19 Dec What to Know About Shoulder Pain
Your shoulder is a natural wonder. Its complex structure provides the widest range of motion of any joint in your body.
This complexity may also make it easier for painful conditions to arise. Sometimes, shoulder pain is disruptive enough to interfere with your ability to perform self-care tasks.
At Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic, we’ll help you to be proactive in caring for your shoulders–and your whole body–to relieve pain and minimize future problems.
The Anatomy of Your Shoulder
Your shoulder actually has three parts: the clavicle (collarbone), the scapula (shoulder blade) and the humerus (upper arm bone).
Your upper arm bone attaches to your shoulder blade by fitting loosely into a round socket. The muscles and tendons holding it all together are known as the rotator cuff. This structure gives your shoulder impressive flexibility that lets you reach in nearly any direction.
Causes of Shoulder Pain
The risk of developing shoulder problems increases as you get older. When trouble comes, people often notice discomfort when they try to reach behind their back or over their head.
Note: if your pain onset is sudden or severe, get immediate medical attention to rule out a serious cause.
Generally, pain in shoulders can develop when muscles or bones around the rotator cuff become unstable or impinge on surrounding tissues due to injury or inflammation.
Sometimes shoulder trouble causes pain in your arm. Or a neck problem may make your shoulder hurt.
A variety of conditions can cause shoulder pain, including:
- Poor posture
- Frozen shoulder (impaired movement due to muscle pain and stiffness)
- Arthritis (cartilage deteriorates, allowing bones to rub together)
- Calcific tendinitis (calcium deposits forming painfully within tendons)
- Fracture, separation or dislocation of shoulder
- Nerve injuries
- Tears in rotator cuff tendons, causing pain and weakness
- Bone spurs
- Bursitis (inflammation of the bursa, a protective fluid sac that aids mobility)
- Injuries caused by repetitive movements of arms and nearby muscles
Preventing Shoulder Pain
Good habits include:
- Practicing good posture, so all the components of your shoulder are in the correct position.
- Avoiding repetitive activities that can cause overuse injury.
- Doing exercises that stretch and strengthen shoulder muscles and tendons.
- Getting good shoulder maintenance with regular chiropractic care.
Chiropractic Care for Your Shoulder
When you’re in pain, other parts of your body try to compensate, leading to further inflammation. Pain medications may ease pain but mask the source.
Your shoulders work in concert with your whole musculoskeletal system. Misalignments can create problems not only in the shoulder, but also in your neck and spine, whether or not you’ve had an actual injury. This is where treatments with your chiropractor come in.
Your chiropractor performs a complete exam to diagnose the root cause of your pain. Treatments may include adjustments of the shoulder and spinal joints, massage to loosen muscles and improve circulation, and other therapies.
Chiropractors can also prescribe exercises to improve posture, strength and flexibility, preventing future misalignment and chance of injury.
The natural, whole-body emphasis of chiropractic care helps your body to heal itself and lower your risk of future pain.
Schedule Your Complimentary Consultation at Our Broken Arrow Office
Get started on maximizing your health potential today! Call Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic at 918-940-4630.