Chiropractic Care for Shoulder Pain: How to Find Relief from Your Pain

The shoulder joint is the most movable joint in the body and one that experiences a great deal of stress. Its wide range of motion is created by four muscles and their tendons. This is called the rotator cuff.

The symptoms of damage to the rotator cuff are:

• Pain or dull ache deep in the shoulder.
• Pain when lifting or lowering the arm, or other arm and shoulder movements.
• Weakness when lifting or rotating the arm when doing normal daily tasks like reaching, dressing, cleaning.
• Tearing sensation or popping in your shoulder.
• A crackling sensation in the joint when moving your shoulder
• Disturbed sleep, especially when lying on the side affected by your rotator cuff injury.

Here are some causes of shoulder joint pain:

• Arthritis in the shoulder joint
• Bone spurs in the shoulder area
• Bursitis, or inflammation of a fluid-filled sac (bursa) that normally protects the joint and helps it move smoothly
• Broken shoulder bone
• Dislocation of the shoulder
• Shoulder separation
• Frozen shoulder, when the shoulder muscles, tendons, and ligaments become stiff and lose flexibility and mobility
• Overuse or injury of tendons
• Injury of nerve injury leading to abnormal shoulder movement
• Tears of the rotator cuff tendons
• Poor shoulder posture and mechanics

Chiropractic care focuses on adjusting the spine and other joints in the body to reduce pain and improve function. The chiropractor first assesses the shoulder joint and surrounding muscles, tendons, and ligaments to determine the cause of the pain and confirm a diagnosis. Once the cause is pinpointed, the chiropractor and their staff develop a treatment plan to work on the problem.

A chiropractic visit for shoulder pain will utilize different chiropractic techniques for each patient. The severity of the pain level and the underlying cause of that pain are the most significant factors the chiropractic team will consider. Patients will begin with an examination of the shoulder to include ultrasound, rest, X-rays, scans, use of a tens unit, or other tests, which will be followed by the manipulative treatments chosen to assist in relieving the patient’s pain and restoring function. The techniques could include gentle stretching and massage and then more aggressive manipulations of the joints and muscles such as electrical stimulation. The goal of any chiropractic treatment is to reduce pain, reduce inflammation, improve the patient’s range of motion and bring the patient to recovery.

Studies have shown chiropractic care is an effective treatment for shoulder pain. Patients’ pain was reduced significantly and the disability caused by the pain was also reduced. In fact, evidence supports chiropractic manipulative therapy as an acceptable option for back, neck, and shoulder pain, as well as the treatment of many extremity conditions. There is a very low risk of serious side effects, also. In general, chiropractic care has shown to be more effective than medical care when dealing with shoulder pain, all with little use of medications or addictive drugs.

Successful chiropractic therapy includes other evidenced-based interventions such as massage, exercise therapy, and educational information on activities that can help. A 2021 research project, reported in an article by Frontiers in Pain Research, indicated that spinal manipulation therapy (SMT) is at least as effective as medication and physical therapy for neck & shoulder pain. The combination of SMT and exercises may be one of the best approaches for the relief of shoulder pain.

So, your daughter’s pain is in good hands with a chiropractor. Call and get started today!