Shoulder pain is a common issue and occurs at all ages.
Typically in younger people, shoulder pain is more likely to be due to an accident or injury. As we all get older, shoulder pain can occur without an accident or a direct injury. Natural wear and tear occurs in the shoulder joint and the rotator cuff tendon. Over time, this may become persistent pain. The good news is that chiropractic treatment at united Joint and Spine Center for shoulder pain is very effective in eliminating not only pain but chiropractic helps fix the cause of the pain. The goal at United Joint & Spine Center is to help you get back to doing the things you enjoy.
Let’s get into some important anatomical structures of the shoulder.
The shoulder is a complex, highly mobile structure made up of several components.
There are two joints in the shoulder:
Strong connective tissue forms the shoulder capsule. This keeps the head of the humerus in place in the joint socket. The joint capsule is lined with a synovial membrane. It produces synovial fluid which lubricates and nourishes the joint. Strong tendons, ligaments and muscles also support your shoulder and make it stable.
Inflammation which typically arises from the overuse of tendons in or around the knee. This usually occurs during activities such as running, jumping, or cycling. Jumper’s Knee is a common knee condition which is tendonitis of the patellar tendon. United Joint & Spine Center treats tendonitis by using multiple methods including chiropractic care, physical therapy modalities, and cold laser.
The synovial membrane of the shoulder may become inflamed – this is called ‘synovitis’. Synovitis may occur as a result of another condition (for example, rheumatoid arthritis) or it may happen as a result of an injury, or the cause may be unknown.
Frozen shoulder (‘capsulitis’) is a condition that occurs when the shoulder capsule thickens and becomes inflamed and tight. There may also be less synovial fluid to lubricate the joint. As a result, the shoulder becomes difficult to move. Frozen shoulder may occur as a result of another condition if the shoulder has been immobilized (for example, due to surgery or injury). Sometimes the cause of shoulder
pain may not be known.
Pain associated with an inflamed bursa is very common in the shoulder.
A bursa is a small fluid-filled sac that reduces friction between two structures, such as bone, muscle and tendons. In the shoulder, the bursa that sits between the rotator cuff tendons and the bony tip of the shoulder (acromion) can become inflamed, most commonly with repetitive movements. Golfers, tennis players, pickle ball players, and any sports that are repetitive in nature are prone to bursitis. Professions that do a lot of repetitive motions such as hairstylists, personal trainers, construction workers, painters, landscapers, restaurant workers, and others are also prone to bursitis. Call or click to schedule a free consultation to discuss treatment options available.
Ligaments are soft tissues that connect bones to bones. They provide stability to the shoulder by keeping the bones where they’re meant to be. If ligaments are injured or sprained, it can cause short term pain. This may be the result of the humerus coming partially out of the joint socket (subluxation) or if the humerus comes completely out (dislocation).
The flexible tissue that helps keep the shoulder joint in place (labrum) can become torn. This is called a labral tear. This can occur as a result of an injury (for example, falling onto your outstretched arm) or repetitive actions (for example, due to playing sports like golf, tennis or pickleball.
A direct blow to the shoulder can result in acromioclavicular joint (‘AC joint’) being sprained. This type of injury often occurs in people participating in contact sports such as football who take a blow to the shoulder. It can also occur as a result of a fall. The group of tendons and muscles that keeps the shoulder stable and positioned correctly for the shoulder and arm to move is called the rotator cuff. Tears to rotator cuff
tendons may occur as a result of an injury (for example, a fall or auto injury) or happen over a period of time as we age.
