Have you ever experienced a dull, sharp, or tingling pain on your shoulder that radiates down your arm? Shoulder pain affects a person’s quality of life. Unfortunately, it is a common condition, no matter your age or gender, depending on some reasons. But the good news is that shoulder pains are conditions you don’t have to deal with forever.
The Human Shoulder
The human shoulder is a complex, highly mobile structure of many components. It has two joints called glenohumeral and acromioclavicular joints. A strong connective tissue forms the shoulder, keeping the humerus’ head in place in the joint socket.
The joint capsule, lined with a synovial membrane, produces synovial fluid that lubricates and nourishes the joint. In addition, strong tendons, muscles, and ligaments also support your shoulder to make it stable.
What Causes Shoulder Pain?
There are various reasons for shoulder pain, and not all of these are caused by shoulder joint issues or associated structures. Pain with certain movements may indicate an injury to the structures inside the shoulder joint itself.
Below are a few of the leading causes of shoulder pain:
- Osteoarthritis
- Inflammation of the shoulder capsule
- Inflamed bursa
- Injuries and sprains
- Neck and upper back
- Referred pain
- Damage to the axillary nerve
Signs and Symptoms of Shoulder Pain
- Deep pain in the shoulder joint, in the back or front of the shoulder, the upper part of the arm
- Reduced movement or pain when moving shoulders
- Weakness in the shoulder or upper arm area
- Sensations of pins and needles or tingling and burning pain
- Lack of movement after a shoulder dislocation
Ways Chiropractic May Treat Shoulder Pains
Essentially, chiropractic care doesn’t only address pain on your shoulders but also manipulates the musculoskeletal system. It means that it also helps treat migraine problems. Since our shoulders are interconnected with other parts of our body, your chiropractor will also examine your nerves, range, and neck. So, the process involves treating the surrounding areas of your shoulders.
For chronic shoulder pain, for instance. Your chiropractor will most likely suggest that you have a bone scan or an x-ray. This determines the pain to help them plan an effective chiropractic treatment. Below are some ways chiropractic enables you to feel better:
- Reduces inflammation in tissues surrounding the shoulder through ice treatment, electrical stimulation, and ultrasound.
- Removes pressure on spinal nerves that radiates down into the arms and hands through adjustments of the upper spine and neck bone joints (cervical vertebrae).
- Improves balance and alignment through chiropractic adjustments of the back, pelvis, hips, and feet.
- Provides home exercises to improve posture and strengthen muscles around the shoulders (particularly pectoralis minor).
What Your Chiropractors Can Do
- Alignment. This is used to decrease pain and improve the range of motion in your shoulders. Your chiropractor focuses on the proper alignment of your clavicle, shoulder, and scapula.
- Myofascial Release. This kind of shoulder pain treatment relaxes contracted muscles and releases the fascia, covering the muscle.
- Graston Technique. It is an instrument for breaking up scar tissue and adhesions to promote the range of motion.
- Electronic Stimulation (E-Stim). This is used for pain relief and muscle therapy.
Note: If you are suffering from severe shoulder pain or at the same time, having problems with your neck, your chiropractors may use all of these forms of therapy or a combination of two or three.
