Do I Need A Chiropractor For Shoulder Pain?
If you wonder whether a chiropractor shoulder pain specialist can help you with your shoulder pain, the answer is yes.
Shoulder pain is a common ailment affecting adults. Even the slightest shoulder pain can prevent people from performing day-to-day tasks efficiently.
Shoulder pain is linked to the spinal area, making chiropractic care an ideal way of treating shoulder pain.
How Can Chiropractors Help With Your Shoulder Pain?
Chiropractic care is a therapy targeted to treat disorders linked to the body’s musculoskeletal system, including the joints, cartilage, bones, ligaments, and connective tissues.
All of these features must work properly to live a healthy and painless life.
Your shoulder is a vital joint. It does not operate on its own. It needs full cooperation from your neck, spine, and the rest of your body.
A shoulder pain chiropractor is specialised to identify and treat the root cause of shoulder pain. Once you have visited your chiropractor, they will evaluate your shoulder joint alignment concerning your pain.
If you have suffered an injury, the chiropractor shoulder pain specialist will give your shoulder alignment an obvious priority.
Causes Of Shoulder Pain
Chronic shoulder pain can occur from various everyday activities such as sitting for long hours, sleeping in awkward positions and looking down at your phone for too long.
Injuries to the shoulder are common while lifting heavy weights, when playing contact sports, or in a car accident.
When To See A Shoulder Pain Chiropractor?
- Frozen Shoulder
A frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is a painful stiffness around your shoulder area that will limit your shoulder movement.
The tissues around your shoulder have started to tighten and thicken.
If you are experiencing frozen shoulders, you will quickly find that even performing everyday tasks is painful. You may not be able to drive, comb your hair, or dress.
If left untreated, a frozen shoulder will also ruin your good night’s sleep. A simple chiropractic adjustment for shoulder pain will treat your frozen shoulder. - Rotator Cuff Disorders
Many people believe that the best way to treat rotator cuff disorders is via surgery, but this is not always true.
Rotator Cuff disorder is an inflammation of the muscles surrounding the shoulder. This inflammation leads to severe pain that can quickly spread to your neck.
If you cannot raise your arm over your head or scratch your back, you might be suffering from a rotator cuff injury.
A great way of treating damaged rotator cuffs is via chiropractic adjustment for shoulder pain.
Once your pain is alleviated, your shoulder will regain its flexibility as well. - Shoulder Instability
Your shoulder joint consists of a socket and a ball. If you are suffering from shoulder instability, this means that your ball has not entirely fit in its socket. In severe cases, shoulder instability could lead to a complete shoulder dislocation.
Shoulder instability causes fatigue, weakness, and numbness in the arm, making everyday tasks impossible to perform. A licensed chiropractor will be able to treat your shoulder instability efficiently and effectively.
Chiropractic Treatments For Shoulder Pain
The very first thing your chiropractor will do is conduct a thorough diagnosis along with a study of your medical record.
The chiropractor will perform a series of physical examinations to identify the pain’s exact location and degree.
Once the diagnosis is completed, the chiropractor will start treating your pain through various techniques such as:
- Hot and cold treatment
Based on your shoulder pain type and degree, your chiropractor will apply heat pads or ice packs to your shoulder. - Stretching
Stretching is an excellent way of reducing shoulder pains. However, one should know how much to push themselves. If done incorrectly, the stretching can worsen your pain. Which is why you should only trust a licensed chiropractor to do this job. - Exercise
At the end of your session, your chiropractor will also prescribe you some rehabilitation exercises to treat your pain.
How Long Will The Treatment Last?
Your shoulder treatment duration will vary depending on your specific problem and the degree of your injury.
Most people find that their shoulder pain lessens within the first few visits, but this does not mean that you are healed.
You should continue with your treatment even if you think you are better now.
The inflammation around your shoulder area decreases typically within two to three weeks. However, for complete healing, you will have to be patient for about six weeks.
Bottom Line
Once your chiropractor has diagnosed the precise location and cause of your shoulder injury, the treatment for your pain can begin.
Although you will start to experience relief after the first visit, you may require several chiropractic adjustments to treat your shoulder pain completely.
In the majority of cases, chiropractic adjustments should be enough to treat your condition.
However, if there is no reduction in your pain, ask your chiropractor to recommend a different treatment.