Shoulder Pain
Learn how your shoulder functions
The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint formed by the head of the humerus and the glenoid labrum. The humerus being the arm bone, and the glenoid labrum being the socket of the shoulder joint in the scapula. This incredibly mobile joint allows for great freedom of the arm, even more so then the hip joint. This extra mobility can make the shoulder joint less stable. The supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis, and teres minor are the four rotator cuff muscles surrounding the joint, allowing it to move freely and provide stability. Most of the shoulder pain that people suffer from is generated from one of these four muscles.
Common Causes Of Shoulder Pain
Find out what could be causing your shoulder pain
Shoulder pain can be caused by many things, from a sports injury to a car accident, or a chronic condition such as arthritis. Other times, you may not even know where the pain originates from, but you should still explore how LifeGiving Chiropractic can help you. There are several common causes of shoulder pain:
- Dislocation – A dislocated shoulder occurs when your upper arm bone, which connects to the shoulder socket, becomes out of place. This can often occur as a sports injury, slip and fall, or repeated use that stretches your muscles.
- Frozen Shoulder – Frozen shoulder is a layman’s term for a condition known as adhesive capsulitis. It’s a degenerative condition, meaning that it worsens over time instead of having a sudden onset, like a dislocation. The main symptoms of frozen shoulder are stiffness and pain at the joint and decreased range of motion.
- Shoulder Bursitis – This condition results from inflammation in the bursa, a small fluid-filled sac that acts as a barrier between your shoulder tendon and the bone. The bursa is meant to serve as a cushion, reducing erosion, friction, and abrasion between the muscle and bone. When the bursa becomes inflamed, it fails to do its job correctly and can result in the pain it is meant to prevent.
- Arthritis – Arthritis is a degenerative condition that worsens over time, with a slow onset. Unlike a shoulder dislocation, frozen shoulder, or shoulder bursitis, arthritis can affect any joint in the body. It’s caused by inflammation, and when it affects the shoulder joint causes pain or stiffness.
- Poor Posture – As with so many chiropractic conditions, shoulder pain does not have to result from a severe injury or chronic condition, but can also be caused by something as simple as poor posture. Sleeping on your side, which causes extended periods of shoulder pressure, can be one of these common causes.
How Can Chiropractic Care Help?
Find out how chiropractic care can ease your pain
Chiropractic adjustments for shoulder pain are used to address the underlying cause of pain. Even if a joint has not been dislocated, it may not be positioned in a way that allows the neuromuscular system to function properly. The body uses pain to let us know that something is not exactly right. Signals, registered as pain, will let us know that something needs attention. Chiropractic adjustments will gently shift your muscles and joints back into place, help you address any underlying posture disparities, or identify any serious conditions that will need additional physical training. If you are feeling any chronic shoulder pain, the skilled chiropractors as LifeGiving Chiropractic can help, contact us today!
Still, want to learn more?
Check Out the Frequently Asked Questions About Shoulder Pain
How Do You Know if Your Shoulder is Out of Alignment?
Problems with your shoulder can be detrimental to your life. The question comes of whether or not you know your shoulder is out of alignment. In some instances, you could have an unstable shoulder joint that was typically caused by an injury or overuse of the joint. In some other cases, it’s possible that it could be a dislocated shoulder which is most commonly caused by an injury. One common denominator these two conditions have is pain, which is the primary indicator that your shoulder may be out of alignment.
With shoulder instability, the pain and weakness can come on slowly and build over time, or it can be suddenly painful. In some cases, you may only notice it when making a particular motion, and it goes away when you avoid that movement. However, a dislocated shoulder is often very painful, swollen, has a noticeable deformity, bruising, and the inability to move the joint. Both of these conditions require you to be seen to address the issues with your shoulder alignment. Some of the treatment options for an unstable shoulder include rest, physical therapy, and icing. Treatment options for a dislocated shoulder include closed reduction, medication, immobilization, and in some cases, surgery. When in doubt about your shoulder’s alignment, seek medical attention
What is Shoulder Impingement, and How Can Chiropractors Help?
Think about your movements on any given day. There’s a good chance that almost every move you make involves your shoulders in one way or another. Injuries to your shoulder can have a lasting impact on your life. One common issue, especially with older adults, is shoulder impingement. Shoulder impingement is also known as impingement syndrome. In most cases, this condition is caused by overuse.
What happens with your shoulder is that the rotator cuff is injured, which causes inflammation to the muscles. Due to this inflammation, the rotator cuff can be rubbed against the shoulder bone, increasing the damage and pain that the patient experiences. Not taking care of this issue early can result in tears or a ripped rotator cuff. Seeing a chiropractor can make a difference in your shoulder impingement issues. Your chiropractor will examine your shoulder and ensure that shoulder impingement is the correct diagnosis, and then set up a treatment plan based on your particular situation. They may determine you need an adjustment to help with your underlying cause. Your treatment method will more than likely include exercises that will help you minimize the complications of this condition and help you heal.
Can a Chiropractor Help Arthritis in My Shoulder?
The pain of arthritis can feel like your body is out to get you. It can be very debilitating, along with being demoralizing. You may wonder whether or not a chiropractor can help with the arthritis in your shoulder. It can be very beneficial to see a chiropractor and discuss your arthritis pain in your shoulders or elsewhere. There are a few types of arthritis. First, there is osteoarthritis, which occurs when the cartilage of a joint is worn away over time or due to a condition. Eventually, it can get to the point where the bone is rubbing on bone without the benefit of the cartilage. Second, rheumatoid arthritis is another concern, and this arthritis occurs when there is inflammation of the joint. The inflammation can cause pain and potentially damage the bones and cartilage. Both of these conditions can be very painful.
Seeking the help of a chiropractor can be helpful, even if you only occasionally feel joint pain from arthritis. During your initial visit, a chiropractor will examine you to determine precisely what’s going on with your shoulder and create a treatment plan to help you choose the best way to handle your arthritis. Treatment plans often include chiropractic adjustments, exercises, laser therapy, supplements, and more. In addition, your treatment plan will be personalized to help you succeed in feeling better.