Healing Rotator Cuff With Chiropractic Care

Most people do not realize just how much they depend on their shoulders until they suffer an injury. You might suffer a shoulder injury in numerous ways. One of the most common shoulder injuries involves the rotator cuff. If you have a rotator cuff injury, you might find it difficult or impossible to accomplish your daily routine.

You might also experience stiffness, steady discomfort, and chronic inflammation. Fortunately, chiropractic care can help you recover from a rotator cuff injury without the need for prescription medication or surgery. Some of the most important factors you need to consider when it comes to this type of injury include:

What Is a Rotator Cuff?

Shoulders do lots of things that many people take for granted. For example, they help people catch a ball or object thrown at them, play tennis, comb their hair, get something off a shelf, and much more. The body makes it look easy, but these are complicated processes that, to a large part, depend on a well-functioning rotator cuff.

Made up of tendons and muscles, rotator cuffs let the arms move over the head and protect the shoulder joints. They keep the head of the upper arm bone in the shoulder socket. They also let the arm rotate.

Rotator Cuff Injuries

An injury to your rotator cuff can cause a dull ache in your shoulder. This ache can worsen when you use your arm away from your body. Rotator cuff injuries are quite common and often increase with age. But if your job requires you to repeatedly perform overhead motions, such as painting, injuries may occur earlier.

Sometimes, a single injury can lead to rotator cuff tears. In such cases, immediate medical intervention is necessary. However, most people with minor rotator cuff injuries can manage their symptoms and resume their normal activities. Certain therapies can help improve the strength and flexibility of the muscles surrounding the shoulder joint.

Symptoms of a Rotator Cuff Injury

Depending on the severity of your injury, you may experience the following symptoms:

A dull ache at the back of your shoulder.
Disrupted and disturbed sleep patterns.
Restricted range of motion.
Arm weakness, especially when you try to raise your arm above your head.

Chiropractic Care for Rotator Cuff Injuries

Chiropractors look at their patients’ overall health, in addition to focusing on the main problem area. They also look at factors such as the patient’s diet, lifestyle, and workout routine. If you are experiencing shoulder pain, this integrated approach will help your chiropractor determine the best treatment approach.

To help identify the cause of your injury, your chiropractor will ask you to describe your symptoms and past injuries, lifestyle, work-related physical activities, family health history, and more. They will then use special techniques to relieve the pressure causing shoulder pain.

When your chiropractor locates the problem area, they will apply gentle pressure to restore appropriate joint motion. This form of treatment can help relieve pain, improve mobility, and reduce stiffness.

When to See a Doctor

If you experience immediate weakness in your arm after suffering an injury, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible.

For more on the benefits of chiropractic care, visit Whiplash Pain Center at our offices in Summerville, North Charleston, and Charleston, South Carolina. You can call (843) 281-7837, (843) 636-7246, or (843) 972-7246 today to schedule an appointment.