Frozen Shoulder

Also known as adhesive capsulitis, a frozen shoulder is a persistent and painful stiffness that often limits the range of shoulder movement. Frozen shoulders mostly occur when there is swelling, tightening, or thickening of tissues surrounding the shoulder.

People with frozen shoulders find simple tasks such as dressing impossible. You may also be unable to drive and even sleeping becomes a chore. In worst cases, you may not be able to move your shoulder at all.

Rotator Cuff Disorders

The rotator cuff consists of tendons and muscles around the shoulder joint. Tendons are tough cords that link your muscles to your bones. This network of muscles and tendons helps to keep the shoulder in position, enabling it to move in a controlled way.

There are two main types of rotator cuff injuries: tendonitis and bursitis. Tendonitis refers to inflammation or swelling of the tendons. Bursitis is inflammation of the bursa (a small fluid-filled sac found in the shoulder joint, between the bones and the tendons).

Torn Muscles

Muscle tears are generally also considered rotator cuff disorders. The simplest way to know if you have a muscle tear is severe pain in the shoulder. The affected arm may also become weaker, while some people have reported a popping sensation when they move the shoulder.

These tears are most common in adults aged 40 or older, caused by impingement syndrome. It is estimated that nearly half of people over 60 have partial to complete shoulder tears. In younger people, tears tend to be associated with accidents.

Shoulder Instability

The shoulder joint comprises a ball and a socket. The top of the upper arm bone forms the ball which then fits into the socket formed by the shoulder blade. When you have shoulder instability, the ball has not fit perfectly in the socket. Maybe there is slipping, or it could be a total shoulder dislocation.

Shoulder instability can cause tingling, weakness, numbness, or fatigue in the arm. Some people may also experience clicking or locking and feel a popping sensation on the affected shoulder.

Chiropractic Treatments For Painful Shoulders & Neck

It all begins with a thorough diagnosis. Since the shoulder is complex, your chiropractor will commence by looking through the patient’s medical history to understand whether the condition is a symptom of an underlying disease. Then, he or she will perform extensive examinations to determine the exact location and extent of the damage.

Once a diagnosis has been made, treatment usually starts with resting the injured shoulder. Specific resting techniques, if applied correctly, can significantly allow the shoulder’s pain to subside over a short period. After resting, the following are other techniques that a chiropractor can use to treat shoulder pain:

Ice and heat application

Ice packs and heat pads are effective in relieving shoulder pain. But you need to know when to heat and when to use ice packs. Fortunately, chiropractors are experts in this.

Stretching

Stretching can also help to reduce shoulder pain. But, remember that the same stretching can worsen joint pains. That’s why a chiropractor’s expertise is key when applying stretching movements.

Exercise

Finally, rehabilitation exercise is crucial in treating these pains. But again, knowing which exercises can help and when to begin exercising is important. The chiropractor will provide professional advice on both.

In most cases, these treatments should be sufficient to resolve shoulder pain. However, if your situation doesn’t improve, the chiropractor can recommend further courses of treatment.

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