Shoulder Pain

Osteopathy for Shoulder Pain

Shoulder Pain has many different causes, different symptoms, and different methods of treatment. The most common symptoms are pain referring to one or both shoulders and typically originate from joint compression, disc injury, muscular strain, ligament sprain, or direct trauma to the area. Your Osteopath will do a full examination of the area to determine the root cause of your symptoms and can then recommend the best form of treatment.

Causes of Shoulder Pain

There are a variety of causes of Shoulder Pain, these can include (but are not limited to);

• Muscle Tension: in the neck, upper back, shoulders, or arms
• Pinched Nerves: compression of the nerves as they exit the cervical (neck) spine and cause radiation of pain into the shoulders
• Joint Fixation: when joints in the neck or upper back become fixated, this can lead to pain or discomfort in the shoulders
• Stress: excessive physical or mental stress can cause tight muscles or increased inflammation
• Trauma: falls, trips, and whiplash are just some types of trauma
• Disc Herniation: slipped (prolapsed) or bulging cervical discs can press on the nerves referring to the shoulders
• Osteoarthritis: arthritic changes in the shoulder joints can cause shoulder pain and stiffness 
• Overuse: repetitive movements, heavy lifting or awkward lifting can cause a muscular strain

Other causes can include;

• Shoulder Instability
• Rotator cuff injury 
• Infection
• Joint Misalignment
• Ligament Sprain
• Soft Tissue Swelling
• Frozen Shoulder
• Shoulder Impingement
• Heart Attack
• Angina
• Poor Circulation

Symptoms

• Frozen Shoulder
• Local Pain
• Joint Catching
• Referred Pain
• Shooting Pain
• Grinding and popping
• Stabbing Pain
• Muscle Spasm
• Weakness
• Shaking or limb
• Limited Range of Motion
• Pain with Movement
• Muscle Loss
• Local Swelling

Treatment for Shoulder Pain

The type of treatment suitable for shoulder pain primarily depends on the cause of your symptoms. Every day people visit Osteopaths with shoulder pain and evidence shows that Osteopathic treatment is effective at treating shoulder pain. During your New Patient Appointment, your Osteopath will assess your body, complete a medical and symptom history, allowing them to provide a working diagnosis. There may be occasions where Osteopathy is not the right solution for you, and in this event, we will refer you to the correct health practitioner (e.g. General Practitioner).

Osteopathy care can include;

• Spinal Manipulation
• Joint Articulation
• Massage Therapy
• Soft Tissues Release
• Trigger Avoidance Mechanisms
• Stretches

Osteopathy is available at Littlehampton Natural Health Centre Monday to Friday.

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