Shoulder Pain in Broomfield?

We don't think much about our shoulders until they start to give us pain. Most people immediately start looking for the best chiropractic care in Broomfield because they are always using their shoulders to lift and extend their arms, to carry, wave and perform numerous other motions and tasks. The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body and as a result it is subject to a wide range of injuries and conditions.

Shoulder problems that go unchecked can lead to lifelong, debilitating issues. In order to properly treat the shoulder joint and achieve long-term relief it is important to identify the cause of shoulder pain. This article explains some of the common causes of shoulder pain and how chiropractic care can return the shoulder to functional health.

Common Causes of Shoulder Pain in Broomfield

There are countess potential causes of shoulder pain, so narrowing down the specific cause of yours (and determining the proper course for treatment) is best left to a professional. However, one possible cause of shoulder pain that we tend to see in our office is that of carrying heavy objects or lugging around heavy bags/backpacks. This is especially common in children and teens, whose bodies and bones are still developing. Carrying backpacks loaded down with heavy books and other supplies from school can cause shoulder problems.

Sports injuries are another typical cause of shoulder pain; over-extending your shoulder or even physical trauma from a fall or hit (especially in contact sports) can result in shoulder injuries and subsequent pain. And of course, medical conditions such as arthritis can affect the shoulder joint and result in pain as well.

Shoulder pain may be the result of conditions, such as:

• Neck and upper back tightness
• Spinal misalignment
• Arthritis
• Abnormal patterns of movement
• Athletic injuries and automobile accidents

While a few of the items on this list may indicate localized swelling in the shoulder joint, more of them point to the spine as the probable source of pain. The nerves that control the shoulder originate in the spine. If the vertebrae around the neck and upper back are compressed or injured, the nerves that go to the shoulder will be irritated and cause pain. Even a minor spinal misalignment can interrupt communication between the nerves and the shoulder and a cascade of problems can begin. So, what appears as shoulder pain may actually be referred pain from the spinal column.

Symptoms of Shoulder Injury

Due to the wide range of causative factors, shoulder pain and abnormal motion in the joint may develop gradually or come on suddenly. Symptoms of a shoulder injury are occasionally very subtle, but even these can develop into major issues. Since the shoulder joint is used in the vast majority of activities that we engage in daily, all symptoms involving the shoulder should be monitored carefully and treated promptly to avoid the progression of the problem. Symptoms indicating the need for an immediate evaluation of the shoulder complex include:

• Shoulder pain that lasts for more than a week
• Shoulder pain that goes away and then returns frequently
• Difficulty raising your arm above your head
• Trouble or pain when carrying objects
• Pain in the shoulder joint that becomes more pronounced in the evening
• Any visual signs of damage to the joint such as bruising or swelling
• Unusual snapping or clicking sensations in the joint during movement

How to Protect Yourself from Shoulder Pain

In the case of medical conditions such as arthritis, there may be no way to prevent shoulder pain in the first place, but there is always treatment available. For other common causes of shoulder pain, however, there are precautions you can take to protect yourself from injury in the first place.

For instance, if you do a lot of heavy lifting or if you're a student, make sure you're distributing the weight of what you're carrying evenly. Keep backpacks and other bags as light as possible, or consider a backpack that you can carry around on wheels instead of placing the bulk of the weight on your back and shoulders.

Shoulder Pain Treatment

If you're suffering from shoulder pain, Summit Medical Care Center may be able to help with Broomfield shoulder pain treatment. One of the most common treatments we will recommend when it comes to shoulder pain is that of spinal adjustments, which can perform right here in our office. A spinal adjustment involves gently and skillfully manipulating the spine so as to improve its alignment, especially in the upper cervical spine. As a result, any mis-alignment that may have been causing you shoulder or upper neck pain in the first place can be relieved.

Depending on the severity of your pain, we may recommend a series of alignment appointments to provide you with the best possible relief.

Request an Appointment with Our Broomfield Chiropractor Today

Are you ready to find relief from your shoulder pain? If so, then contact Summit Medical Care Center at (303) 466-3232 to request an appointment with our Broomfield chiropractor for shoulder pain relief. We do our best to hold convenient hours throughout the week so we can work with your busy schedule.