extremity injuries and how Accelerate Physical Therapy can help you recover strength, mobility, and function.
Yes, physical therapy is highly effective for treating upper extremity injuries. At Accelerate Physical Therapy, treatment focuses on reducing pain, restoring mobility, and improving strength in the shoulders, elbows, wrists, and hands through targeted therapy and exercise.
Physical therapy can treat a wide range of upper extremity injuries, including rotator cuff injuries, shoulder impingement, tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, wrist pain, tendonitis, and hand injuries. Each treatment plan is customized to your specific condition and goals.
Treatment for upper extremity injuries may include manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, movement analysis, and neuro re-education. These approaches help reduce pain, improve mobility, restore strength, and correct movement patterns.
Recovery time depends on the severity of the injury, but many patients begin to see improvement within a few weeks of starting physical therapy. Consistent treatment and adherence to a personalized plan can help speed up recovery.
While some minor upper extremity injuries may improve over time, physical therapy helps address the root cause of pain, reduce the risk of chronic issues, and prevent future injuries. Early treatment often leads to better outcomes.
Physical therapy for upper extremity injuries helps reduce pain, improve strength and flexibility, restore proper movement, and prevent future injuries. It provides a safe, effective, and non-invasive solution for long-term recovery.
Service Options
We offer three service options for your convenience:
Accelerate Physical Therapy
Types of Injuries We Treat
The Doctors of Physical Therapy at Accelerate PT specialize in the evaluation and treatment of any and all orthopedic related injuries. Orthopedic injuries refer to anything affecting the musculoskeletal system (i.e. muscles, joints, ligaments, tendons, bones, as well as nerves as they interface through each of these structures). Sports specific injuries, work related injuries, and injuries caused by a motor vehicle accident fall under the orthopedic umbrella. Pre and post-operative care is intended to improve mobility, muscle performance, and motor control in individuals with surgical intervention to alleviate pain.
