Shoulder Pain Treatment

Something you may not realize, is that your shoulder joint is one of the most inherently unstable joints in your body. The actual bone-to-bone surface in the joint itself is not dissimilar from a golf ball sitting on a golf tee. In fact, it is so unstable that it requires 17 different muscles that directly attach to it or the adjacent shoulder blade that stabilize and move it.

So, while it is unstable, it is also one of the most movable joints of your body, and there would significant disability (or at least difficulty and frustration) that would come with an unhealthy shoulder that you could no longer move the way you used to be able to.

Shoulder pain is often what someone experiences when they have either rotator cuff syndrome, bursitis, shoulder impingement, biceps tendonitis, or a shoulder labrum tear. In all of these cases, unless there was a major traumatic event, the problem often arises from poor posture, poor scapular function (muscle imbalances in the muscles that are supposed to move around the shoulder blade), and overuse.

In some rare cases, shoulder pain in the actual joint (rather than the top of the upper back/shoulder blade region) can be a direct result of a compressed or pinched nerve in the neck.

Your shoulder is wonderfully complex (remember we said there are 17 muscles directly acting upon it?). Therefore, it requires a complex examination. While there are certainly problematic muscle patterns that we see commonly in patients’ shoulders, we always employ a “test, don’t guess” approach, so that we can properly utilize treatments such as Active Release Techniques, Muscle Activation, Cupping, and corrective exercise. Our accuracy of treatment will streamline your healing process, and ensure that your shoulder can function the best it has in a long time.

Additionally, almost every shoulder condition has some relationship to the nerves of the neck (guess where most of the nerves that come out of your neck go to first?).

With proper chiropractic adjustments, we can eliminate any subluxations (bones of your neck that are either stuck or out of the ideal position) that are putting pressure on your nerves. Then, none of those 17 shoulder muscles should be caught sleeping at any time as you live your life and do the things you love to do, because the nerves that talk to them will no longer be blocked or inhibited in their function.

Shoulder injury prevention includes things like proper lifting and training techniques, warming up before activity, and having awareness of proper posture. However, because the joint and its muscle function are so complex, we always recommend that you have an examination with us if you currently have or have had shoulder pain in the past (or are doing an activity that commonly leads to shoulder pain). That way, we can determine if there are any problematic muscles around your shoulder, or issues in your neck that are “lurking in the shadows,” waiting to contribute to a surprise shoulder injury.

Take action against shoulder pain now, don’t let shoulder pain limit your life. Your shoulder is a complex joint, and it requires specialized care. Whether it’s rotator cuff syndrome, bursitis, shoulder impingement, biceps tendonitis, or a shoulder labrum tear, our team of specialists is ready to help. We offer comprehensive evaluations and personalized treatment plans to address the root cause of your pain. Our goal is to help you regain mobility and live a pain-free life. So why wait? Schedule your consultation with the finest Arlington Heights chiropractor today.