Shoulder Pain FAQs in Portland OR

Your shoulder is capable of moving in a remarkable range of directions, but that range of motion requires the interaction of many complex structures. Cartilage and bursae reduce friction in the joint, while ligaments and tendons allow for flexibility, and a group of muscles called the rotator cuff actually make the shoulder move.

Any acute impact or severe hyperextension can disrupt function and cause immediate, severe pain. Examples include torn rotator cuff muscles, tendons strains, ligament sprains, and dislocation, in which the bone end pops out of the socket.

Some shoulder problems take time to develop and linger for months or years, especially when they're associated with chronic underlying conditions. Examples include osteoarthritis of the shoulder, tendinitis produced by overuse or repetitive motion, and bursitis caused by constant friction between the bursae and neighboring tendons.

A pinched nerve in the cervical spine can create pain signals that travel from the major nerve roots into the shoulder. This phenomenon is called referred pain.

Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, is a condition in which your shoulder becomes extremely stiff and painful after a long period of immobilization. It can occur, for example, if you've kept your arm in a sling for many weeks.

Chiropractic adjustment can correct positional abnormalities that affect shoulder motion, from painful alignment issues that aggravate arthritis pain to acute dislocation. Our chiropractors can also make adjustments to the cervical spine, relieving pinched nerve tissue and putting a stop to referred pain in the shoulder.

Our chiropractors can provide you with a multi-modal treatment plan that also includes massage therapy, spinal decompression, corrective exercises, nutritional recommendations (to speed healing and ease inflammation), and lifestyle changes to help prevent shoulder overuse.