Shoulder
Book NowHowever, the shoulder’s complexity and mobility can lead to instability and impingement, which can result in pain. This pain can range from a dull ache to a sharp stinging and can come and go or be constant.
Shoulder pain can be debilitating, and its causes can range from overuse to an injury; this means that in some cases, it’s the result of the shoulder being overused or misused, such as when an athlete throws too many pitches or when a golfer swings too hard. In other cases, it can be due to an injury, such as a dislocation, strain, or tear following trauma.
Your shoulder is made up of three bones: your upper arm bone (humerus), your shoulder blade (scapula), and your collarbone (clavicle).
The head of your upper arm bone fits into a rounded socket in your shoulder blade. This socket is called the glenoid. A combination of muscles and tendons keeps your arm bone centred in your shoulder socket. These tissues are called the rotator cuff. They cover the head of your upper arm bone and attach it to your shoulder blade.
The vast range of motion that the shoulder enjoys is one of the prime reasons it is also highly susceptible to injury, any imbalances, or weaknesses in the muscles, which are often caused by poor postural alignment, provide ample opportunity to create strains and strains in the pain generating tissues.
It is important to be aware that the entire shoulder complex operates under the control of the nervous system. The spinal nerves that exit the lower portion of the neck don’t just control the muscles of the shoulder and their firing patterns but if these nerves become trapped or inflamed then they can refer pain directly into the shoulder region.
PAIN GENERATORS
The most common shoulder problems fall into the following categories:
- Nerve pain
- Tendon tears/inflammation
- Bursitis
- Capsular problems
- Instability
- Arthritis
- Fracture (broken bone)
SHOULDER ANCHORS
The mobility of the shoulder is joint secured by two bony anchors,
The Clavicle or Collar Bone at the front which attaches via two joints
- The Acromioclavicular Joint (ACJ)
- The Sternoclavicular Joint (SCJ);
if either of these becomes dysfunctional or unstable then the entire shoulder joints’ stability can become affected.
The Scapula or Shoulder Blade at the rear which is itself a floating wing of bone secured in place by multiple complex muscle groups all of which are susceptible to muscle weaknesses and imbalances that can create dysfunction.
DISC TREATMENT PROTOCOL
The first step in treating any condition is to find the underlying cause, often the pain experienced by a patient is the last “domino” to fall in a cascade of reactions. A thorough examination at our DISC Clinic in Surbiton will help not only identify exactly what is generating the pain but aim to understand its root cause.
Once a diagnosis is determined, treatment options to address the issue can be explored. Pain relief, corrective measures, and preventative strategies can be implemented to ensure the problem does not return in the future.
The first steps towards gaining pain relief often come by mobilising the soft tissues and joints in the area; this is achieved by using a combination of manual mobilising chiropractic techniques with our unique blend of Instrument Assisted Adjusting tools which can be used to gently initiate movement and blood flow (healing) in stubborn or inflamed tissue when stronger techniques may be contraindicated.
Spinal Decompression Therapy is one of the powerhouse treatments available at The DISC Chiropractors, its traction technology provides a unique ability to heal disc injuries and to un-trap the nerves that are often at fault for issues further down the chain for example in the arms and legs.
When conditions struggle to heal, Laser Therapy is an extremely safe and effective method of advancing rates of recovery. It’s warm photon light energy stimulates mitochondrial activity to enhance recovery in each and every cell of the body. Laser Therapy is especially useful in cases of inflammation, such as arthritic and repetitive strain conditions.
A major part of how our treatment protocols work is to ensure whilst the pain is coming under control, we are filling the patient with the knowledge of how to keep and maintain their results using corrective measures and rehabilitation tools to enhance their outcomes
Contact Us
If you would like to find out what we could do to help your Shoulder, please click the icon below to book a thorough consultation to evaluate your case.