Shoulder and Chiropractic
Unlike the hip or knee, the shoulder is not "locked" into a deep bony socket. The head of the humerus rests on a very small surface of the shoulder blade, and stability depends mainly on muscles and tendons, in particular those of the rotator cuff. This freedom of movement lets us raise the arm, throw, and reach behind the back, but it makes the joint more exposed to overload.
The shoulder does not work alone. It moves together with the shoulder blade, which glides over the chest wall, and with the cervical and thoracic spine. If one of these elements does not move well, the others compensate, and over time something becomes irritated.
In the area between the neck, shoulder and arm also run the nerves that reach the arm, forearm and hand. In some cases, muscle tension or movement restrictions in this region can contribute to tingling or pain radiating toward the arm. For this reason, when someone has shoulder pain, we also assess the neck and chest, not only the spot that hurts.
Why does my shoulder hurt?
Shoulder conditions are almost always inflammatory or compressive. Among the most common are:
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Inflammation of the rotator cuff tendons (tendinitis)
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Inflammation of the supraspinatus muscle due to compression under the acromion (impingement syndrome)
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Inflammation of the biceps tendon/muscle
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If left untreated, these conditions cause degeneration of the tendon, becoming tendinopathies, which are harder to treat.
At Studio Chiropratico Belig the goal is to look for the cause of these inflammations or compressions, treating the problem at the root.
What is the cause of my problem?
Because the shoulder is such a complicated joint, the causes are often multiple, and it is important to consider the skeleton as a whole.
Restrictions in joint movement, muscle imbalances or ligament injuries can overload certain muscles, causing tendinitis and compression of nerves and tendons, generating inflammation and pain.
What can you do for me?
Reviewing the patient's history, inspecting the joint and assessing the muscles are the first step.
The priority will be to restore correct movement of the joint, release tense muscles and activate the muscles that have stopped supporting the joint.
Because the shoulder is so connected to the chest, it will also be essential to assess the spine (especially the cervical and thoracic parts), along with the important role of the shoulder blade.
