Shouldering The Pain

Shouldering The Pain

by Dr. Brandon Nevel, D.C, CCSP, CCEP, USTPA

You toss the ball, tennis racquet in hand, hoping to serve an ace, or maybe you’re just getting ready to swing a golf club hoping to get that birdie, and feel a stabbing pain in your shoulder that prevents you from swinging at all. If you’re in your 60s or 70s, you may be inclined to pass it off as part of the aging process, but for those 30- to 50-something athletes, the idea of sustaining a game-ending rotator cuff injury is devastating. That doesn’t have to be the case. Once you understand the mechanics of the shoulder, there are a host of non-invasive treatment options that can prevent and/or treat shoulder pain.  These treatments may also be used to avoid surgery or to help patients recover from a shoulder operation.

The shoulder is a ball and socket joint. Unlike the hip, it allows a much greater range of motion, but with that comes more instability. Think of the shoulder joint as a golf ball on a golf tee. In order to stabilize the shoulder, there are numerous ligaments and muscles that make up the rotator cuff. One muscle of the rotator cuff, in particular, (the supraspinatus muscle) originates on top of the shoulder blade, travels under a bone called the acromion process and inserts into the front of the shoulder. Whenever we raise our arms above our head, this muscle is susceptible to becoming “pinched” under the acromion process, causing shoulder impingement syndrome, a condition that often leads to tendonitis and rotator cuff tears.

Shoulder impingement syndrome is very common in sports that require overhead motions, such as serving a tennis ball and throwing a football or baseball. As the muscle becomes impinged during these activities, the body’s natural response creates inflammation and swelling, and the body lays down scar tissue to temporarily protect the area from further damage. Unfortunately, scar tissue can create myofasciitis, tendonitis and decreased overall function of the shoulder.  

Non-invasive treatment of these acute and chronic shoulder injuries may include soft tissue treatments, as well as adjustments to realign the spine and shoulder joints. The Graston Technique is a soft tissue mobilization technique that can break up scar tissue and promotes healing in the shoulder. Electrical stimulation, ultrasound, and ice massage are physiotherapies, which help decrease inflammation and aid in healing the shoulder muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Kinesio-Taping (as seen on athletes at the 2008 Olympics) is another effective therapy in treating shoulder pain. It is a functional taping method using elastic tape to aid natural muscle function, eliminate swelling, and support the joint, while allowing full range of motion.

In addition to these treatments, the inciting factor that caused the problem must also be corrected.  However, with effective therapy and chiropractic care, many people with chronic shoulder pain can be pain free in as little as 6 to 8 treatments.

Dr. Brandon Nevel is a certified chiropractic sports physician, certified chiropractic extremities practitioner, and a USPTA tennis professional.  For more information on these treatments, visit www.silversurfsportschiro.com or call Dr. Nevel of Silver Surf Sports Chiropractic & Rehab at 561-746-4242.