Shoulder Pain: How to find relief naturally at Ashforth Chiropractic
Did you know… your shoulder is the most unstable and moveable joint in your body. Mobility combined with the instability makes shoulder pain one of the most common reasons for a person to visit their doctor.
The shoulder’s wide range of motion is facilitated by four primary muscles and their tendons, which together are called the rotator cuff. The most common source of pain in the shoulder is the tendons. Your tendons attach the muscles of the shoulder to the bones. When you do repetitive motions like lifting things over your head, or having poor ergonomics on the computer, or poor posture with your shoulders rounded, you irritate the tendons leading to tendonitis.
Shoulder dysfunction leads to pain, and tears
Poor motion in the shoulder also can cause a tendons to get pinched between or under the bones of your shoulder, and can result in shoulder impingement. At this stage the continued rubbing further irritates the tendon, leading to a popping sound when moving the shoulder around. This repetitive dysfunctional movement eventually causes the tendon(s) to fray and tear. If a tendon in your shoulder becomes torn, you guessed it – you have a rotator cuff tear.
What NOT to do if you have pain in your shoulder
If your shoulder becomes inflamed or an impingement or a minor tear occurs, you may make the mistake of avoiding using your arm to help it heal. This is not the best thing for you or your shoulder. It may surprise you to learn that controlled movement is one of the best ways to heal. Not moving your shoulder can actually contribute to more pain – or even lead to a frozen shoulder!
Chiropractic Can Help
So how does chiropractic care fit into helping your shoulder pain?
Your shoulder and spine work together. While it may seem like they are two completely different and independent areas of the body, research has shown that postural abnormalities can play a significant role in your likelihood of developing shoulder pain.
Maintaining a full range of motion in your shoulder and in the spinal joints of your neck and mid-back can help reduce your chances of experiencing shoulder pain. If the shoulder joint is not moving properly or is impinged, we can adjust the shoulder and restore normal motion to the shoulder and the scapula (shoulder blade). In addition, we can improve motion to the cervical and thoracic spine to reduce stress at the shoulder.
With proper motion restored we then give controlled exercises designed to increase the range of motion at the shoulder as well as strengthen and stabilize its supporting muscles.
Your next step
You can get relief from shoulder pain without medications and surgery. If you’ve been living with shoulder discomfort or difficulty moving, take a moment to contact us for a complete evaluation. We’ll work together with you to create a movement-based plan that gives you the best chance of finding long-term relief, naturally.
Thanks for letting me be your chiropractor.
Science Source(s): Immediate Effects of Spinal Manipulation on Shoulder Motion Range and Pain in Individuals with Shoulder Pain: A Randomized Trial. J Chiropr Med. 2019