Your shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint with three main bones: the humerus (the longer of your two arm bones), the clavicle (your collarbone), and the scapula (your shoulder blade). Your shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body and has a wide range of motion. This is because of the rotator cuff: muscles and tendons which support the bones in the shoulder.
Identifying Shoulder Pain Causes
If you are experiencing shoulder pain, it can stem from various factors including:
- Muscle strain
- Poor posture
- Inflammation of the joints, or arthritis
- Tendonitis and bursitis
- Underlying health conditions
Repetitive strain may lead to overuse injuries. For example, have you ever had a sore shoulder after playing tennis? The repetitive action of swinging your racquet to hit the ball can put strain on the ligaments and muscles of your shoulder, especially if they are not warmed up properly beforehand. Or, if you spent the weekend painting your fence, the up-and-down action with each stroke of the paintbrush can cause similar issues. If these activities are regularly repeated, they may cause longer-term shoulder pain.
Types of Shoulder Pain
Anatomically, the shoulder is composed of bones, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, muscles, and nerves. Because of this, your chiropractor will ask detailed questions, and then perform a thorough examination. This allows them to get clear on what might be causing your pain, as well as what may have contributed to that pain occurring in the first place. For example, they may ask:
- Is your pain in one shoulder, or both?
- Does the pain stop when you are not moving the shoulder?
- Is the pain sharp, or a dull ache?
- Does the pain extend to anywhere else in the body?
- Are you experiencing any other symptoms such as nausea or a headache?
Pain in the shoulder blade area may indicate issues with the muscles, nerves, spine, or joints in the upper back or neck. So, your chiropractor may ask about these areas surrounding the shoulder, to get a clear picture of what’s happening for you.
Front shoulder pain may be linked to conditions like rotator cuff injuries, bursitis, or frozen shoulder. You may be asked to indicate exactly where in the shoulder you are experiencing discomfort, and whether you’ve had any injuries to the shoulder, either recently or in the past.
Chiropractic Care for Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain and discomfort are commonly treated challenges at Liberty Health & Happiness.
By working with you to understand your shoulder discomfort, your chiropractor can assess the root cause of shoulder pain and tailor a treatment plan to address your individual needs and goals.
Chiropractic care offers non-invasive, drug-free approaches to help relieve shoulder pain and discomfort and restore function and mobility. There are a range of different options to support your shoulder recovery. Treatment may involve spinal adjustments, soft tissue therapy, rehabilitative exercises, and ergonomic recommendations, depending on the type of injury or condition you are experiencing. Our emphasis is on restoring proper alignment, improving mobility, and preventing further injury.
If you are experiencing shoulder discomfort, feel free to contact us to discuss ways in which we can support you, and help get you back playing tennis, or painting your fence as soon as possible.
Disclaimer:
All information is general and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Liberty Health & Happiness can consult with you to confirm if chiropractic treatment is right for you.
References:
- Alzeer, J., (2023). Integrating Medicine with Lifestyle for Personalised and Holistic Healthcare. Accessed 3rd April 2024 from https://jphe.amegroups.org/article/view/9442/html
- American College of Rheumatology. Tendinitis, Bursitis. Accessed 3rd April 2024 from https://www.rheumatology.org/I-Am-A/Patient-Caregiver/Diseases-Conditions/Tendinitis-Bursitis
- Anatomy, shoulder and Upper Limb, Shoulder. Accessed 3rd April 2024 from
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK536933/#:~:text=The%20shoulder%20girdle%20is%20composed,scapulothoracic%20joints%2C%20and%20glenohumeral%20joint.
- Athwal GS, et al. (2018). Shoulder pain and common shoulder problems. Accessed 3rd April 2024 from
https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/shoulder-pain-and-common-shoulder-problems/ - Hains, G. (2002) Chiropractic management of shoulder pain and dysfunction of myofascial origin using ischemic compression techniques. Accessed April 3rd 2024 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2504982/
- How Repetitive Motion Fuels Shoulder Pain. Accessed 3rd April 2024 from https://www.cosmc.org/blog/how-repetitive-motion-fuels-shoulder-pain#:~:text=Repetitive%20motion%20damage,to%20painful%20rotator%20cuff%20injuries.
