Dealing With Shoulder Injuries?
Watch this video on how shoulder injuries form.
Understanding Rotator Cuff Anatomy.
The term "Rotator cuff" describes a section of four muscles that keep your shoulder held together in its shallow socket while larger muscles move it.
Strains and injuries in the rotator cuff are typically the most common cause of people experiencing shoulder joint pain, accounting for 4.5 million doctor visits per year. Injuries are classified by the amount of damage as "partial tears", "full-thickness tears" or "ruptures".
A "partial tear" is the result of one side of your tendon being partially frayed. A "full-thickness tear", sometimes called a "complete tear", is when there is a hole or slit in your tendon, much like what would be created by running a knife length-wise down a rope. A "rupture" is the most severe form of injury and it means that your tendon has been torn into two pieces.
What Are the Common Causes of Shoulder Pain?
Less than 10% of rotator cuff tears are the direct result of an acute injury like falling, pushing, pulling, throwing or lifting.
The overwhelming majority of injuries are caused by repetitive strains over a long period of time. Many patients are surprised to learn that sudden shoulder pain without injury is possible, as chronic wear and tear can cause a tear to become symptomatic seemingly overnight. One of the most common reasons that people start to develop a rotator cuff tear is something called "impingement". Impingement essentially means that the section where your rotator cuff tendon lives have simply become too crowded and the rotator cuff tendon is being pinched each time you raise your arm.
People who perform repeated overhead activities are usually at the greatest risk for impingement and rotator cuff tendon problems. This usually includes athletes who play baseball, volleyball, tennis, rowing, weight lifting, swimming and archery, and jobs that include carpentry, painting, wallpaper hanging, cleaning windows and washing/waxing cars. The causes of shoulder pain in female patients often mirror those in male patients, though hormonal changes and osteoporosis can add additional risk factors over time. Other forms of risk factors for rotator cuff problems include smoking, obesity, high cholesterol and prior cortisone injection.
What Are The Symptoms Of Rotator Cuff Injuries?
Patients who have suffered an acute rotator cuff injury often report a "tearing" or "snapping" sound and sensation that is followed by severe pain and weakness.
Most chronic strains start silently with symptoms slowly becoming more evident as the tear progresses. Pain is usually found in the front and outside of your shoulder but can also sometimes radiate down your arm. Shoulder pain when lifting arm overhead is one of the most frequently reported symptoms, and it often signals that impingement or a rotator cuff problem has progressed.
Symptoms are usually aggravated by overhead activity and may progress to the point that you have difficulty raising your arm overhead. Pain is typically made worse at night, and shoulder pain from sleeping on the affected side is a common complaint among our Mount Pleasant patients. Be sure to tell us if you suffer from significant neck pain, shortness of breath, chest pain or chest pressure. Shoulder and neck pain occurring together can sometimes indicate that the problem originates in the cervical spine rather than the shoulder joint itself, which affects how we approach treatment.
How Can Chiropractic Care & Physical Therapy Help With Shoulder Pain Relief?
Young patients who have suffered an acute tear or rupture in many cases will require surgery, while most others will benefit from conservative treatments, such as the ones offered in this office. Chiropractic and physical therapy for shoulder pain at our Mount Pleasant, SC clinic focuses on restoring proper joint mechanics, reducing inflammation, and addressing any contributing factors in the neck and upper back that may be prolonging your symptoms.
Be sure to avoid painful overhead activity or carrying heavy objects.
Try not to sleep on your irritated side, especially with your arm outstretched overhead. You may benefit by sleeping on your side that has not been impacted with a pillow between your arm and trunk. Smokers should do their best to quit and find a program to help them do so, and overweight patients will recover quicker if they begin a diet and exercise program. Shoulder pain exercises prescribed by your chiropractor are an important part of long-term recovery. Performing your home exercises is especially important.
Frequently Asked Questions About Shoulder Pain
Absolutely. Sudden shoulder pain without injury is more common than most people expect. Chronic repetitive strain can gradually damage the rotator cuff until symptoms appear seemingly out of nowhere. If you are experiencing right shoulder pain without injury or pain on the left side, it is worth having the area properly evaluated by a chiropractor in Mount Pleasant.
Shoulder pain from sleeping tends to worsen when you lie on the affected side, increasing compression on an already irritated tendon or bursa. Adjusting your sleeping position by lying on the unaffected side with a pillow between your arm and trunk can help. If the pain continues to disrupt your sleep, a thorough evaluation at our Mount Pleasant, SC office can help identify what is driving it.
Shoulder pain causes in female patients can share many of the same roots as in male patients, including rotator cuff tears, impingement, and repetitive strain. However, women may also experience shoulder discomfort related to hormonal shifts, bone density changes, and conditions like frozen shoulder, which occurs more frequently in women. If you are dealing with left shoulder pain or right shoulder pain and are unsure of the cause, our Mount Pleasant, SC office can help you get a clear picture.
Shoulder blade pain typically originates from the muscles and connective tissue around the scapula, and is often related to posture, upper back tension, or referred pain from the cervical spine. Rotator cuff pain tends to be felt at the front or outside of the shoulder and worsens with overhead movement. Both can occur at the same time, and a proper evaluation is the best way to determine which structures are involved.
