Can a chiropractor help with shoulder tendonitis? The short answer is: yes, chiropractic care can play a crucial role in managing shoulder tendonitis and boosting recovery.
Shoulder tendonitis can be painful and frustrating, especially when it meddles with your daily activities like reaching for objects, lifting, or even sleeping comfortably. If you’ve been experiencing shoulder pain and wondering if chiropractic care could offer relief, you’re not alone. Many people search for effective, non-invasive ways to treat their shoulder pain, and chiropractic treatment is one of the solutions often considered.
In this blog post, Somerset Family Chiropractic & Wellness Centre will explain shoulder tendonitis, explore how chiropractic care can help, and examine the specific techniques chiropractors use to relieve shoulder pain and promote healing.
What is Shoulder Tendonitis?
Shoulder tendonitis is an inflammation or irritation of the tendons in the shoulder, particularly those in the rotator cuff. This group of muscles and tendons stabilizes the shoulder joint and allows smooth movement.
This condition typically occurs when the shoulder is overused or goes through many repetitive motions, such as in sports like tennis or swimming or work activities involving overhead movements. Over time, the tendons become inflamed, leading to discomfort and difficulty with shoulder movement.
Common Causes of Shoulder Tendonitis
Knowing what causes shoulder tendonitis is key to preventing and managing the condition. Here are some of the most common causes:
Repetitive motions can strain the shoulder tendons, especially those involving lifting the arm above the head. This happens to athletes, factory workers, and others who lift objects.
Bad posture while sitting, standing, or working can put undue stress on the shoulder muscles and tendons, leading to inflammation and pain.
Sometimes, shoulder tendonitis can result from a sudden injury, such as a shoulder dislocation or a fall.
Our tendons become less flexible and more prone to irritation and tears as we age. This can lead to chronic shoulder pain from tendonitis.
Conditions like arthritis can also contribute to tendonitis as the joint wears down over time.
Shoulder Tendonitis Symptoms
There are many symptoms of shoulder tendonitis. These are the most common:
Pain in the shoulder: This pain is often felt at the front or side of the shoulder and can radiate down the arm. The pain is typically worse when lifting your arm or rotating it.
Weakness: Over time, shoulder tendonitis can lead to weakness in the shoulder, making it difficult to perform tasks that require lifting or reaching.
Limited Range of Motion: You may find it hard to move your shoulder fully, especially when lifting or rotating your arm.
Night Pain: Tendonitis often causes discomfort while lying down, especially on the affected shoulder, leading to disturbed sleep.
The Role of a Chiropractor in Managing Shoulder Tendonitis
So, how can a chiropractor help with shoulder tendonitis? Chiropractors specialize in treating issues with your bones and muscles, focusing on the body’s healing ability. For shoulder tendonitis, chiropractors use techniques to decrease inflammation, improve joint mobility, and promote healing of the affected tendons.
The primary goal of chiropractic care for shoulder tendonitis is to reduce pain, improve mobility, and prevent further injuries. A chiropractor can pinpoint the root cause of the pain, whether it’s improper shoulder alignment, muscle tension, or poor posture.
Chiropractors will look at the shoulder, neck, spine, and other areas that may make the problem worse. We develop treatment plans at Somerset Family Chiropractic & Wellness Centre to relieve you from the discomfort caused by shoulder tendonitis.
How Chiropractic Care Helps with Specific Types of Shoulder Tendonitis
Chiropractic therapy varies depending on the type of tendonitis you're experiencing. A professional chiropractor will have ot determine if you're experiencing bicep or rotator cuff tendonitis and determine the cause. Here are some examples of chiropractic adjustments used depending on tendonitis type:
Overuse Tendonitis: Chiropractors focus on improving shoulder alignment and relieving muscle tension for overuse injuries. Techniques like chiropractic adjustments help reduce strain on the tendons by correcting any misalignment in the shoulder joint and spine.
Calcific Tendonitis: In cases of calcific tendonitis, where calcium deposits form in the tendons, chiropractors or physiotherapists may use ultrasound therapy to break down the calcium and reduce inflammation.
Impingement Tendonitis: If shoulder impingement is causing your tendonitis, chiropractors work to increase the space in the joint to relieve pressure on the tendons. Adjustments and soft tissue therapy can alleviate the pinching and allow the tendons to heal.
Chiropractic Techniques for Shoulder Pain from Tendonitis
Chiropractic techniques offer many adjustment and treatment options. At Somerset Family Chiropractic & Wellness Centre, we develop specialized therapy tailored to your problem.
Whether that involves full chiropractic care or a combination of our other therapies, like physical therapy and acupuncture, will be determined by our team. Here are some techniques we can use to restore shoulder function:
Manual Adjustments: Realigning the shoulder and spine helps to relieve pressure on the tendons and reduce pain. Chiropractic adjustments improve joint mobility, which can restore shoulder movement and function.
Soft Tissue Therapy: This technique helps reduce muscle tension and break down scar tissue that may be contributing to the pain.
Ultrasound Therapy: This technique uses sound waves to break down calcium deposits in the tendons and reduce inflammation, which is particularly helpful for calcific tendonitis.
Therapeutic Exercises: Chiropractors often recommend exercises to improve shoulder strength and flexibility. Strengthening the shoulder muscles can prevent further injury and promote long-term healing.
Benefits of Chiropractic Treatment for Shoulder Tendonitis
There are several reasons why chiropractic care is an excellent option for treating shoulder tendonitis:
Chiropractic care is drug-free and non-invasive.
Chiropractic adjustments and soft tissue therapies can immediately relieve pain and discomfort.
Chiropractic care can improve the range of motion in your shoulder and allow you to return to daily activities (like stretching) without pain.
Chiropractic care addresses the root of the issue and works to correct it to prevent the recurrence of the condition.
FAQs
Can a chiropractor help with shoulder tendonitis?
Yes, chiropractors can effectively treat shoulder tendonitis using a combination of adjustments, soft tissue therapy, and exercises that target the root causes of tendon inflammation and pain.
How long does it take to recover from shoulder tendonitis with chiropractic care?
What should I expect during my first chiropractic visit for shoulder pain?
Conclusion
If you’re dealing with shoulder pain from tendonitis and are searching for a non-invasive, practical solution, chiropractic care could be the answer. Our chiropractors use various techniques to relieve pain, restore function, and promote healing.
So, can a chiropractor help with shoulder tendonitis? Absolutely! With regular chiropractic therapy, you can reduce pain, improve mobility, and get back to living your life pain-free. If you’re considering seeing a chiropractor for shoulder pain, now might be the perfect time to schedule that consultation at our clinic!
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