The shoulder is one of the most complex joints in the human body. It is a “ball and socket” joint, meaning it can move in any direction. In fact, it is considered the most mobile joint in the body, which is helpful given the wide range of activities we need our arms for! However, because it is so mobile, it is not a very stable joint, which makes it highly susceptible to injury. For this reason, shoulder pain is a very common condition treated by our doctors at Harbour Medical Centers.
Shoulder pain will occur in around 70% of people at some point in their lives. Around 50% of these cases will resolve within 8-12 weeks, but 40% turn into chronic problems that last for one year or longer, making it an incredibly frustrating condition to experience. The point is, if you experience a shoulder injury, it is critical to address it as quickly as possible to prevent it from becoming a chronic condition that gets more difficult to treat over time.
Poor posture is one of the most common causes of shoulder pain seen at Harbour Medical Centers. Several different muscles attach to the shoulder, working together to stabilize the joint. Poor posture often creates muscle imbalance, with shoulders rolling forward (typically in response to prolonged computer/desk work). Other common causes of shoulder pain include traumas such as falls or car accidents, stress, repetitive movements, and osteoarthritis (joint degeneration). Many of these causes tend to create misalignment of the shoulder joints. Our medical providers specialize in identifying and correcting these misalignments through chiropractic adjustments. Because there are many different causes of shoulder pain, it is essential to uncover your problem’s root cause so we can appropriately address it.
How Our Shoulder Pain Care Plan Works
1. Tell Your Story
When you arrive at our brand new, state-of-the-art facility, you’ll be greeted by two of the friendliest faces you’ve ever met. They will assist you with a simple intake form and escort you to one of our comfortable and elegant consultation suites. Then, your very own case manager will sit and listen to your story and document your areas of discomfort and loss. After your consultation is complete, the case manager will introduce you to all of our medical providers, who will individually perform an appropriate exam based on their experience and specialty and then determine what other additional testing, such as X-ray, MRI, CT or Diagnostic Ultrasound will need to be performed. Once completed, we will schedule your follow-up visit, typically within 24-48 hours.
2. Team Meeting
Between your Day 1 and your Day 2 visit, the medical, therapy, and chiropractic teams go into action. We pull together the clinical and intake data, the X-ray imaging, and the orthopedic and neurological testing results and determine a multidisciplinary approach diagnosis, utilizing over 50 years of healthcare experience. This enables every treatment team member to have a say in your unique condition, diagnosis, and purpose for why you want to be healthier. We can then produce a comprehensive and specialized treatment plan that will help you get better faster, address the cause of your painful condition, and effectively stay healthy to enjoy a future quality of life.
3. Accelerated Recovery Program
Our comprehensive program is designed to restore your quality of life efficiently and effectively. We may employ a variety of modalities to accomplish this goal including but not limited to Regenerative Medicine, Lumbar and Cervical Spinal Decompression, Class 4 Laser Therapy, Radial Pressure Wave, Neurocure, NeuroMed, In-House Active Therapy, Spinal and Extremity Adjustments.
4. Quality & Quantity of Life
At Harbour Medical, our goal is to quickly remove your pain points, address and correct the underlying condition of those areas, and provide you with the simple tools to maintain, preserve, and protect the new and amazing level of function and well-being that translates into your ability to enjoy the moments that give your life purpose and joy.
How We Treat Shoulder Pain in Stuart, FL
Comprehensive Consultation and Exam
At Harbour Medical Centers, we approach every new patient encounter the same way – with a thorough consultation and examination. In the consultation, your case manager will ask you several questions about your history of this problem and any other problems you are experiencing. They want to know about any past traumas you’ve experienced, your day-to-day activities and hobbies, and what kind of work you do. These things provide valuable insight into your shoulder pain’s origins and where it could have developed. Additionally, your doctor wants to understand how this has affected you and your quality of life. This is your opportunity to help your doctor truly understand you, and our doctors are here to listen.
After the consultation and history, the doctor will perform an examination to determine what is causing your shoulder pain. They will perform tests such as Range of Motion, Diagnostic Ultrasound, orthopedic testing, neurologic testing, and palpation to rule in or rule out certain shoulder conditions. The doctors’ job is to put the puzzle pieces together based on this information. Based on their findings, they will give you their best recommendations for care on how to best address this problem and help you accomplish your goals. In most cases, X-rays will be needed to understand your condition further. The purpose is not to cause you further concern; instead, it is merely to ensure our medical providers are not missing anything regarding your shoulder pain.
Passive Therapy Technology
Electrically-based passive therapy and other soft tissue rehabilitation are crucial to our success in treating shoulder pain at Harbour Medical Centers. Many different muscles surround the shoulder, and it is common for these muscles to become tight and irritated due to everyday life. Our passive therapists are experts in alleviating the tension that builds up in these muscles, which can increase both the range of motion and function of the shoulder. They will work to address the specific locations of dysfunction and help restore proper shoulder mechanics so you can get back to feeling great again.
