Shoulder pain is a common and disabling complaint that affects millions of Americans every year. Shoulder pain is only surpassed by pain in the lower back and knees in terms of the most common areas of musculoskeletal pain.
You likely know that chiropractors are experts at treating back pain and spine issues. However, you may not know is that chiropractic care is an extremely beneficial way to treat shoulder pain as well. Our team of expert chiropractors located in St Charles County, offer a range of healing options for shoulder pain treatment and shoulder pain relief.
Common types of shoulder pain
The most common types of shoulder pain we see at our St. Peters chiropractic clinic include:
- Dislocated Shoulder
- Frozen Shoulder
- Shoulder Bursitis
- Rotator Cuff Injuries
- Strains & Sprains
- Tendonitis
Frozen shoulder
Frozen shoulder is an excruciating and often debilitating condition that results in stiffness, loss of motion and even disability. Frozen shoulder patients are often in their 50’s and 60’s. For patients suffering from frozen shoulder, daily tasks like getting dressed or brushing their hair can become unbearable. Frozen shoulder can also cause sleep disturbance and insomnia. Without proper treatment and intervention, frozen shoulder pain can continue for years.
The majority of frozen shoulder cases are related to an irritation of the upper back’s nerves (thoracic spine) and/or lower neck. When shoulder pain starts in the back and spinal area, chiropractic care can be highly effective for pain relief and treatment.
Common causes of shoulder pain
- Neck and mid-back pain, which typically then transfers to the shoulder. Your chiropractor will examine your mid-back and neck when you come in suffering from shoulder pain.
- Tendinitis and bursitis of the musculature of the rotating cuff can cause impingement syndrome.
- Frozen shoulder, leading to restricted shoulder movement.
- Calcific tendinitis, involving deposits of calcium within a tendon particularly the rotator cuff tendons.
- Shoulder instability, which can stem from injury leading to dislocation or develop over time.
- Shoulder dislocation from a traumatic injury that causes the ball part of the shoulder joint to slip out of its pocket.
- Acromio-Clavicular tear (ligament injury) caused by disruption of the acromioclavicular joint.
- A labral tear which can happen in different patterns; hence specific treatment is needed for each particular pattern.
- Shoulder arthritis which can occur 5-10 years after trauma to a shoulder
- A partial tear to part of the biceps tendon can lead to shoulder pain.
- Referred pain from internal organs, including the heart (heart attacks), pancreas, and gallbladder, can be felt on both shoulders. Gallbladder pain can be felt via the right shoulder, and pain in the pancreas and heart attacks can be felt via the left shoulder.
Signs that you should see a chiropractor for your shoulder pain
- Persistent shoulder pain that continues for days or weeks on end
- Difficulty using your arms to carry objects
- Shoulder pain that affects your ability to fall and stay asleep
- Injuries that result in deformities at the joint
- Difficulty raising your arm
- Signs of infection, including fever, swelling, elevated body temperature, and redness
- Major bruising and/or swelling around your arm or joint
Treatment for posture issues
Poor posture from sitting for prolonged amounts of time while at work or during leisure time can cause a condition called postural syndrome. This common condition happens when your shoulders roll forward and down, toward your chest, while your upper back slouches. Meanwhile, your head extends forward, centering over your chest. Our St. Peters chiropractors can help improve postural syndrome impacts and teach you ways to maintain proper posture.
The health benefits of chiropractic care include:
- Reduced inflammation
- Reduced pain
- Improved flexibility
- Improved range of motion
- Increased muscle strength and tone
These benefits are essential not only for your short-term comfort but also to prevent harm to your shoulders and surrounding body areas in the future.
Improvements in flexibility, motion, and muscle strength can reduce your risk of falls, fractures, sprains, and so on.
If you want to learn more about how our chiropractors can work with you to treat your shoulder pain, contact us today. Our team of experienced chiropractors uses a unique blend of the best chiropractic, acupuncture, laser, massage, wellness, and nutrition-related services to offer various solutions to enhance your health.
