The shoulder joint is a common site of injury due to the high number of activities that it is involved in performing, and the wide range of motion in the joint itself. Injury or damage to the shoulder bones, or the muscles, tendons, ligaments and soft tissue that support the joint can all be sources of pain. Shoulder pain may also be caused by pinched nerves or degenerative diseases. The links below explain the most common shoulder conditions and the treatment options associated with each condition.
Frozen Shoulder Syndrome
Frozen shoulder syndrome (FSS/Adhesive capsulitis) is most common in people over the age of 40. Symptoms of FSS include pain, stiffness and an inability to move the arm relative to the shoulder (“frozen shoulder”). These symptoms are caused by inflammation of the capsule, a strong connective tissue that surrounds the shoulder joint and the rotator cuff. Over time, inflammation of the capsule leads to the formation of scar tissue, which restricts the motion of the humerus (upper arm bone) in the scapula (shoulder bone).
To treat frozen shoulder syndrome, manual therapies may include one, or a combination of, the following:
ART (Active Release Technique)
Trigger Point Dry Needling (depending on situation)
Rotator Cuff Syndrome
Rotator cuff syndrome results from damage to one or more of the rotator cuff muscles or tendons. The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that support and control the motion of the shoulder joint. Symptoms of rotator cuff syndrome include pain in the front, back and side of the shoulder.
To treat rotator cuff syndrome, manual therapies may include one, or a combination of, the following:
ART (Active Release Technique)
Trigger Point Dry Needling (depending on situation)
Shoulder Impingement
Shoulder impingement causes inflammation and stiffness in the shoulder joint. This condition results when the acromion, a bony prominence at the top of the shoulder, rubs against the rotator cuff (a group of muscles and tendons in the shoulder joint) and the bursa (a fluid filled sac that cushions the joint). The inflammation and pain resulting from shoulder impingement can cause difficulty reaching overhead or behind the back, and weakness in the shoulder muscles.
To treat shoulder impingement, manual therapies may include one, or a combination of, the following:
ART (Active Release Technique)
Trigger Point Dry Needling (depending on situation)
Biceps Tendinosis and Bursitis
Biceps tendinosis and bursitis often accompany other shoulder problems such as shoulder impingement and rotator cuff syndrome. Biceps tendinosis results from damage to one of the tendons connecting the biceps muscles to the shoulder bones. This damage causes inflammation and thickening of the tendon, and occasionally tendon rupture. Repetitive overhead activities such as swimming and tennis can lead to small tears in the tendon, which accumulate over time. Biceps tendinosis pain is usually felt as a deep ache in the front and top of the shoulder, which worsens with overhead activity. Biceps bursitis is a similar condition that results from inflammation of a bursa, a fluid-filled sac that cushions the shoulder joint.
To treat biceps tendinosis or bursitis, manual therapies may include one, or a combination of, the following:
ART (Active Release Technique)
IASTM (Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization
Trigger Point Dry Needling (depending on situation)
Chiropractic Manipulation/Mobilization (as needed)