Daily activities can become difficult and incapacitating due to shoulder pain. In extreme circumstances, it might take away a person’s movement and independence. In extreme circumstances, surgery might be required to fix the damage or address the root causes of your pain.  

However, there can be non-surgical solutions available depending on the cause of the pain or the type of injury. One of these alternatives is chiropractic care for shoulder pain. 

Shoulder Pain Types 

Shoulder pain can be brought on by a variety of ailments and accidents. Today, improper posture may be the most frequent non-sport or non-injury-related cause of back discomfort. It is no surprise that poor posture is a leading cause of shoulder pain given how much technology is permeating our everyday lives and how many occupations need you to spend hours a day in front of a computer screen or gazing down at your phone. 

You might not even be aware of how your posture is affected by staring at a device. Your shoulders are likely rolled forward and your back is rounded as you read this. You are likely craning forward and your head is lower than it normally would be if you were not on your phone or computer.  

All of these result in abnormal tension on the back and shoulder muscles, connective tissues, and joints. Your spine and joints become misaligned and compressed as a result of this over time. If the problem is not fixed, this may worsen the pain and discomfort while also raising the risk of damage. 

Shoulder pain might also result from: 

Arthritis: The most prevalent forms are in the knee and hip, although it can also affect the shoulder. Joint inflammation known as arthritis causes pain, stiffness, and a deterioration of the joint’s protecting cartilage. Depending on how bad the problem is, a joint replacement can be required. 

Bursitis: A bursa, or fluid-filled sac, that is between a tendon and skin or a bone becomes inflamed, is the medical term for this condition. The bursa serves as a joint protector and promotes fluid mobility. However, an irritated bursa can result in severe discomfort and reduced movement. The most typical prognosis for patients with widespread shoulder pain is this one. 

Calcium deposits in the tendons of the rotator cuff, a substantial band of connective tissues that connects the muscles of the chest and back to the shoulder, causing a condition known as calcific tendonitis. Tendonitis, an inflammation of the tendons, and joint stiffness are brought on by calcification. The severity of the symptoms will determine how to treat calcific tendinitis. 

Frozen shoulder is a frequent ailment in which the connective tissue surrounding the glenohumeral joint of the shoulder becomes inflamed, resulting in rigidity of the joint and persistent pain. This condition is also referred to as “adhesive capsulitis.” The main treatments for this illness are stretching and physical therapy. 

Shoulder sprains 

Tendon Ruptures: When tendons are overused or suffer an abrupt injury, they can rupture. Weightlifters frequently suffer from this injury. 

Dislocation: A dislocation happens when the scapula (the shoulder bone) and the top of the humerus (the upper arm bone) separate (shoulder blade). Usually, a dislocation can be easily reset. The surrounding tissues may be traumatized, leading to tendinitis, rips, and instability. 

Tendonitis: Tendonitis is an irritation or inflammation of the tendons. When tendons are squeezed under the bony arch of the shoulder, rotator cuff tendonitis develops. This ailment can happen from everyday wear and tear or an injury, but baseball pitchers are particularly prone to it. 

Tears: This describes a lesion or tears in the cartilage or connective tissues of a joint. When cartilage in the shoulder cup tears, which typically happens during a dislocation, labral tears result. SLAP injuries These rips could never completely mend, which would result in ongoing joint instability. Tendons separating from shoulder bones result in rotator cuff tears. 

A joint that has become loose either as a consequence of a traumatic injury or as a result of other circumstances is referred to as being unstable. Shoulder joint instability may be caused by ongoing discomfort or stiffness. 

The clavicle (collar bone), which is connected to the acromion, a bony protrusion on the shoulder blade, separates to cause a shoulder separation, also known as an AC separation. Although it is extremely different from a dislocation, this kind of injury is frequently mistaken for one. 

Many of these wounds or problems don’t require surgery to heal. However, some conditions are so serious that surgery is the only solution. Nevertheless, chiropractic care for shoulder pain during post-operative physical therapy almost always helps the patient. 

 

My shoulder hurts; how might a chiropractor help? 

Chiropractic medicine is an integrative kind of regenerative medicine that focuses on the identification of neuromuscular disorders and the treatment of these problems using manual spine manipulation and/or adjustment. A chiropractor realigns the spine to ease discomfort and pressure on the connective tissues in the shoulder using mild pressure and specific techniques. However, chiropractic care for shoulder discomfort doesn’t just concentrate on your spine’s alignment. 

At Primary Health Center Chiropractic, we treat each patient as a whole. We are aware that a variety of factors, including your dietary habits, exercise routine, and family and medical history, might contribute to joint and shoulder pain.  

Your chiropractor will also consider other potential causes, such as your leisure and employment activities. Your doctor can assist in easing your discomfort, regaining mobility, and aiding in the prevention of further injuries by addressing any underlying or contributing issues. 

To help you through the healing process, a chiropractor may also recommend additional forms of pain relief and treatment. Stability is increased and optimal alignment is maintained with the use of targeted exercises to strengthen supporting muscles.  

Massage and stretches help increase flexibility and regain range of motion. Pressure on the spine can be relieved and discomfort can be reduced by traction. Some of these techniques might be more suitable than others for your ailment depending on it; you can discuss this with your chiropractor. 

 

Call one of our qualified doctors at Primary Health Center Chiropractic at (703) 354-8111 if you’re curious to learn more about chiropractic care for shoulder discomfort.