Many of us have experienced shoulder pain that just won’t go away. Shoulder injuries can be quite a nuisance. A shoulder injury may prevent you from performing everyday activities, such as exercise. When rest or pain medication have not helped alleviate your pain, it may be time to visit a chiropractor.
People usually visit a chiropractor for spine, neck, or back injuries. However, chiropractors can also help patients with shoulder pain. Chiropractors can help patients determine the cause of their pain and develop a treatment plan to help patients recover faster. Let’s take a closer look at some common causes for shoulder pain and chiropractic treatments that can help.
Common Causes For Shoulder Pain
Your shoulder contains some of the most vulnerable joints in your body. There are three bones that come together to make the shoulder: the clavicle (collar bone), the scapula (shoulder blade), and humerus (upper arm bone). The bones that make up your shoulder are held together by muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
Due to the complex makeup of your shoulder, it is extremely susceptible to a number of different injuries. We use our shoulders for more activities than people realize. Some common reasons people suffer shoulder injuries are:
- Exercise
- Swimming
- Tennis, baseball, football, basketball, lacrosse, hockey, or other sports
- Weightlifting
- Work that requires heavy lifting
- Home improvement tasks
- Gardening
The point is that there are a lot of activities that can lead to shoulder pain. Shoulder injuries can be caused by repetitive or excessive overhead movement of the arms. These types of injuries usually come from a strain or sprain of the muscles, tendons, or ligaments in the shoulder.
Some people may be suffering from shoulder pain due to other complications, such as:
- Arthritis
- Tendonitis
- Bursitis
- Bone fractures
- Separated shoulder
- Frozen shoulder syndrome
Common Shoulder Injuries Chiropractors Treat
Chiropractors can help people with shoulder pain for a number of different injuries. Some of the most common shoulder injuries chiropractors see patients for include:
Dislocation
Dislocation of the shoulder occurs when the shoulder is moved out of its proper place. People who have a dislocated shoulder often feel the sensation of their shoulder slipping or popping when they move it. This can lead to pain and instability within the shoulder joint.
Rotator Cuff Issues
Another common injury people may visit a chiropractor for is a rotator cuff injury. The rotator cuff is composed of a series of ligaments, tendons, and muscles that hold the shoulder together. As the name suggests, the rotator cuff allows you to move your arm up and over your head.
Injuries to the rotator cuff are usually due to tears, strains, or sprains which can impede movement and create pain. Some rotator cuff injuries may cause permanent damage that may leave you with less mobility and range of motion than you previously had.
Impingement
Impingement is a condition in which the shoulder blade rubs against the shoulder muscles, creating inflammation. This type of injury is usually caused by repetitive or excessive use of the shoulder to perform overhead movements. If left untreated, impingement can lead to worsening injuries and permanent damage to the shoulder’s range of motion.
Neck Pain
Neck pain is often related to shoulder pain and can stem from a shoulder injury. Shoulder injuries can decrease range of motion and the neck making it difficult to move your head around. A chiropractor is an excellent doctor to see for both neck and shoulder pain issues. They can determine the root cause of your pain and start treatment at the source.
Chiropractic Treatment For Shoulder Pain
There are a number of different treatment techniques a chiropractor may use to help with your shoulder pain. Injuries can vary from person to person and will require a personalized treatment plan. Your chiropractor will help tailor your treatments to what they believe will help you recover in the safest and fastest way possible.
Massage
Massage can be an excellent and safe treatment for a number of different soft tissue injuries. Chiropractors may use traditional hand massage, or some chiropractors offer hydromassage.
Hydromassage is a type of massage where patients lay on a specialized table that uses pressurized jets to massage people with warm, soothing water.
Massage is effective for treatment because it helps to relax the soft tissues in the injured areas of the body. The pressure placed on the targeted areas of the body through massage helps improve circulation and promote blood flow. This helps the body recover faster.
Chiropractic Adjustment
Chiropractic adjustments are one of the most common forms of chiropractic treatment. Adjustments involve manual manipulation of the shoulder to help correct alignment and positioning.
Chiropractors commonly use adjustments to correct alignment in the neck and spine as well which can help reduce shoulder pain. Chiropractic adjustments help alleviate pain, reduce inflammation, and decrease risk for muscle spasms.
Posture Correction
One of the main reasons people can develop shoulder pain is poor posture. Many adults in this country develop poor posture from working office jobs where they are hunched over a computer all day.
A chiropractor can help you correct your posture. They will show you where your body should be to be considered in correct posture. Then they will work with you to correct your posture over time. The posture in which we hold ourselves is a habit and it may take several sessions to help you achieve a better posture.
Electrostimulation Therapy
Electrostimulation therapy is a great treatment for safely promoting healing to injured areas of the body. This technique uses electric waves to stimulate sore muscles. These electric pulses help improve blood flow which in turns helps the body recover faster from injury.
Exercise
Your chiropractor may also give you rehabilitation exercises that can be performed at home as part of your treatment. These exercises are specifically designed to help strengthen your shoulder without worsening your injuries.
Recommended exercises may include:
- Small arm circles rotating direction every 30 seconds
- Using arm rests to slowly lift yourself in and out of a chair
- Performing push ups against a wall while standing
- Resistance band exercises
Need to Speak With A Chiropractor?
If you have been dealing with shoulder pain that will not go away, it may be time to speak with a chiropractor. Chiropractors go through years of training and education to learn how to provide quality health and wellness care to their patients. Treating shoulder pain is absolutely a part of that care.
It is never a good idea to delay treatment and allow your injuries to become worse. If you live in Pinellas, the Injury Help Foundation can help connect you with excellent chiropractors like Dr. Strubbe.
