The shoulder is one of the most mobile joints in the human body. We are able to reach over our head, behind our back,and across the front of our body. This extreme motion in the shoulder can lead to shoulder injuries rather easily. The shoulder joint is very shallow and is held together mostly by ligaments. The muscles surrounding the shoulder are what actually give it most of its stability and strength. The rotator cuff is a group of small muscles that hold the humerus, the bone in the upper arm,against the shoulder joint. Several muscles in the upper chest and upper back stabilize the shoulder even further by ensuring smooth and even motion of the shoulder.
Shoulder pain can range from a mild annoyance to inability to move the shoulder due to pain. This is because shoulder pain can actually come from many different causes. Mild shoulder pain following over-use is often caused by swelling and inflammation of the muscles,tendons or joint itself. This is referred to as tendonitis or bursitis and will often go away on its own in a few days. Pain that lasts past a few days is something that should be evaluated by your Chiropractor. Lasting pain or more severe pain can indicate more serious conditions such as rotator cuff syndrome.
To minimize complications from your shoulder injury, you should seek an evaluation if you have shoulder pain that lasts past a few days. Even though there are many causes of shoulder pain, the treatment for most conditions is similar. It is important to keep the shoulder moving to avoid the complication of frozen shoulder. Your Chiropractor will tell you what shoulder motions to emphasize and which ones to avoid as your injury heals. Therapeutic treatments, such as ultrasound and ice, can be used to remove the inflammation in the shoulder. Removing the inflammation in the joint usually results in a significant decrease in pain. Specific muscle stretching and at home exercises are used to correct any muscular imbalances between the upper back and chest. Correcting these imbalances helps to ensure smooth and even shoulder motion.