Osteopath Treatments For Shoulder Pain

The shoulder complex is made up of many bones, muscles, ligaments and joints; all working together to connect the arm to the rest of the body.

Due to the shoulder's unique anatomical structure it has one of the largest ranges of motion in the human body. The shoulder joint, like the strong and stable hip joint is a ball and socket joint. The shoulder however has a dramatically larger range of motion compared to the hip; the shoulder joint has sacrificed strength and stability to allow for such a large range of motion. As a result of the shoulder's larger range of motion, it does make it more prone to injuries.

Common Shoulder Pain Symptoms

Due to the intricate nature of the shoulder complex, many separate issues can arise that all present with different types of shoulder pain.

Listed below are some common descriptions of shoulder pain we experience at DW Osteopathy:

- A sudden, sharp pain that was first felt when doing a certain traumatic movement with the arm
- A gradually progressing ache over weeks to months that has no specific onset but does get aggravated by certain movements
- Sharp pain on top of the shoulder when raising the arm above the head
- Pain within the arm that travels down the upper arm, usually accompanied with a gradually reducing range of motion
- Pain within the shoulder, accompanied with neck pain and / or pain down the arm and into the hand
- Stiffness in the shoulder that is worst at night and in the morning but better as the day goes on
- Clicking, grinding and crunching within the shoulder during daily movements
- Shoulder joint moving too much; feeling like the shoulder will dislocate.

Causes of Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain, like most pain in the body, will commonly arise from a sudden traumatic onset, or a gradually building pain with no known onset. Having a good understanding of how and when the pain came about, will give valuable information to the osteopath when concluding on a diagnosis.

An osteopath will also take into account all aspects of an individuals life that are relevant to the current condition. Aspects include: age, fitness, occupation, activity levels, smoking, diet, recreational activities and previous injuries.

The shoulder joint is heavily influenced by the posture and functionality of the neck, upper back, lower back and pelvis. At DW Osteopathy, our osteopaths are trained to assess the whole body, making it easy to ascertain the influence that each body part has on the adjacent structure.

How Can Osteopathy Treatment Help Shoulder Pain?

An accurate diagnosis of any condition comes from conducting a thorough case history and physical assessment. During the physical assessment the osteopath will determine the location and cause of the shoulder pain through a series of movements and tests.

As the shoulder complex is an intricate collection of joints, muscles and ligaments, a variety of techniques can be used: manipulation of the joints, mobilisation and articulation of the muscles, a strengthening programme, acupuncture and postural correction.

As mentioned above, due to the shoulder having a close relationship with the neck, upper back and lower back, treatment may also be applied to such areas to better improve the rate of recovery and reduce shoulder pain.

Professional Shoulder Pain Treatment

Don't put up with shoulder pain!

About Shoulder Pain

Common Shoulder Pain Conditions

Common Shoulder Pain Symptoms

Causes of Shoulder Pain

How Can Osteopathy Treatment Help Shoulder Pain?