Aching Shoulder Pain? Don’t Just ‘Shoulder’ It, Take 3 Steps Toward Recovery

Are you struggling to keep up with your daily activities due to aching shoulder pain? Shoulder pain is a common complaint among people of all ages, and its severity ranges significantly. At its worst, shoulder pain can keep you from doing the things you love, like spending time with friends and family.

Several things lead to shoulder pain, including injuries and underlying conditions. Depending on the cause of your pain, it may get worse over time if you don’t take steps toward recovery. REACH Rehab + Chiropractic can help diagnose the root cause of your pain and promote optimal healing.

If you’ve ever felt a sharp pain in your shoulder and wondered what caused it, you’re not alone. Many people suffer from sudden shoulder pain, having no idea where it came from.

Within your shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint where the upper arm bone meets the collar bone. Surrounding this joint is a group of muscles and nerves that are highly susceptible to wear and tear with use. Many people develop shoulder pain from activities like weightlifting, swimming, and contact sports.

Overuse and improper shoulder positioning during routine activities is a leading cause of shoulder pain. Knowing how to relax your muscles and hold the shoulder in a good position during exercise protects the muscles and reduces the risk of injuries like:

• Bursitis
• Rotator cuff tendonitis
• Adhesive capsulitis
• Bicep tendonitis
• Shoulder impingement

Other times, shoulder pain comes from the complex skeletal structure in the neck, torso, and back. Injuries to the nerves and muscles in these areas impact the tissues in your shoulder, causing aches, pains, and limited mobility.

In some instances, underlying medical conditions cause aching shoulder pain. Arthritis is a common culprit, but more serious concerns like heart attacks cause sharp pain in the shoulder.

REACH Rehab + Chiropractic addresses shoulder pain in several ways, depending on the underlying cause. Determining the cause of your pain relies on a physical examination and diagnostic imaging. This includes X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs.

Once we classify the type of pain, we develop a personalized treatment plan to meet your needs. If you have mechanical shoulder pain or tense muscles, we’ll teach you shoulder stretches. These stretches, like neck releases and arm-across-your-chest exercises, can relax the muscles and relieve pain.

We also offer massage therapy for tense muscles and trigger points within the shoulder. Regular deep tissue massage relaxes the muscles and relieves ongoing tension within the shoulder.

If your shoulder pain comes from bone or joint misalignment, chiropractic adjustments help greatly. Since the neck sometimes causes remote shoulder pain, cervical spine adjustments relieve discomfort for certain patients.

REACH Rehab + Chiropractic utilizes the McKenzie Method when addressing shoulder pain. This method involves examination, classification, and treatment. The following is a three-step breakdown of recovering from shoulder pain:

Pinpointing the Problem

The first step to recovery is finding out what’s causing your pain. We conduct a physical examination and assessment of symptoms, which provide insight into potential causes of aching shoulder pain. We can also order diagnostic imaging to provide confirmation.

Customized Shoulder Pain Treatment Plan

Once we know the source of your pain, we develop a personalized treatment plan to address it. These plans involve everything from chiropractic adjustments to anti-inflammatory drugs to regular massages.

Recovery and Rehabilitation

Recovery looks different for everyone. Recovering from shoulder pain takes weeks for some and months for others, depending on the severity of the injury. We’ll guide you through the recovery process to create lasting relief from your shoulder pain.

Has shoulder pain put a damper on your life? Don’t let shoulder pain keep you from your favorite activities. Look to REACH Rehab + Chiropractic for help!

With skilled professionals and a wide range of services, we strive to give patients the treatment they need to feel like themselves again. This includes chiropractic adjustments and massage therapy. Our chiropractors work with patients, delivering customized approaches to your aches and pains.

Our team will do our best to help you recover from aching shoulder pain and help you find pain relief. Schedule an appointment with our chiropractor in Plymouth, MI, by calling 734-530-9134 today.