Shoulder problems in general, especially including the syndrome called painful shoulder, are a frequent cause of attention in medical consultations, being the third reason why patients go to Primary Care consultations.

It is an ailment that can have multiple causes (shoulder calcifications, rotator cuff tears, osteoarthritis, tendonitis, bursitis, and many more) and that greatly affects the quality of life of those who suffer from it, potentially seriously limiting their mobility and affecting the personal and work areas of your life.

Studies show that shoulder pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders. 1. with a prevalence in the range of 7% to 26%.2 The rotator cuff (RC) is implicated as the cause in approximately 70% of patients. Subsequent pain and functional difficulties can affect daily activities, including the ability to work and engage in sports and leisure activities.2,5 For a significant proportion of patients, this is not a self-limiting or short-lived problem, as more than 40 % of people report ongoing or recurring symptoms 12 months after their onset.3,6,7

Causes of Shoulder Pain

The shoulder is one of the most versatile parts of the body made up of three main bones: the shoulder blade, clavicle, and humerus. These bones are connected by two joints and the rotator cuff, which consists of four tendons.

This allows us to move the shoulder forward and backwards, up and down, and in a circular motion.

When our shoulder is damaged, whether from a sudden injury or gradual overuse, it can have a severe impact on our range of motion.

Some of the most common causes of shoulder pain include:

Acute injury in a car accident, from playing sports, manual labor,

• Repetitive motion injuries
• Age-related tissue degeneration
• inflamed tendons
• Rotator cuff tear
• torn cartilage
• Arthritis
• Trapped nerve
• Broken shoulder or arm
• Dislocated shoulder
• bone spurs

Most Common Problems

Instability: The patient may or may not experience any symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they may be the result of traction on the shoulder, resulting in pain and weakness that runs through the entire shoulder. Another possible presentation may be difficulty performing tasks that require raising the arms above the head repetitively, giving a feeling of fatigue instead of pain. The cause of these symptoms may be due to stretching of the shoulder capsule and shoulder subluxation.

Capsulitis (frozen shoulder): Generally, patients over the age of 50 experience this condition the most. In the acute phase, the patient complains of pain that limits all movement of the shoulder. In most cases, the patient does not remember having had an accident, and the pain interferes with their rest and sleep. In the medium phase, the pain decreases, but the patient notices severe restrictions when raising or rotating their arm. In the last phase, the patient may report very little range of motion.

Rotator Cuff: In the classic presentation, the patient reports a history of trauma, such as falling or lifting a heavy object. The patient complains of pain when performing overhead activities or weakness when raising the shoulder. The most common rupture is in the supraspinatus tendon and can be caused by osteoarthritis, rheumatism, or trauma.

Bursitis and Tendinitis: The patient experiences severe shoulder pain that increases with any type of shoulder movement. Orthopedic examinations can show calcification, and when this happens, the pain can be caused by the inflammatory phase, causing acute bursitis and trauma. Direct trauma to the cuff can also cause rupture. Many times the patient presents with a posture that supports the shoulder to prevent its movement.

Treatment for Shoulder Pain

Chiropractic can be an effective treatment for shoulder pain, regardless of its cause. A personal injury chiropractor will typically start by examining the patient’s cervical area, as shoulder pain can often stem from “referred” pain from the neck. If the shoulder pain is neck-related or limited to the lower part of the shoulder, non-invasive natural healing methods, such as chiropractic treatment, can usually be used for treatment.

Early diagnosis and establishment of appropriate therapeutic alternatives not only help to improve painful symptoms but also improve the functional capacity of the shoulder and reduce the risk of long-term joint pain. Chiropractor care is one way to obtain rapid rehabilitation.

Several comprehensive reviews of published evidence regarding the benefits of chiropractic in treating shoulder pain. This evidence ranges from clinical trials to publications of clinical case series and expert opinions. For example, in a randomized, single-blind clinical trial conducted with 15 patients and published by Munday in 2007, chiropractic manipulation was found to be superior to placebo in the short-term treatment of shoulder impingement syndrome, a common cause of shoulder pain.

When a personal injury chiropractor treats a painful shoulder, they use several techniques, including:

– Adjustments

– Soft tissue techniques (transverse friction techniques, muscle energy or active/passive release, ischemic compression)

– Rehabilitation exercises

– Postural retraining

– Mobilization techniques

These techniques provide the following benefits:

– Pain relief

– Improved range of motion and stiffness

– Improved flexibility

– Prevention of the progression of discomfort

As always, your chiropractor for shoulder pain will review the condition and recommend the best chiropractic treatment.

Conclusion

Personal injury chiropractors always try to treat shoulder pain with the gentlest methods possible and without medications. The primary goal of chiropractic treatment for shoulder pain is to return full function to the patient’s shoulder while reducing and eliminating the pain caused by the injury.

Shoulder pain can have different causes, from an injury suffered in a car accident to a chronic issue like arthritis. Patients who have shoulder pain may be surprised by the intensity and duration of the pain. The shoulder area is so critical to performing everyday activities that it makes sense to take a shoulder injury seriously and treat it to prevent the situation from worsening.

Contact us today to arrange an appointment with our excellent personal injury chiropractors, doctors, and therapists, who can diagnose the causes behind your shoulder pain and provide you with the medical advice you need to help you in your recovery.