Can Chiropractic Help With Shoulder Pain?
Shoulder pain can have a profound impact on your daily life. Whether it’s caused by an injury, repetitive strain, or underlying conditions like arthritis, it can interfere with basic activities such as lifting your arm, carrying groceries, or sleeping comfortably. You might feel like you’ve tried everything—physical therapy, painkillers, or rest—only to find that the pain persists. So, can chiropractic care help with shoulder pain? The answer is often yes, and many patients have experienced significant relief.
The Frustration of Shoulder Pain
Chronic shoulder pain can leave you feeling helpless and limited. Tasks you once took for granted—reaching for something on a high shelf, throwing a ball, or even getting dressed—become difficult and frustrating. This loss of mobility and functionality can affect your mood, work performance, and overall quality of life.
Perhaps you’ve seen specialists, tried home remedies, or used over-the-counter medications, but the pain lingers. The constant discomfort can leave you questioning whether you’ll ever regain full use of your shoulder.
Restore Function
Your ultimate goal is to get back to normal. You want to lift, move, and carry without hesitation or pain. You’re not just seeking temporary relief; you want a lasting solution that addresses the cause of your discomfort. Chiropractic care offers a targeted approach to restoring mobility and reducing pain.
Surgery or Permanent Damage?!?
A common fear among those with shoulder pain is that it may lead to surgery or permanent disability. You might also worry that certain treatments could worsen your condition. Chiropractic care, however, is a non-invasive option that focuses on gentle, natural healing.
How Chiropractic Care Helps Shoulder Pain
Chiropractors take a holistic approach to shoulder pain by assessing how the shoulder interacts with surrounding areas like the neck and upper back. Dysfunction of the spine can affect the shoulder joint, causing pain and restricted movement.
Through precise adjustments and soft tissue techniques, chiropractors can address joint dysfunction and reduce inflammation. Additionally, they may recommend exercises to strengthen the muscles around the shoulder and improve range of motion. This comprehensive care not only relieves pain but also helps prevent future issues.
The Science Supporting Chiropractic for Shoulder Pain
Scientific studies show that chiropractic care can effectively treat shoulder pain. A study published in The Journal of Chiropractic Medicine (Pribicevic, M., Pollard, H., & Bonello, R. (2010). Chiropractic treatment of shoulder pain and dysfunction: A retrospective study of 50 cases. The Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, 9(3), 133-141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcm.2010.06.004) found that patients with shoulder impingement syndrome experienced significant improvement in pain and function after receiving chiropractic care combined with rehabilitative exercises. Another study in Manual Therapy (Bergman, G. J. D., Winters, J. C., Groenier, K. H., et al. (2004). Manipulative therapy in addition to usual care for patients with shoulder complaints: Results of a randomized controlled trial. Manual Therapy, 9(4), 211-219. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.math.2004.06.003) demonstrated that spinal manipulation can positively impact shoulder mobility and reduce associated pain.
In addition to chiropractic adjustments, we may be able to help with other techniques such as therapeutic exercise, massage therapy or even shockwave therapy. Shockwave therapy is one of our newest treatments for shoulder pain. It helps, even chronic shoulder injuries, by improving blood flow, remodeling scar tissue, attracting stem cells to the area, and even giving pain relief to a damaged shoulder.
A Path to Recovery
Chiropractic care offers a safe, evidence-based approach to treating shoulder pain. With a tailored treatment plan, you can regain your mobility, reduce pain, and return to the activities you love. If you are in the Corvallis, OR area and you want to try chiropractic care to help with shoulder pain, please get in touch with us! We are ready to help.