How Chiropractic Care Can Help That Killer Shoulder Pain

Your shoulders support more than the weight of the world! They’re also the most flexible joints in the body. Shoulders are made of a network of muscles, ligaments, tendons, and other soft tissue that allow a huge range of motion. This makes them prone to injury.

Shoulder pain is common among athletes of all types and people with jobs that require a lot of overhead motion. Of course, the wear and tear that comes with age can also be a cause of shoulder pain. 

Common Reasons for Shoulder Pain

The most common cause of shoulder pain is rotator cuff tendinitis (also referred to as impingement). The condition causes severe pain and loss of mobility due to inflammation. 

Other common causes of shoulder pain are: 

• Osteoarthritis arthritis of the shoulder joint
• Cartilage tear
• Misalignment in the spine or neck
• Sprains and strains
• Strains
• Bursitis
• Bone spurs
• Previous shoulder dislocation or other injury

Why Should You See a Chiropractor for Shoulder Pain?

Chiropractic treatment is an effective solution for all types of body pains, including shoulder pain. A trained chiropractor can address pain in different parts of the body through non-invasive methods.

Chiropractic Care Versus Prescription Medicines

Prescription pain medications can help with pain temporarily. They work faster but never get to the root cause of the pain or discomfort. As a result, the pain comes back when the effect of the medicine wears off. Chiropractic care, on the other hand, identifies the cause of the shoulder pain and addresses it. If there is a tear or another problem that chiropractic care can’t solve, you’ll be referred to an orthopedic specialist.   

Chiropractic Care Versus Shoulder Surgery

When possible, it’s best to avoid surgical procedures if there are other solutions. Chiropractic care can help realign bone and muscle structures and promote the healing of muscles and tendons. In some cases, surgery may be necessary, but patients often find that chiropractic care after surgery can help them from having long-term issues with stiffness or pain. 

Once you’ve completed your post-surgery physical therapy, a regular session with a chiropractor can help you stay aligned and avoid stiffness in the rotator cuff and surrounding shoulder muscles and tendons.

How is Shoulder Pain Treated With Chiropractic Care?

Spine Manipulation

This is used to realign the spine, neck and other skeletal structures. Sometimes the cause of pain is misalignment. It may take a few adjustments to get things back in line so that you don’t have pain in your spine, neck, shoulder, hips or other areas of the body. It’s also a good way to prevent future pain.

Cold Laser Therapy

The treatment involves the application of a low-intensity laser to the affected region that rushes blood flow to the area to promote healing of the damaged tissues. Laser treatment can be applied to muscles, ligaments, cartilages, and nerves. 

Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS)

Electrical muscle stimulation sends electrical pulses as signals to an injured muscle to increase blood flow for quicker healing. It can be used as a stand-alone treatment method or can be combined with other therapies.

Creating a Chiropractic Treatment Plan for Shoulder Pain

When you visit a chiropractor for the first time, the chiropractor is looking to identify the causes of your pain and develop a customized plan to help you receive the care you need. You are most likely to go through the following steps. Depending on your situation, the staff at Village Chiropractic can treat you with the use of massage therapy, spinal adjustment, electrical muscle stimulation, traction, or cold laser therapy.

Step 1: The patient will be asked to provide details about the pain, symptoms, and previous injuries. Pre-existing medical conditions, ongoing treatments, and family medical history must also be shared. 

Step 2: A complete chiropractic examination will be done. This exam covers your basic medical history and current physical condition. Pulse, blood pressure, temperature, posture positioning and mobility are all assessed to determine your existing condition. 

Step 3: Diagnostic tests like X-Ray may be needed to diagnose the condition more accurately. If you have already been given a diagnosis, such as shoulder impingement, or you had a surgery already for your shoulder pain, please share that information and any images that were already performed -- even if they’re older. This helps the chiropractor compare how the shoulder looked previous to what it looks like now.

Step 4: The diagnosis is complete, and a personalized treatment plan is created. The details of the treatment plan can vary from person to person. 

Simple Tips to Handle Shoulder Pain at Home

Here are some helpful things you can do at home to help your shoulder heal faster, especially when combined with chiropractic care and/or physical therapy.

• Rest. This can be hard if your job requires extensive shoulder motion, or if your sport requires it. But continuing to use it can cause more damage. Allow enough time for the injury to heal and treatments to take effect. 
• When the pain starts, create a routine of alternating ice and heat therapies to reduce swelling and reduce pain. 

• Stretch and do some flexibility exercises that can relieve the tension in your muscles. Talk to the chiropractor about what’s safe for you.
• Use over the counter medications such as Advil, Aleve or Tylenol to help relieve pain during the healing process. If this doesn’t work, talk to the doctor about a stronger pain medication or muscle relaxer for temporary use.

Shoulder Pain Chiropractic Care in The Woodlands

Village Chiropractic in The Woodlands offers tailored shoulder pain relief and pain prevention plans. Whether you’re trying to avoid surgery, or you’d like to be sure you do all you can to prevent the pain from returning after surgery, contact us for an appointment. We will help by creating a plan that’s tailored for you.