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Solutions for Rotator Cuff Injuries

Your rotator cuff is made up of four tendons that attach four muscles to your upper arm so you can freely move your shoulder, the joint with the widest range of motion in your body. Think about all the things you do, from raising your arm, to reaching for something, to swinging a golf club or a tennis racket, to driving a car – all require free movement of the shoulder joint.

Unfortunately, because of the shallowness of the shoulder socket, the shoulder joint is one that is most prone to injury from sports and falls. If one of the rotator cuff tendons is partially torn, pain and restricted movement result. If there is a complete tear, the muscle supported by the affected tendon can affect shoulder movement and cause muscle pain and weakness.

When a rotator cuff injury is serious enough that it irritates the nerves that pass through the shoulder joint, this is known as rotator cuff impingement. Impingement can produce tingling sensations and numbness down to the hand and fingers, in addition to pain. It is often part of the aging process because the muscles and tendons that support the shoulder tend to weaken.

Traditional approaches to rotator cuff injuries include rest, ice/heat applications, the use of over-the-counter pain relievers, steroids, exercise and physical therapy. For a rotator cuff that is completely torn, surgery is usually recommended. But that too has its drawbacks and rarely results in complete healing.

Is there a natural alternative? Certainly there is, the kind of care that we administer in this office – safe, gentle chiropractic care that addresses the cause of your shoulder problem, not the symptoms.

Chiropractic care helps to restore the health of your spine and neck and this often relieves pressure that is causing your shoulder pain. Because an accident or injury to the shoulder may cause the misalignment of vertebrae in your neck, chiropractic adjustments are an effective means to reposition the vertebrae, restoring proper alignment, increasing shoulder mobility, and relieving pain.

Of course, we might also suggest some complementary approaches to help relieve your shoulder pain that include moist heat, ice packs, traction, massage or stretching and strengthening exercises. We would be more than happy to discuss all your options at you next visit.