• Home
  • About Us
  • Services
    • Chiropractic
    • Massage
    • Nutrition >
      • Book an Appointment
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
Catalyst Health and Wellness Group | Chiropractor | Massage | Nutrition
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Services
    • Chiropractic
    • Massage
    • Nutrition >
      • Book an Appointment
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Blog

Shoulder pain, likely causes and treatment

12/9/2016

0 Comments

 
Shoulder pain, likely causes and treatment
​As chiropractors, we very often encounter patients suffering from pain in the shoulder.  Finding the source of this pain can be quite challenging, as there are so many different potential causes that may be local to the shoulder region itself, or caused from referral from other parts of the body.

Shoulder complaints don’t have to be due to a single traumatic event such as a fracture, dislocation, or rupture of a tendon.  Repetitive strain and overuse in sports such as weight lifting, swimming and throwing can all be sources of shoulder pain.  In a work place setting, where there is need for over head lifting, there is also the risk of chronic shoulder injury.
​One of the most common causes of shoulder pain is inflammation of the tendons and tissues that support the shoulder joint itself, the rotator cuff muscles (terms such as tendinitis, bursitis, frozen shoulder or joint capsule sprain may sound familiar).  These soft tissues are susceptible to Ltrauma, for example a fall on an out stretched arm, overuse and repetitive strain.

Poor posture with rounded shoulders and slumped spine has been found to increase the risk of damage to the shoulder tendons due to the increased stress on these tissues during shoulder movement.  The elderly are at particular risk of this due to the increased incidence of hyperkyphosis (increased thoracic spinal curve).

Another common cause of shoulder pain is referral from the neck.  Cervical spine dysfunction can very often result in shoulder pain.  This may be due to dysfunction of the joints of the spine, muscular referral, or nerve root compression or entrapment.  A careful history must be taken by your practitioner to ascertain if there is involvement of this area.

It is also important to be mindful of potentially serious causes of referred shoulder pain such as gall bladder, diaphragm, heart or lung disease, and infection or tumour.

In the absence of fracture, dislocation, infection or tumour, all other shoulder disorders may be managed with conservative therapy unless otherwise indicated.

Careful assessment of the spine, the shoulder joint itself, and the supporting muscles, ligaments and tendons is needed to determine potential involvement.  Treatment can include chiropractic adjustments to the spine to restore movement and improve posture, soft tissue therapy to hypertonic and/or inflamed tissues, and ice therapy.  An exercise program to encourage healthy repair and recovery of these tissues is often integrated into the treatment regime.

It is recommended that a conservative approach be used for 6 months before referral for special imaging and /or surgical intervention is indicated.

Emma Wilkinson
by Dr Emma Wilkinson
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Catalyst HGW subscribe to our mailing list icon

    Mailing List Archive


    Categories

    All
    By Ben Hewitt
    By Catalyst Health And Wellness Group
    By Dr Emma Wilkinson
    By Mike Szabo
    Chiropractic
    Massage
    Meditation
    Nutrition


    Archives

    March 2020
    February 2020
    August 2019
    July 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016

    RSS Feed

Catalyst Health and Wellness Group logo
Contact Information
604 Barkly Street,
Ballarat, Victoria 3350

T: 03 5333 7766
F: 03 5333 7765
E: reception@catchiro.com.au
Location
Mailing List

Privacy Policy     •     Disclaimer     •     Site by Mulcahy & Co Marketing
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Services
    • Chiropractic
    • Massage
    • Nutrition >
      • Book an Appointment
  • Blog
  • Contact Us