Shoulder Pain

The complex ball-and-socket joint known as the shoulder allows people to perform a wide range of activities. Sewing, typing, throwing a ball, completing a chin-up and many other daily activities require the use of the shoulder. However, its very complexity and utility make the shoulder more susceptible to pain and injury than many other joints in the body. If you have shoulder pain, you should consider seeking out a chiropractor for treatment, such as West Knoxville Medical and Chiropractic.

What we call the shoulder joint is actually the place at which three different bones meet. The humerus (upper arm bone), clavicle (collarbone) and scapula (shoulder blade) are held in place by a complex network that includes muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The joint is surrounded by a sac called a bursa that contains lubrication fluid and has a cushioning effect. In addition, of course, the shoulder contains nerves and blood vessels. If any of these structures are damaged or inflamed, the result is shoulder pain. Anatomy can also be a factor if the way your bones are aligned or connected affects the function and movement of the joint.

Shoulder pain rarely has a single cause. An injury may have you guarding or limiting motion, which can result in a frozen shoulder. Throwing a ball or other object can lead to repetitive motion injury and bursitis or tendinitis. Postural issues and poor body mechanics can contribute to shoulder pain. A fall or auto accident might result in a dislocated shoulder – extremely painful and one of the shoulder issues that requires immediate emergency treatment. Certain foods can promote inflammation, which makes almost any kind of joint pain worse.

Treatment varies according to the shoulder problem. However, in almost all cases, some degree of rest is necessary. This helps inflammation to subside. Cold and heat therapy, massage and corrective exercise are all helpful in cases of shoulder pain. You might have a joint misalignment that can be corrected by a chiropractor. A posture assessment can help identify how the ways in which you sit stand or move might be contributing to or even causing your pain. If you play sports, a chiropractor can perform a motion analysis to identify contributing factors or changes that will decrease stress on the joint.

If you are struggling with shoulder pain and need chiropractic care, please contact West Knoxville Medical and Chiropractic by calling 865-271-9587 or use the website contact form. Our office is located at 6311 Kingston Pike, #28W. We offer extended hours to help meet your scheduling needs. Whether your shoulder pain is a sports injury, a work injury or from some unknown cause, we can help.