Shoulder Dysfunction

Chiropractic and Joints

Shoulder Dysfunction

Although chiropractic care is generally associated by the public with treating spinal dysfunctions, it is also very effective in addressing issues of the limbs.

The shoulder is a very complex joint that must compromise its mobility for its stability. Indeed, the ability to move in so many directions is primarily achieved thanks to the collaboration of three main joints (sternoclavicular, acromioclavicular, glenohumeral) and the pseudo-joints (scapulothoracic and subacromial), which can move in unison, controlled by the orchestrated and calibrated action of 23 muscles. If a dysfunction arises in one of these muscles, this complex mechanism could suffer and eventually manifest discomfort. A third of these muscles are directly connected to the spine. One can imagine how a biomechanical problem in the spine (vertebral subluxations) can reflect on the function of these muscles through neurological reflexes, compromising the delicate biomechanical balance of the shoulder. This imbalance causes incorrect movements that result in the shoulder shifting from its optimal position, thus generating tissue irritation and microtraumas to structures like the rotator cuff, capsulitis, bursitis, etc. These phenomena occur especially when the shoulder is used in repetitive movements but also when subjected to small traumas or exertion.

When a structure becomes irritated and inflamed in an attempt to repair the damage, it can worsen further with the possible deposition of calcium, which exacerbates the problem.
At this point, the medical approach is usually to offer the patient anti-inflammatory therapy through the use of cortisone, painkillers, TECAR therapy, electrotherapy, etc.

The chiropractor seeks to trace the cause that triggered the chain of events leading to inflammation by identifying the dysfunctional area of the spine and correcting it through chiropractic spinal adjustments. Often, once the correct biomechanics of the spine are restored, the shoulder muscles begin to contract in a more functionally correct manner, reducing the stress on those structures that were inflamed. This gives the body’s tissues an opportunity to be relieved from constant stress, regenerate, and thus start the healing process. The origin of these dysfunctions may not only be the spine. Sometimes, structures of the musculoskeletal system not directly related to the shoulder, such as the elbow, wrist, or even the jaw, could be involved, as could certain organs that, when distressed, generate referred pain in the shoulder, such as the heart or gallbladder.

In cases of trauma or more serious pathologies where the bone and soft tissue structures have suffered significant damage, especially if not biomechanical in nature, the patient should be referred to other specialists.