Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain is extremely common in Australia. For many, shoulder pain can be niggling, however, in other cases, it can be extremely painful and limiting. There is a wide variety of different types and causes of shoulder injuries. Shoulders are complex in nature and appropriate treatment options differ dramatically.

What are the common causes of shoulder pain?

There are many causes of shoulder pain. Common causes include:

Osteoarthritis
Inflamed bursa
Traumatic injuries and sprains
Nerve injuries
Neck and upper back dysfunction

It is important to note that shoulder pain can occasionally be referred from other structures, including the heart and lungs. If you are experiencing shoulder pain accompanied by chest pain, shortness of breath or other concerning symptoms, please seek urgent medical attention rather than chiropractic care.

Chiropractic care may be appropriate for shoulder pain arising from musculoskeletal causes. Your chiropractor will conduct a thorough assessment to determine whether chiropractic care is suitable for your presentation.

Symptoms of Shoulder Pain

Symptoms that occur from the above conditions can range in their presentation and severity. Depending on the cause, you may experience the following symptoms:

Pain towards the front, back or deep within the shoulder joint
Pain along the top and moving down the outside of the arm
Reduced movement of shoulder/arm
Pain when moving shoulder/arm
Loss of movement or ‘frozen’ shoulder
Shoulder and/or arm weakness
Feeling of shoulder joint slipping out and back into the joint socket, or shoulder becoming completely dislodged (dislocated)
Pins and needles, numbness and tingling in the shoulder and down the arm

How may chiropractic care help with shoulder pain?

When managing shoulder pain, the initial focus is typically on reducing inflammation and relieving pain. A conservative approach may include icing the affected joint, gentle movement and soft tissue therapy.

The next step is to restore movement to the shoulder, followed by rehabilitation exercises to strengthen the affected muscles. Where spinal joint dysfunction or postural factors are identified as contributing to shoulder symptoms, spinal adjustments may also be incorporated into your care plan.

Supporting Research

A study examining chiropractic practice patterns for shoulder complaints found a moderate prevalence of shoulder pain in clinical practice, with rotator cuff tendon involvement being the most commonly identified structure. The study noted that most practitioners use a multimodal therapeutic approach in managing shoulder disorders.

Source

Pribicevic M, Pollard H, Bonello R. An epidemiologic survey of shoulder pain in chiropractic practice in Australia. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2009;32(2):107–17.

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