Our shoulders are incredibly dynamic with an impressive range of motion, allowing most of us to complete several tasks throughout any given day. We may not realize how much we rely on a fully functioning shoulder until it shows signs of pain, stiffness, or other dysfunction.
In order to determine the cause of your shoulder pain, it’s important to figure out why it’s occurring. Is it due to an accident? Maybe poor posture? Regular lifting at the gym? Whatever it is, learning why it’s happening will help you create safer habits so you can contribute to its protection moving forward.
This post goes over:
- Common reasons for shoulder pain
- Natural ways to minimize shoulder pain at home
- Chiropractic care to treat shoulder pain and injuries
- How you can reduce your risks of getting shoulder pain
- And more
If you have shoulder pain, whether from a sudden accident or a chronic condition, your chiropractor may be able to help end your discomfort and get your shoulder moving correctly once again. Read on to learn more about how to manage shoulder pain and get tips to help you avoid it in the future.
Why Does My Shoulder Hurt?
As we mentioned, most depend on their shoulder joint for many activities every day. From making the bed to driving a car to exercising to picking up your kid, your shoulder is put to work. Even as we sit at a desk and type on a computer, we’re utilizing our shoulders to some extent.
Reasons you may encounter shoulder discomfort include:
- Poor posture or improperly set up workstation
- Sedentary behavior
- Improper lifting technique
- Overuse of your shoulder joint and tissues, such as for occupation, sports, or hobbies
- Improper habitual moving patterns
- A traumatic event, such as a car accident or sports accident
- Mental stress
Because of the connectivity within the musculoskeletal system (the soft tissues and joints), you may experience shoulder pain, even if it’s not the shoulder that was initially injured.
When undue pressure is put on the muscles, nerves, or joints due to an injury elsewhere, the pain may appear in the shoulder rather than where the original dysfunction is. For instance, a neck injury or whiplash can burden the shoulder and cause pain or motion loss until treated.
Working with your local shoulder pain chiropractor, you’ll get a full body assessment that details where imbalances are so the correct treatment plan can be administered.
Shoulder-related dysfunctions your chiropractor can help include:
- Inflammation, sprains, strains
- Arthritis
- Tendinitis
- Rotator cuff injuries
- Bursitis
- And others
If you’re suffering from shoulder pain, try these chiropractor-approved pain-relieving tips at home:
Apply ice and heat
If you’ve been in an accident that affected the shoulder, apply ice as soon as possible. This will minimize swelling and inflammation and provide a numbing effect to deter pain. Once the inflammation is controlled, adding heat to the treatment will encourage healthy circulation and relaxation within tense muscles.
Rest the shoulder
When you’re in pain, your body is communicating that it needs something from you. That often includes rest. While movement is important to healing, rest plays an essential role that allows time for recovery and restoration.
When injured, sleep is vital, so be sure to get plenty of quality sleep and discontinue activities that heighten your pain or make you feel as though you’re pushing through pain. That’s never a good idea unless working with a healthcare provider.
Stretch the shoulder
Gentle stretching, massage, and working of the shoulder muscles and affected joint offer several benefits to healing and pain management. Be sure to listen to your body and not overdo it. These actions should provide relief, not contribute to pain.
Consider any of the following:
- Roll your shoulder forward and back
- Tip your ear toward the corresponding shoulder as you push the opposite shoulder down and away from that ear
- Put your arms straight out in front of you and hold, then to the sides, parallel to the ground, and hold, keep your shoulders dropped low and engaged
Visit Our Bay City Chiropractic Clinic for Shoulder Pain
Our Bay City chiropractic team is here to help define your condition and give you the proper at-home and in-clinic strategy to heal quickly and responsibly. We’ll find the cause of your symptoms and provide a unique treatment plan around your needs.
Common solutions for shoulder pain and injuries include:
- Chiropractic adjustment
- Massage therapy
- PulStar adjusting
- Active Release Techniques (ART)
- Rehabilitation exercises
- And others
Proactively caring for your body is important; try these tips to stay protected:
- Utilize good posture and movement techniques
- Get plenty of exercise
- Stretch daily
- Stay hydrated
- Get quality sleep
- Work with a chiropractor before injuries occur
We’d love the opportunity to get your body fully functioning. Let’s learn why your shoulder hurts, get you strong and healthy so you can confidently get back to your routine, and give you the tools to keep your good results. Contact our Bay City chiropractic clinic today.
