Shoulder Pain

What are the most common causes of shoulder pain?

Shoulder pain may stem from an acute injury or a chronic condition. There are numerous causes of shoulder pain, which include:

• Bursitis
• Arthritis
• Tendonitis or tendon tears
• Shoulder impingement
• Frozen shoulder
• Partial or full dislocation of the shoulder
• Fracture of collarbone, shoulder blade, or upper arm bone

The treatment plan that works best for your individual situation depends on the reason your shoulder hurts. Dr. Walker and the team perform an evaluation then suggests treatment to help alleviate your shoulder pain.

What happens with a rotator cuff injury?

The rotator cuff is a group of muscles that surround the shoulder joint. One of the most common causes of shoulder pain is impingement, which occurs when the shoulder blade puts pressure on those muscles when the arm is raised. Without proper treatment, the muscles of the rotator cuff can tear.

Oftentimes chiropractic adjustments and physical therapy are appropriate treatments for a rotator cuff tear. Dr. Walker and the team determine which is the best course, and can show you exercises that reduce swelling, improve your strength, and increase your flexibility.

Because a rotator cuff tear is a soft tissue injury, massage therapy is often helpful. Massage increases blood flow and improves healing.

What is frozen shoulder?

The clinical name for frozen shoulder is adhesive capsulitis, and it causes pain and stiffness in the shoulder, which likely worsens over several years. It’s sometimes divided into three stages: freezing, frozen, and thawing.

During the freezing stage, your range of motion begins to be limited and pain increases with movement. The frozen stage is the peak of the condition, and while pain may begin to recede, stiffness increases. Then, during the thawing stage, improvements begin.

Common treatments for frozen shoulder include physical therapy to increase range of motion and injections for pain relief. Dr. Walker and the team may choose a combination of therapies depending on your situation.

How is a dislocated shoulder treated?

First, Dr. Walker and the team put the ball of the upper arm bone back into the socket of the shoulder. Next, they may apply heat or ice, or prescribe physical therapy or massage.

Repeated dislocations can cause chronic instability of the joint, and may lead to arthritis. Completing the full course of chiropractic care is critical to lower the risk of future injury.

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