Shoulder Pain Management in Singapore
Your shoulder is made up of several joints that when combined with tendons and muscles, allow a wide range of motion in the arm. When something goes wrong in this system, it can cause a great deal of pain and hamper your movement. Read more to find out causes of your shoulder pain, and if chiropractic is the answer for you.
What are causes of shoulder pain?
Your shoulder joint is the most mobile joint in the body, allowing your arm to move in a circular motion. It gets this range of motion from the rotator cuff, which is made up of 4 tendons that connects muscles to the bone.
Some potential causes of the pain in your shoulder are:
- Inflamed or torn rotator cuff
- Pinched nerve in neck or shoulder
- Frozen shoulder
- Arthritis
- Injury due to repetitive use
- Dislocated shoulder
Do I have a frozen shoulder?
Frozen shoulder (a.k.a. adhesive capsulitis) is caused by a thick layer of tissue that develops over time and limits the space for the shoulder joint to rotate. Besides pain, other symptoms of frozen shoulder include:
- Loss of range of motion
- Swelling
- Stiffness
- Grinding sound when moving the shoulder
Research has shown that people with diabetes are more prone to develop frozen shoulder.
How do I relieve shoulder pain with simple exercises?
Some simple exercises that can relieve shoulder pain are:
- Arm-across-the-chest stretch
- Chest expansion
- Shoulder circles
- Downward dog pose
- Thread the needle pose
Try to do these simple exercises several times a week. Do not push yourself beyond your limits, and discontinue if you feel pain that goes beyond mild discomfort.
Is chiropractic good for shoulder pain?
A common misconception is that chiropractic is only for addressing problems along the spine (like neck and back pain). Chiropractors are thus not the first to mind when it comes to issues relating to shoulder pain, knee pain, or issues with the extremities.
However, through the use of manual manipulation of your joints and muscles (i.e. adjustment), chiropractic treatment can typically help provide some form of pain relief.
The cause of shoulder pain is also usually not as straightforward as most people put it. For example, a pinched nerve from the cervical region could be causing pain to be experienced in the shoulder region. As such, a good chiropractor will spend the time to fully understand your condition before recommending how chiropractic can help.
Chiropractor vs massage for shoulder pain?
In reality, there isn’t a need to think of this as an either-or situation. Both chiropractic care and massages are non-invasive and drug-free approaches that can complement each other in addressing shoulder pain.
Massages can help loosen tight muscles and improve blood circulation to the affected area, which can help reduce inflammation. Chiropractic care focuses on proper spinal alignment which reduces issues caused by affected nerves along the shoulder.
How many chiropractic sessions do I need for shoulder pain management?
Chiropractic is not a quick-fix for shoulder pain, and one adjustment will not solve the problem. Think about your teeth – it took them years to be misaligned and it takes a long process through bracing to get back the proper alignment. Likewise, it takes time for your body and shoulders to respond to chiropractic adjustments and feel the relief you seek.
The number of adjustments required to find relief of your shoulder pain depends on the following:
Severity of your condition
How your body responds to adjustments
How regularly you come for your adjustments
We have helped many members who find relief after their first few adjustments, while others take a few months.
At Chiropractic Singapore, our focus goes beyond just pain relief. We seek to address the root cause of the problem, typically through regular adjustments (e.g. 1-2 times per week) and a tailored exercise & stretch plan over a few months.
When should I do a check-up for my shoulder pain?
If your pain has been persisting for more than a few days and is not responding well to home treatment or medications, you should come in for a check-up. It is important to address the root cause of your pain to prevent it from worsening.
At Chiropractic Singapore, our chiropractors are trained to understand if your spinal misalignment is causing your shoulder pain and recommend if and how chiropractic can help.
Note: The above information is not a substitute for a diagnosis or any form of medical care. Symptoms and treatments differ from person to person, and one should consult a chiropractor for an accurate diagnosis and recommendation.
