At Back to Mind Chiropractic, our chiropractor answers many questions about shoulder pain every day. This is probably because shoulder pain is very common and can be debilitating, so many people want to learn how to avoid or treat it.
To help our Florida neighbors understand more about shoulder pain, our chiropractors would like to answer some of the most frequently asked questions here.
South Florida Chiropractor Answers Frequently Asked Questions about Shoulder Pain
How common is shoulder pain?
Up to 67 percent of all people experience shoulder pain at some point in their lives, according to Health.com.
Why is the shoulder so vulnerable to injury?
The shoulder is a sophisticated and complex joint made of bones, ligaments, tendons, and muscles that connect your arm to your body.
Your shoulder is a ball and socket joint, formed where your upper arm bone sits in a groove in your shoulder blade. Your rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons surrounding your shoulder joint and holding the bones in place. Muscles allow you to move your shoulder, while tendons hold the muscles onto your bones.
The complexity of the shoulder joint allows you to move your arm in nearly every direction but it also makes your shoulder vulnerable to injury.
What causes shoulder pain?
Shoulder pain may be the result of injuries, strains or sprains, tendinitis, rotator cuff injury, a dislocated shoulder or a frozen shoulder. The injury may be the result of a fall, car accident, overuse or a sports injury.
A sprain is the stretching or tearing of a ligament, which is the tough band of tissue that connects the ends of two bones together to form a joint. A strain is the stretching or tearing of muscles or tendons. Tendinitis is inflammation of a tendon. Rotator cuff injury is an injury to the muscles and tendons holding the upper arm bone to your shoulder blade.
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says that most shoulder problems fall into one of four categories:
- Tendon inflammation or tendon tear
- Instability of the shoulder
- Arthritis
- Fracture
What is a frozen shoulder?
Frozen shoulder causes pain, stiffness and trouble moving your shoulder. Over time, your shoulder may become very hard to move. This condition occurs in women more frequently than in men, and most commonly affects adults who are 40 to 60 years old. People with diabetes are more likely to develop frozen shoulder.
Can a chiropractor treat shoulder pain?
A chiropractor treats many conditions, including musculoskeletal problems like shoulder pain. Specifically, chiropractic care can reduce pain, improve range of motion and increase mobility in joints. Our Back to Mind Chiropractic chiropractors have the advanced tools and experience to treat shoulder pain.
I have arthritis in my shoulder. Can a chiropractor help?
Arthritis is a condition characterized by inflammation and stiffness of a joint. Chiropractors are able to reduce the pain associated with Arthritis.
Can I prevent shoulder pain?
You may be able to prevent shoulder pain by keeping your shoulder muscles strong. Exercise can also improve your core strength and your balance, to prevent falls that might lead to shoulder injuries. Using good posture and proper form can help you avoid shoulder problems.
What is the treatment for shoulder pain?
The treatment for shoulder pain depends largely on the cause of the pain. Shoulder pain treatment requires a comprehensive evaluation and personalized approach that addresses the source of shoulder pain along with other factors that might complicate shoulder pain.
Treatment begins with an examination that includes range of motion tests to determine the extent of your shoulder injury. Our chiropractor may perform gentle shoulder adjustments to realign the joint, or a chiropractic adjustment on your neck to alleviate pressure on your shoulder. Massage therapy can help melt muscle spasms.
A chiropractor will first examine you and do range of motion tests to determine the extent of your shoulder or neck injury. The doctor performs gentle shoulder adjustments to shift the joint backward and forward to realign everything. We may even do a chiropractic adjustment on your neck and upper back to alleviate pressure on the shoulder or recommend massage therapy. We can even show you how to improve your posture and prescribe exercises to strengthen your core and rotator cuff.
Our Back to Mind Chiropractic chiropractors offer a variety of treatments, including chiropractic care, injury rehabilitation with an emphasis on auto injuries and personal injuries, therapeutic massage, and spinal decompression therapy. Our clinic also has four locations in Pompano Beach, Coral Springs, Hollywood, and Tamarac Florida