6 Common Causes of Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain is common and unfortunately for some, it can be disabling.
At our Sacramento Chiropractor Office treat patients with shoulder issues daily, who have a number of different causes for their pain.
In this short article we will discuss the common causes of shoulder pain to best help you avoid them.
Common Causes of Shoulder Pain
Dislocated Shoulder: The shoulder joint contains three bones: the collarbone, shoulder blade, and upper arm bone, which is shaped like a ball. This “ball” fits into a cuplike socket in your shoulder blade and when your shoulder gets dislocated, the ball pops out of your socket. A dislocation can either be partial, which means that only part of it is out of the socket, or it can be completely out of the socket.
Frozen Shoulder: A frozen shoulder is a shoulder joint that has lost a significant range of motion in all directions. The range of motion is usually limited when the patient attempts to move it, as well as when the doctor tries to move the joint fully while the patient is relaxed. A frozen shoulder is the outcome of inflammation, scarring, thickening, and shrinkage of the area that surrounds the normal shoulder joint.
Shoulder bursitis: This occurs when your shoulder bursa is inflamed. The bursa is the fluid-filled sac that helps to lessen the friction in shoulder spaces. There are several bursae within our shoulders. Your subacromial bursa is the most frequently inflamed of the shoulder bursa and is the common cause of pain felt in the shoulder, which is usually related to shoulder impingement of the bursa between the rotator cuff tendons and bone.
Rotator Cuff Injury: The rotator cuff is made up of a group of muscles and tendons which surround the shoulder joint and help to firmly keep the head of your upper arm bone inside of the shallow socket of the shoulder. Rotator cuff injuries are common for people who perform repeated overhead motions in their jobs or in sports. Painters, carpenters (really anyone who works in construction), and people who play baseball or tennis are some of the most common fields people experience rotator cuff injuries. The risk of rotator cuff injury increases as we get older and can cause a dull ache in the shoulder, which often worsens when the involved side is slept on.
Strains & Sprains: Sprains refer to an injury to a ligament (the connective tissue that links bones together at joints). Sprains are most common in the ankle, knee, elbow, or wrist. Strains are tears in muscle tissue. They happen most often in the muscles that support the calf, thigh, groin, and shoulder. In addition to joint manipulation, chiropractors use other treatments like ice, heat, ultrasound, and electrical muscle stimulation.
Tendinitis: Tendinitis (also tendonitis) is the inflammation and irritation of a tendon. It is commonly caused by overuse and repetitive motion can create excess friction in a tendon and cause pressure to build up, which leads to inflammation and irritation. Nevertheless, it is known that tendons lose their elasticity and ease of movement
Shoulder pain, although common, can affect activities of daily living.
According to www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, “The reported annual incidence of shoulder pain in primary care is 14.7 per 1000 patients per year [1] with a lifetime prevalence of up to 70%.”
This means up to 70% of the population has experienced shoulder pain and 1.47% of all primary care visits are related to shoulder pain every year.
Chiropractors are trained to treat issues of the back and spine,
which includes shoulder pain and dysfunction.
Shoulder pain is typically caused when nerves, tendons, muscles, ligaments, or the capsule areas are irritated. For some, the issue is rooted in the cervical spine or near the acromioclavicular joint.
Regardless of what specific shoulder issue you have, our chiropractic office can give you a targeted diagnosis and determine the source of the irritation.
By ascertaining precisely what the problem is, we can create and provide a treatment plan that is right for you.
If you or a loved one are experiencing shoulder pain or issues, please reach out to us during our office hours or by filling out the contact information on our New Patient Offer.
Clinically reviewed by Steven Barham, D.C.
— Updated on April 1, 2023
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