Looking to relieve shoulder pain? Keep reading…
The shoulder is a complex joint that is located at the intersection of the humerus (upper arm), clavicle (collarbone), and scapula (shoulder blade). These 3 bones are held in place by a network of muscles, tendons and ligaments.
Despite its large range of motion, the shoulder is not very stable, which puts it at an increased risk for injury. In fact, shoulder injuries are so common that 1 in 10 people experience shoulder pain in their lifetime.
What Causes Shoulder Pain?
It could be as simple as a slip or fall, an injury while playing sports or plain old overuse.
The pain may be caused by:
• A fractured bone
• An injury to tissues around your joint, like a ligament (bone connector), tendon (muscle-bone connector), or muscle
• Damage to the cartilage cushion inside the joint
Whatever the cause, shoulder pain is just that – a pain. Since shoulder pain can make life miserable, people often overdo it with pain medication.
Though medication may temporarily mask pain, one must keep in mind that it does nothing to resolve the cause of the pain. Without addressing the cause – the pain will almost always come back. So, what can you do for shoulder pain?
Here are 5 Natural Solutions to Relieve Shoulder Pain
1. Take a Break. Sometimes your shoulders just need a little extra time to recover. Take a few days off any activity that seems to aggravate your shoulder. Working through the pain will often exasperate the problem. Don’t risk turning your shoulder injury into a chronic problem.
2. Ice, Ice Baby. Icing your shoulder for 10 – 15 minute intervals a few times a day can help to reduce pain and inflammation.
3. Keep it Moving. Gentle mobility exercises will promote blood flow to the injured area and help to restore range of motion.
4. Try Acupuncture. Acupuncture focuses on reducing inflammation, improving blood flow and decreasing pain. Studies show that acupuncture can be an effective treatment for chronic shoulder pain and can help improve shoulder mobility.
5. See Your Wellness Chiropractor. Believe it or not, your shoulder pain just might be coming from your neck. Subluxations in the cervical (neck) spine can “pinch” the nerves that lead to the shoulder muscles resulting in pain and discomfort. If your shoulder pain is the result of a spinal subluxation – it will continue to resurface until the subluxation is removed by your chiropractor. Book a chiropractic appointment today!
Feel free to share this blog with anyone you know that might be suffering from shoulder pain.