Shoulder Pain

Chiropractic treatment is thought of most often as manipulation of the spine. As a result, most people tend to think of chiropractic as a means of addressing neck or back pain. However, chiropractors can also provide treatment and management for pain, injury and dysfunction affecting  joints and soft tissues of your extremities, including the shoulders. At Yeronga Chiropractic & Wellness Centre, our chiropractors are experienced in working with patients suffering from neck and shoulder pain alike.

If you are experiencing pain in the shoulder, it is best to seek professional consultation and assistance sooner rather than later. As with other types of pain, the faster you get help for shoulder pain, the faster it will go away and the less likely it will be to develop into a chronic, recurring or permanent problem.

The shoulder is a complex structure—easily the most complicated and versatile joint in the body. As a result, shoulder pain can have a broad range of different causes. For instance, four vital tendons in the shoulder make up the rotator cuff, which can often tear in sporting, repetitive strain, and falling injuries. The shoulder is also made up of cartilage, ligaments, nerves and other tissues—all of which could feasibly be the source of your pain. Dislocation of the shoulder joint is a more severe cause of shoulder pain and requires immediate medical attention.

In other words, it’s hard to tell whether a shoulder pain is a temporary no-big-deal kind of thing or a more severe injury.  It’s a good idea to seek the opinion of a professional immediately if:

If you are experiencing any of the above issues, we are happy to meet with you at Yeronga Chiropractic. Dr Aidan McGuigan can look at your shoulder and determine what the best course of treatment might be. If the optimal treatment is chiropractic, we can provide it on site. If another type of treatment is required, we can refer you to the necessary medical professionals.

As mentioned previously, a range of different factors can bring about issues with shoulder pain. Injuries to the rotator cuff are among the most common causes of pain in the shoulder. Sometimes, the rotator cuff tendons rub against the bone of the shoulder, producing an unpleasant and painful sensation. Other times, the rotator cuff itself can tear (e.g. separate from the bone), creating a more severe injury.

The rotator cuff is not the only part of the shoulder that is vulnerable to injury and pain. The shoulder itself can also become misaligned. In such cases, pain is inevitable because the shoulder joint is tugging at the muscles, tendons and ligaments in an unnatural way. Repeated pulling motions cause pain and inflammation in the shoulder. Bursitis of the shoulder (known as subacromial bursitis) is due to inflammation of the shock absorbing/ buffering structure located between your arm and point of your shoulder. Your chiropractor will examine you, help to identify the problem, and perform and advise on appropriate management to allow recovery.

Some cases of shoulder pain may originate from an issue in the neck or upper back. Your chiropractor will be able to examine your spine and perform small adjustments to realign the back and neck and resolve this type of shoulder pain.

While some shoulder injuries—such as a torn rotator cuff—may require surgery to be repaired, it is always worthwhile to see a chiropractor about your shoulder pain. With adjustments to the neck, upper back and shoulder, your chiropractor will likely assist you to recover from  pain and improve your function. Even in situations where the chiropractor needs to refer you to another medical professional, he or she should be able to co-manage your recovery and provide management  for future injury prevention.

If you are looking for a chiropractor to help you with your neck and shoulder pain, consider Yeronga Chiropractic & Wellness Centre. Dr Aidan McGuigan is a skilled and qualified chiropractor with lots of experience working with sports injuries and shoulder issues. He will be able to determine the cause and scope of your shoulder injury, as well as devise a plan on the best way to treat it. Call us on (07) 3892 1440 to schedule your initial appointment today.