When people think about chiropractic, they tend to focus on treatment for the back and neck. After all, the practice is primarily concerned with the spine, right? While that may be true, chiropractic care has so much more to offer. For example, patients often come seeking relief from generalized pain in their head, shoulders, hands, legs, etc.
Shoulder pain is a particularly common issue. Your shoulders are in such close proximity to the neck and spine, and yet they function independently with their own complex set of muscles, tendons, and nerves. These structures can suffer from injury, just like any other part of the body, and the resulting discomfort may cause a significant decrease in your quality of life. Let’s explore some of the most frequent causes of shoulder injury and how chiropractic can help.
• Tendonitis. This is the inflammation of your rotator cuff. Tendonitis typically results from repetitive overuse of the muscles in your shoulder, often after participating in certain strenuous sports.
• Pinched Nerves. Also known as cervical radiculopathy, compression between the vertebrae in your neck can cause nerves to become pinched. This may lead to a radiating pain, numbness, or tingling in your shoulder.
• Rotator Cuff. The rotator cuff is the series of muscles and tendons that keep your arm in its shoulder socket. Injury can be the result of a traumatic accident, or it may occur gradually over time with use.
• Bursitis. Bursa are sac-like structures that serve to decrease friction between tissue and bone. Bursitis in the shoulder occurs when these bursas become swollen and inflamed, typically due to excess stress.
• Frozen Shoulder. As the name implies, frozen shoulder severely limits the movement and range of your shoulder due to tissue inflammation. Keeping your arm still for long periods of time (e.g., post surgery recovery, having your arm in a cast, etc.) can increase the risk.
• Dislocation. A dislocation occurs when the arm pops out of its shoulder socket. This typically requires the force of a sudden, traumatic injury.
Chiropractors have a number of tools and techniques at their disposal to treat shoulder pain. Cervical spinal manipulation can help release pinched nerves, and gentle applied pressure can increase range of motion and encourage the release of stiff muscles and tendons. The traditional direct thrust technique is invaluable for correcting a dislocated shoulder. If you’re experiencing chronic shoulder pain, ask your chiropractor how you can avoid overuse and injury in the future.
For more helpful tips and tricks, see some of our other published articles. If you’re looking for a chiropractor to call home, consider Chiropractic Health Charlotte for all your needs. Request an appointment through our website to schedule a consultation today!