Shoulder pain is a very common complaint in a chiropractic clinic. Due to the complexity of the shoulder complex, there is no universal definition of shoulder pain.
Moreover, pain in the shoulder can arise from many different reasons some more common than others.
For this reason it is advised to examine the whole musculoskeletal system for optimal function.
Some reasons for shoulder pain are:
– Tendon problems, like shoulder impingement, rotator cuff tears
– Frozen shoulder
– Inflammatory arthritis
– Dysfunction in the neck and thoracic spine
– neurological pain
– Muscular pain
– Osteoarthritis, labral tears
– referred pain from the spine, the diaphragm, the lungs, and the heart
In the end, the most common complaints are mechanical ones which require conservative care to achieve good function and coordination between the shoulder joint, shoulder blade, neck, core, and ribcage.
Steps to achieve improvement:
– One needs a good understanding of the drivers to the complaint. Understand the Why you are suffering
– A diagnosis from a health care professional
– A plan to create the improvement. This may be anywhere from 1 week to 12 months. Even if your problem requires surgery, you will likely need a mix of manual therapy and exercise rehabilitation to stabilise the shoulder complex and enforce proper function.
Conservative care
Manual therapies like chiropractic, physiotherapy, or massage do help to improve pain levels and restore normal function of the shoulder and surrounding joints.
Shoulder impingement is the most common disorder of the shoulder, accounting for 44%–65% of all complaints of shoulder pain. Shoulder impingement is most common in repetitive overhead sports, such as tennis, volleyball, swimming, and manual or office jobs, which require an overhead position of the arm for extended periods. Shoulder impingement syndrome is caused by:
– the tendon becomes swollen, thickened, or torn – this can be due to an injury, overuse of the shoulder (for example, from sports such as swimming or tennis), or “wear and tear” with age.
– the fluid-filled sac (bursa) found between the tendon and acromion becoming irritated and inflamed (bursitis) – this can also be reproduced by an injury or overuse of the shoulder
– the acromion being curved or hooked, rather than flat – this tends to be something you’re born with
– bony growths (spurs) on the acromion – these can develop as you get older.
Useful links and references:
Shoulder Doc, American Family Physician Journal, Australian Family Physician Journal, Harvard Health Publishing Journal, Mayo Clinic
Shoulder Pain Treatment in Prague:
For more information regarding treatment of lower back pain, contact our Prague 2, Vinohrady Clinic +420 733 304 524