Chiropractic Treatment for Rotator Cuff Injuries in Carrollton, TX
A rotator cuff injury refers to damage to the group of muscles and tendons that stabilize the shoulder joint. The rotator cuff consists of four muscles—supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis—that help lift and rotate the arm and keep the ball of the shoulder joint (humerus) securely within the shallow socket of the shoulder blade (scapula).
Types of Rotator Cuff Injuries:
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Tendinitis: Inflammation of one or more of the rotator cuff tendons, often caused by repetitive overhead movements (e.g., throwing, swimming, lifting) or aging.
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Bursitis: Inflammation of the bursa, a small fluid-filled sac that reduces friction between the rotator cuff and other structures in the shoulder. This often occurs alongside tendinitis.
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Tears:
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Partial tear: Damage to the tendon but not a complete break.
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Full-thickness tear: The tendon is completely torn, often requiring surgical intervention.
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Causes:
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Repetitive motions: Activities like swimming, tennis, baseball, and weightlifting can strain the rotator cuff.
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Aging: Tendons weaken and become less flexible with age, making them more prone to injury.
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Trauma: A sudden fall or accident can result in acute tears.
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Overuse: Long-term use without adequate rest can lead to wear and tear of the rotator cuff tendons.
What are the symptoms associated with Rotator Cuff Injuries?
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Pain: Often felt in the shoulder or upper arm, especially when raising the arm or reaching overhead.
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Weakness: Difficulty lifting or rotating the arm.
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Limited range of motion: The shoulder may feel stiff or restricted.
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Clicking or popping: A sensation or sound when moving the arm.
How Can a Chiropractor Help with Rotator Cuff Injuries?
Studies show that chiropractic treatments can be beneficial for many different types of shoulder pain, which includes rotator cuff injuries. Soft tissue modalities such as dry needling, manual therapies, and shockwave therapy can provide quick relief to shoulder pain and help rotator cuff injuries heal quick and effective. Chiropractic adjusting, manipulation and mobilization of the shoulder region can help to improve range of motion, mobility and discomfort and there is a a range of shoulder rehabilitation and strengthening exercises to encourage long-term relief and proper ergonomics. At Elevation, we are able to use a combination of these to help your shoulder pain improve quickly.
Try this Exercise for Shoulder Pain
The arm bar is a useful exercise to help with shoulder pain and improve shoulder stability. It utilizes proprioception, the body’s awareness of where it is in space without the use of vision. This exercise helps to engage the rotator cuff to keep the weight up. It’s recommended to do longer holds of around one minute and to progress to heavier weights as it gets easier. This most commonly will result in some shaking and a burn when the weight is heavy enough and should feel fatiguing.
TESTIMONIALS
Aaron S.
I can't recommend Dr. Konner enough! I'm usually the type of person to give any minor injuries or pain a while to go away before going to a doctor, but my shoulder was at a level that I figured I was going to need surgical treatment. A friend recommended I go see Dr. Konner and after a few dry needling sessions, my pain was almost completely gone. He also gave me some effective physical therapy exercises to work on between visits, which nicely evolved in difficulty as my shoulder strengthened and healed.
