Shoulders are remarkable joints with exceptional range of motion, but they’re susceptible to damage. If you’re experiencing shoulder pain that’s limiting your movement, Bill Sheppard, DC, of United Chiropractic and Medical in Katy, Texas, can help. Dr. Sheppard and his team use chiropractic techniques and treatments like massage therapy to address the common causes of shoulder pain and relieve your symptoms. Arrange a consultation to discuss your shoulder pain by calling United Chiropractic and Medical, or simply book an appointment online today.

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What injuries can cause shoulder pain?

The complex combination of bones, muscles, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and nerves within your shoulder enables you to move your arms in multiple directions, making the shoulder your most mobile joint.

However, this extraordinary mobility also means your shoulder is vulnerable to injuries. These often affect the rotator cuff — the tendons and muscles covering your shoulder that allow you to rotate your arms.

Rotator cuff injuries involve strains and tears to the soft tissues. You might also, at the same time, dislocate the shoulder joint, where the humeral head that forms a ball at the top of your upper arm bone pops out of the socket in your shoulder blade. A ring of cartilage called the labrum that helps keep the ball in the socket can also tear.

What diseases cause shoulder pain?

Numerous diseases can cause shoulder pain. The most common include:

Arthritis

Arthritis causes steadily increasing pain, stiffness, and weakness in your joints. The type of arthritis most likely to affect your shoulder is osteoarthritis. This age-related problem arises after years of joint use; it gradually erodes the cartilage protecting the ends of the shoulder bones.

Rheumatoid arthritis, which is due to a fault in your immune system, is another common form of the disease, and there are many more.

Tendinitis

Tendinitis is an overuse injury that often develops because of your work or a sport you participate in regularly. Overuse triggers inflammation in the tendons, which leads to shoulder pain when you lift your arm.

Bursitis

The bursae are soft sacs of fluid that prevent the tendons from rubbing on your bones. Sometimes the bursae become inflamed, which makes overhead movements painful.

Frozen shoulder

Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) is where the soft tissues in the joint become stiff and seize up. It most often results from having your arm immobilized because of an injury.

Acute injuries like dislocations, labral tears, and rotator cuff tears, especially when they happen repeatedly, can cause chronic shoulder instability, where the joint dislocates easily.

How is shoulder pain treated?

After diagnosing the cause of your shoulder pain, your provider at United Chiropractic and Medical might start by making adjustments to ensure everything in your shoulder joint is correctly aligned. You could also benefit from treatments such as:

  • Physical therapy
  • Heat and ice applications
  • Strengthening exercises
  • Electrical stimulation
  • Massage therapy

Most shoulder problems respond well to these methods, reducing or even eliminating the need for strong medications or invasive surgery. 

If you’re experiencing shoulder pain, the United Chiropractic and Medical team offers the solutions you need. Call the office today to schedule a consultation or book an appointment online.