So far this month we have taken a look at two of the top 10 most common sports injuries; tennis elbow and ankle sprain. Today we are going to examine the second most common sports injury, shoulder or rotator cuff injuries, and the causes and treatments available.
Flexible yet fragile, the shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body and has a very wide range of motion, and as such it gets a lot of work. Shoulder injuries account for about 20% of all sports injuries and are most common in tennis, swimming, weight lifting, baseball and volleyball. Injury is generally attributed to overuse, which loosens the rotator cuff, or the group of muscles and tendons that surround and support the shoulder. Many times, these injuries occur when the shoulder muscles haven’t been used for awhile so it is important to maintain strength in the muscles even when you may not be as active. However, as we age, the rotator cuff can suffer injury or tear without significant trauma over a gradual period of time. Shoulder pain and injury are not just limited to the athletic though and come on gradually over time or result from a fall.
Whether the shoulder pain is the result of a direct injury to the tendons, joints or bone or the result of altered biomechanics in the shoulder, neck, upper spine or arm, some of the classic symptoms include weakness, pain (especially at night), stiffness and slipping of the shoulder. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms for a prolonged period of time, it is important to consult with a physician.
As with most injuries, traditional treatment methods have included rest, ice, pain relievers, physical therapy and in severe cases, sometimes even surgery. However, for those patients who are seeking non-surgical or drug-free care, and for those who seek to determine and treat the underlying cause of the injury and not just treat the symptoms, Chiropractic Neurology is a fast-acting and effective course of action. While the specific form of treatment varies by each patient’s needs, chiropractic adjustments, stretching, ice and heat, electric stimulation or trigger point therapies have all proven highly successful in the rehabilitation of shoulder or rotator cuff injury.
Chiropractic care is a natural method of health care that is based on a simple, yet powerful, premise: when the spine, nerves and joints are functioning normally, the body has the ability to heal itself. Doctors of Chiropractic Neurology are highly trained in the specialized care that allows them to guide you through an individualistic approach and restore your health and overall well being, whether that is healing a shoulder injury, addressing chronic pain, or any number of other conditions.
If you are experiencing shoulder pain or have sustained an injury, and would like more information on how Chiropractic Neurology can help you, please contact Dr. Marc Ellis at the Georgia Chiropractic Neurology Center today.