Shoulder Pain Treatment in Salisbury, MD

Shoulder Pain Treatment in Salisbury, MD

Shoulder pain can make simple activities surprisingly difficult. Reaching overhead, putting on a shirt, lifting groceries, exercising, sleeping on your side, or even reaching behind your back can become painful when your shoulder isn't moving or functioning properly.

At Shakley Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Salisbury, MD, we help patients with shoulder pain determine what may be contributing to their symptoms and develop a treatment plan based on their individual condition.

If you are dealing with shoulder pain in Salisbury or elsewhere on Maryland's Eastern Shore, understanding the cause of the problem is an important first step toward finding the right treatment.

What Causes Shoulder Pain?

The shoulder is a complex joint that depends on muscles, tendons, ligaments, and several joints working together. Because the shoulder has such a large range of motion, there are many different reasons it can become painful.

Common causes of shoulder pain may include:

• Rotator cuff injuries

• Rotator cuff tendinitis

• Shoulder impingement

• Bursitis

• Muscle and tendon strains

• Arthritis

• Sports injuries

• Repetitive-use injuries

• Poor shoulder mechanics

• Injuries from falls or auto accidents

• Problems involving the neck or upper back

Shoulder pain can develop suddenly after an injury or gradually over time. Some people notice pain only with certain movements, while others experience aching even while resting or sleeping.

Rotator Cuff and Shoulder Pain

The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that helps stabilize and move the shoulder.

Problems involving the rotator cuff can cause pain when reaching overhead, lifting an object, reaching behind your body, or lying on the affected shoulder. You may also notice weakness or difficulty performing activities that were previously easy.

Because several shoulder conditions can produce similar symptoms, an examination can help determine which structures may be involved.

Can Chiropractic Care Help Shoulder Pain?

Chiropractic care isn't limited to the spine. Chiropractors can evaluate the shoulder along with the neck, upper back, and surrounding muscles and joints that may affect shoulder movement.

Depending on your condition, treatment may focus on improving joint mobility, reducing stiffness, and restoring more comfortable movement.

The goal is to address the way the shoulder and surrounding areas are functioning rather than simply focusing on where you feel pain.

Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation for Shoulder Pain

Rehabilitation can be especially important when treating shoulder problems.

Weakness, limited mobility, tight muscles, poor shoulder mechanics, and previous injuries may all contribute to ongoing symptoms.

Depending on your examination findings, physical therapy and rehabilitation may include exercises designed to improve shoulder mobility, flexibility, strength, stability, and function.

A personalized rehabilitation program can also help patients gradually return to work, exercise, sports, and normal daily activities.

Shoulder Pain Can Sometimes Come From the Neck

Not every painful shoulder is actually caused by the shoulder itself.

Problems involving the cervical spine can sometimes cause pain that is felt around the shoulder blade or shoulder. Nerve irritation in the neck may also produce symptoms that travel into the shoulder, arm, or hand.

This is one reason a proper evaluation is important, especially when shoulder pain is accompanied by neck pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, or symptoms traveling down the arm.

When Should You Have Shoulder Pain Evaluated?

Consider having your shoulder evaluated if the pain is not improving, keeps returning, interferes with sleep, or makes normal activities difficult.

You should also consider an evaluation if you have significant loss of motion, weakness, pain when lifting your arm, or symptoms that began following an injury.

Some shoulder injuries require additional diagnostic testing or referral. The goal of the initial evaluation is to better understand the problem and determine what type of care may be appropriate.

Shoulder Pain Treatment in Salisbury and the Eastern Shore

At Shakley Chiropractic & Wellness Center, we take an individualized approach to shoulder pain. Depending on the cause of your symptoms, treatment may include chiropractic care, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and other conservative approaches.

Our office is located at 1304 S Division Street in Salisbury, Maryland, and serves patients from Salisbury, Fruitland, Delmar, Parsonsburg, Hebron, Pittsville, Berlin, and communities throughout Maryland's Eastern Shore.

If you are looking for a chiropractor for shoulder pain in Salisbury, MD, or conservative treatment for rotator cuff and shoulder problems on the Eastern Shore, contact Shakley Chiropractic & Wellness Center to schedule an appointment.