The shoulder is comprised of several joints that work together and allow for a wide range of motion with your arm. When your shoulder is functioning properly, you can move your arm in wide circles, scratch your back, and even participate in sports and other fun activities. It usually isn’t until you experience shoulder pain that you realize just how much your shoulder is involved in everything you do throughout the day. A Snellville chiropractor can help provide you with relief from shoulder pain by identifying the root cause. Shoulder pain may come and go or may get worse with certain activities or movements. No matter what type of pain you are experiencing in your shoulder, you want to get the most accurate diagnosis and treatment so you can experience lasting relief.
Common Reasons for Shoulder Pain
Shoulder Tendinitis
The shoulder is made up of bones and soft tissues that all work together to keep the joints functioning properly. A tendon is a type of soft tissue that connects muscles and bones together. Tendinitis refers to inflammation of a tendon, and this can occur in the shoulder. Shoulder tendinitis is typically caused by overuse and repetitive movements.
Shoulder Bursitis
The joints in the body have small, fluid-filled sacs known as bursae that provide cushion for bones and reduce friction with everyday movements. The shoulder has bursae that can become aggravated due to swelling and inflammation. Shoulder bursitis is typically caused by overuse of a specific area of the shoulder known as the rotator cuff. This type of pain can make everyday movements like getting dressed or brushing your hair uncomfortable and difficult.
Arthritis
Arthritis can also cause shoulder pain. There are many different types of arthritis, though the most common is known as osteoarthritis. This type of arthritis is degenerative and occurs as you age and develop more wear and tear on the joints in the body. Osteoarthritis pain in joints like the shoulder can get worse with time and age.
Car Accident Injury
A car accident injury can cause damage to the shoulder and lead to pain and discomfort. Shoulder instability and dislocations are two common car accident injuries that impact the joint and cause pain. Fractures are less common but can occur with car accidents, especially if you suffer a blow to the shoulder.
Diagnosing the Cause of Shoulder Pain
There are several diagnostic tools available that can help diagnose the cause of your shoulder pain. Your chiropractor may want to utilize X-rays or CT scans of the shoulder to get a clearer picture of what is affecting the joint and soft tissues that support the shoulder. X-rays provide pictures of bones and joints, while a CT scan also includes images of soft tissues and organs. In some cases, your doctor may recommend an MRI to help identify any injuries to soft tissues that weren’t picked up on other scans. Diagnostic imaging tools provide your doctor with clear images of your internal structures so they can determine the most appropriate diagnosis and rule out other potential injuries or causes for pain.
Chiropractic Care for Shoulder Pain
When you have pain in your shoulder, you may be tempted to avoid certain movements, but this can actually make the pain worse by causing tightening or weakness of supportive soft tissues. Depending on what is causing your pain, your Snellville chiropractor will incorporate noninvasive treatment approaches to help manage and relieve your shoulder pain. Chiropractors utilize a drug-free approach that instead focuses on the body’s natural healing abilities. Your chiropractor will want to perform a physical assessment of the shoulder and find out whether you are experiencing any limitations in your movements.
Chiropractors perform gentle and therapeutic adjustments to the spine and joints that help restore proper functioning in the body. Your chiropractor can assess how your shoulder joint is functioning and also determine whether there are any issues with the soft tissues that support the shoulder. Overuse injuries that cause shoulder pain require intentional rest, and your chiropractor may also recommend icing the area to help with any swelling or inflammation that occurs. Visit AICA Orthopedics in Snellville to learn more about chiropractic care for your shoulder pain.