Shoulder Pain Coventry & Shoulder Injury Birmingham

The shoulder is the most flexible joint in the body, because of this reason it means that it can also be the easiest joint to injure. The shoulder is made up of three bones;

The humerus bone
The shoulder blade
The collarbone

So it is easy to understand why it is important to gain the right diagnosis for a shoulder injury as well understanding what diagnosis should be undertaken with each injury. With this in mind it is essential that all shoulder injuries are dealt with immediately and by a professional. Conditions such as dislocation, shoulder separation, tendonitis, bursitis and impingement syndrome, frozen shoulder or a fractured shoulder are all serious and painful conditions that can occur.

Shoulder Pain Causes:

The cause of shoulder pain can result from a variation of sources. Dislocation is when the ball of the arm bone becomes disconnected from the scapula causing intense pain and discomfort. How this occurs is very different from shoulder separation as that is a result of disruption of the acromioclavicular joint.

Diagnosis:

How shoulder pain is diagnosed depends on the symptoms described. A thorough examination is needed to find the root of the pain and therefore start the specific treatment for that pain. It is vital that the right course of treatment is given for the pain to be abolished and to understand if the pain is reduced and the treatment is working and healing the injury.

What is Shoulder Dislocation?

Dislocation occurs when there is a sharp backwards jolt to the arm and when the muscle is unprepared and therefore is unable to resist the tension, the ball of the humerus is pulled apart from the socket. There can be an in between dislocation called subluxation where the upper part of the bone is slightly in and slightly out of the socket.

Shoulder Pain Treatments

Treatments vary between each shoulder injury, but stretching, heat and ice treatments and physical therapy are the most effective. It varies depending on the doctors diagnosis and the course of treatment needed for each situation. Chiropractic Treatment can be very effective and many see a vast improvement in the movement of their shoulder when a course of chiropractic treatments are advised. Along with this, rest is usually the most advised initial solution to any pain whether it be shoulder or neck pain.

Arthroscopic surgery can be needed for a severe case of dislocation occurs severely or it keeps reoccurring and can take months to heal, however the repartition of dislocation is almost gone and improved mobility is more than likely than constant physiotherapy referrals. Shoulder separation may also need surgery to hold the clavicle in place if the ligaments are damaged badly, however, it seems that this is a last resort and it only seems to become a problem if other methods of treatment had proved futile.

Frozen Shoulder Coventry & Birmingham

Frozen shoulder is characterized by pain, stiffness or restricted movement. It affects about three percent of the population. Frozen shoulder commonly affects patients between 35 and 65 years old.

Cause of Frozen Shoulder

The causes of frozen shoulder are not fully understood, but it involves the thickening and contraction of the capsule surrounding the shoulder joint. Frozen shoulder is more prevalent in individuals with diabetes, affecting 12 percent to 25 percent of these individuals. Frozen shoulder can also occur after a shoulder is immobilized for a period of time.

Symptoms of Frozen Shoulder

The pain caused by a frozen shoulder is usually a dull ache. It can get worse with attempted motion. The pain is usually located over the outer shoulder area and sometimes in the upper arm.

Restricted motion or stiffness in the shoulder is the hallmark of this disorder and therefore the affected individual cannot move the shoulder normally. Motion is also restricted when attempts are made to move the shoulder for the patient (See our Low Level Laser Therapy Section under Inflammatory conditions).

Bicep & Shoulder Tendonitis Coventry & Birmingham

Bicep or shoulder tendonitis is defined as an inflammation or irritation of the biceps tendon, which connects the biceps muscle to the shoulder.

Anatomy

The biceps muscle is located in the front of the upper arm. The biceps muscle helps to stabilize the large bone in the upper arm (Humerus) in the shoulder socket. It also helps to accelerate and decelerate the arm during overhead activities, like tennis, cricket or throwing the javelin. The biceps tendons keep the biceps muscle attached to the shoulder at one end and the elbow at the other end. At one end the tendons connect the biceps muscle to the shoulder in two places. At the other en tendons connect the biceps muscle to a smaller bone (called the radius) in the lower arm.

Cause of Shoudler Tendonitis

Shoulder tendonitis and injuries to the bicep tendons are often caused by repetitive overhead activity.

Symptoms of Shoudler Tendonitis

Symptoms include:

Pain when the arm is overhead position or bent.
Tenderness as the tendon passes over the groove in the upper arm bone.
Occasionally, a snapping or cracking sound or sensation in the shoulder area.

Diagnosis

During a physical examination, the Chiropractor will assess the shoulder area for the range of motion. The Chiropractor will be looking for any tenderness and signs of instability.

The Chiropractor may want to use X-rays or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning to look inside the joint for other conditions or tendon injuries, including shoulder tendonitis, that might be the cause the pain.

Treatment

Nonsurgical Treatment - The best treatment for shoulder tendonitis is to rest the arm and shoulder area. This simply means stopping all activities that aggravate the pain. Ice applications and non-steroid anti inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen, will help reduce inflammation. Your Chiropractor may recommend stretching and progressive strengthening exercises to build muscle and restore the range of motion. Cold Laser Therapy is fast and extremely affective in treating shoulder tendonitis.

Surgical Treatment - Arthroscopic surgery may be required if pain results from shoulder instability or from shoulder tendonitis. Arthroscopy uses fiberoptic technology and small instruments to examine the shoulder joint and anchor the tendon to the bone properly. Our orthopaedic consultant is available at Central Chiropractic Clinic.

Shoulder Joint Tear Coventry (Glenoid Labrum Tear)

Three bones make up the shoulder joint, the shoulder blade (scapula), the collarbone (clavicle), and the upper arm bone (humerus). The head of the upper arm bone (humeral head) rests in a socket in the shoulder blade called the glenoid. The upper arm bone called the head is larger than the socket, a soft fibrous rim of tissue rim called the labrum surrounds the socket to help stabilize the joint. This rim deepens the socket , so that the head of the upper arm bone fits better. Also serving as an attachment site for several ligaments. Injuries to the tissue rim surrounding the shoulder socket, including a shoulder joint tear, can occur from acute trauma or repetitive shoulder motion.

Examples of traumatic injury include: