Shoulder pain can build up due to several reasons, however, the most common ones develop due to an injury or gradually over a period of time. In cases where the pain develops gradually, the symptoms are often minor at first and don’t seem to be a big issue. However, if left ignored these minor problems may become significant issues at a later stage in life.
Stretches and exercises can go a long way toward preventing shoulder injuries, and even towards healing them. Fortunately, chiropractic care can offer shoulder rehabilitation services to relieve chronic shoulder pain or reduce your chances of sustaining an injury in the future.
When to see a chiropractor
Every small pain doesn’t always necessitate chiropractic treatment. It is therefore important to determine the underlying reason behind shoulder pain. This is because shoulder pain is common and can be caused due to sitting for long hours or even due to extensive physical stress such as lifting heavy weights over a long period.
We have listed below some of the conditions where patients may attend a chiropractor for care:
Frozen shoulder
Frozen shoulders usually occur due to the swelling, tightening, or thickening of tissues around the shoulder. Also known as adhesive capsulitis, a frozen shoulder is a painful stiffness that often limits the range of shoulder movement. People with frozen shoulders find it difficult to perform simple tasks. In the worst case, they may not even be able to move their shoulders.
Rotator cuff disorders
The two main types of rotator cuff injuries are tendonitis and bursitis. Tendonitis refers to inflammation or swelling of the tendons, which are tough cords that link the muscles to your bones. Bursitis refers to inflammation of the bursa which is a small fluid-filled sac found in the shoulder joint, between the bones and the tendons.
Muscle Tear
Muscle tears are commonly also considered rotator cuff disorders. The simplest way to know if you have a muscle tear is when you experience severe pain in the shoulder. The affected arm may also become weaker, and some may experience a popping sensation when they move the shoulder.
Shoulder instability
The shoulder is a ball and socket joint made up of three bones, namely the humerus, scapula, and clavicle. Shoulder instability means that the ball does not fit perfectly in the socket which could lead to slipping or total shoulder dislocation. Shoulder instability could cause tingling, weakness, numbness, or fatigue in the arm and some may experience clicking or locking and feel a popping sensation on the affected shoulder.
Chiropractic treatments for painful shoulders
The shoulder is a complex structure and therefore chiropractors will begin with a thorough analysis by checking the patient’s medical history. This may be followed by physical examinations of the joints, muscles, nerves and posture to determine the severity of the injury and its exact location.
After a thorough diagnosis, management can involve a combination of exercises and controlled rest and/or activity. Properly applied resting techniques can allow the pain in the shoulder to significantly reduce over a short period. After resting, chiropractors may adopt other techniques to heal shoulder pain in a natural manner, such as the ones listed below.
Ice and heat application
Ice packs and heat pads are effective in relieving shoulder pain. However, only an experienced chiropractor will let you know when to heat and when to use ice packs, therefore self-treatment should be avoided.
Shoulder Stretches
Stretching helps a lot in reducing shoulder pain and this should be conducted under the guidance of a chiropractor. If you are looking for shoulder stretch chiropractors in Melbourne, reach out to your nearest Wellbeing center.
Rehabilitation Exercise
Finally, rehabilitation exercise is crucial in treating shoulder pains. However, it’s really important to know which exercises can help and when to begin exercising. We again recommend taking an expert’s advice.
Chiropractors at the Wellbeing centers are experts at treating shoulder pain and provide professional advice before recommending further courses of treatment. Book an online appointment today or visit your nearest Wellbeing center to seek the best treatment for your shoulder pain.
