chiropractic care and shoulder pain

Shoulder pain is such a common symptom and can make simple tasks very challenging for people. Our shoulders have many muscles, ligaments and joints being the potential cause. The good news is Chiropractic has been shown to decrease shoulder pain and improve range of motion.(1)
 
A 2009 study assessed the prevalence of shoulder pain in Chiropractic Practices in Australia. It showed that 12% of the total weekly patients had shoulder pain, with the major cause of symptoms related to overuse (32%).
The most prevalent working diagnosis of shoulder pain was:     
shoulder impingement syndrome (13%),
followed by impingement syndrome with rotator cuff tendinosis (17%),
impingement syndrome without rotator cuff tendinosis (14%),
and chiropractic shoulder subluxation (12%).
 
The results suggest a moderate prevalence of shoulder pain in clinical practice with the most prevalent structure involved being the rotator cuff tendon. Most practitioners use a multimodal therapeutic treatment approach in managing disorders of the shoulder. Some methods to manage shoulder pain include manipulation (81%), peripheral joint manipulation (82%), and various soft tissue strategies used by 92% of practitioners. Rehabilitation strategies were also used by 89% of practitioners with a main emphasis placed on rotator cuff strengthening.(2)
 
Proprioceptive training and taping, nutritional counselling, and conditioning exercises are also vital for the tissues to heal. A 2001 study demonstrates that achieving functional and sport-specific activities after musculoskeletal trauma can be enhanced significantly if proprioception is addressed in the treatment program. The decreased frequency of instability occurrences in this case combined with the perceived improvement on the shoulder instability index suggest a gradual stabilization of the proprioceptive function of the shoulder.(3)
 
If you or you know anyone with shoulder pain, feel free to call us with any questions or to book an appointment!
 
 
REFERENCES
1. Hains G. Chiropractic management of shoulder pain and dysfunction of myofascial origin using ischemic compression techniques. J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2002;46(3):192-200.
2. Pribicevic M, Pollard H, Bonello R. An Epidemiologic Survey of Shoulder Pain in Chiropractic Practice in Australia. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 2009;32(2):107-17.
3. Moreau CE, Moreau SR. Chiropractic management of a professional hockey player with recurrent shoulder instability. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 2001;24(6):425-30.