Also, our medical providers are trained in various soft tissue techniques that effectively treat different shoulder conditions. One technique is the Active Release Technique, in which the doctor shortens the specific muscle, applies tension, and then lengthens and stretches the muscle through its full range of motion. This technique breaks up muscle adhesions that develop and become deeply rooted in muscle tissue over time.
Another soft tissue technique that is effective in reducing muscle adhesions is Pulse Wave therapy, in which the doctor uses an advanced and proven electrically based technology that sends healing pulses into the tissue to break up the adhesions and attract blood flow to the site so the tissue can heal properly. No matter your preference, Harbour Medical Centers is the place to go for your shoulder muscle needs.
Custom Therapeutic Exercise Plan
The shoulder’s glenohumeral joint is the most mobile joint in the human body. The rotator cuff muscles surround the joint to assist with movement and provide some stability, but not nearly as much as other ball and socket joints like the hip. Striking the right balance of mobility and stability is essential when treating a shoulder condition, and our doctors and therapists at Harbour Medical Centers are well-positioned to help you with your shoulder pain.
In the exam process, our doctors will identify areas of weakness or restriction in your shoulder. From there, they work closely with our therapists to develop a custom exercise plan to address your unique needs. If your shoulder is weak, it likely means more strengthening and stabilizing is necessary. If your shoulder is too restricted, it may need more stretching and mobility work to improve its range of motion. Many kinds of shoulder conditions can cause pain, and our job is to diagnose your problem and put you on the right path toward healing and resolution.
Specific Joint Alignment Care
Many joints are a part of the shoulder. The glenohumeral joint, where the humerus meets the scapula, is the most widely known. Two other shoulder joints commonly cause issues: the AC joint (where the collar bone meets the scapula) and the SC joint (where the collar bone meets the sternum). Joint restriction and misalignment can occur at any of these joints, and our medical providers are trained to adjust these joints to provide pain relief and restore motion and function.
Our medical providers will also take a global approach to your shoulder issue, ensuring the areas around your shoulder are functioning well, too. It is common for people with shoulder pain to experience neck or upper back pain, and chiropractors are experts at helping people with those types of discomfort. At the Harbour Medical Centers, we take this approach with every patient to ensure they receive the best care possible.
At Harbour Medical Centers, we leverage technology to help us stay on top of musculoskeletal conditions like shoulder pain. The most common technology we use is called Deep Tissue Laser. Laser works through photobiomodulation, in which red light penetrates deep into damaged tissue down to the cellular level. This process reduces inflammation and accelerates the healing process. Treatment takes about 3-5 minutes to complete, and it is very comfortable. At most, you will feel a soothing warmth in the treatment area.
Deep Tissue laser has numerous applications for shoulder conditions, making it an effective tool for our doctors to use as part of your shoulder pain treatment plan. It can help muscles and tendons heal by stimulating healing and inflammation reduction. It can reduce inflammation in damaged joints in the shoulder complex. The applications are vast, so it is a go-to therapy for our medical providers.
Common Causes of Shoulder Pain in Stuart, FL
Bursitis
In and around the shoulder joints exist tiny, fluid-filled sacs called bursae. These sacs provide cushioning and support for the shoulder joint, so there isn’t as much pressure on the adjacent bones of each shoulder joint. Due to overuse and wear and tear, bursae can become inflamed, which causes a condition called bursitis. Bursitis typically causes pain on top of or outside the shoulder. Lifting an arm overhead or rotating it in circles can aggravate the bursae and increase pain. This is problematic because we use our shoulders for so many different movements involving the arm.
Many people take medications and cortisone injections to treat bursitis, but it is effectively managed through natural means. Deep Tissue Laser therapy is a fantastic way to treat bursitis because the light energy helps reduce inflammation in the bursae and allows them to heal correctly. Gentle movement exercises can also be effective in helping the bursae to heal, and our trainers can assist you with doing these exercises safely. At home, you can use ice periodically throughout the day to decrease inflammation and shoulder pain and assist the healing process.
Shoulder Sprain
Many people confuse the terms “strain” and “sprain”. Simply put, “strain” occurs in muscles, while “sprains” occur in ligaments, which connect bones. The shoulder has several ligaments that keep the shoulder and arm bones connected and relatively stable. Due to trauma or overuse, it is possible to sprain these ligaments, meaning fibers of the ligament become damaged. This can cause pain and inflammation, resulting in both discomfort and loss of function in the shoulder.
With shoulder sprains, stability becomes the critical factor. Joints can sometimes be looser when ligaments are damaged, so we don’t want to mobilize the joint further. Thus, stabilizing exercises are the primary method utilized to treat shoulder sprains. At Harbour Medical Centers, our therapists focus on building strength and stability in the shoulder muscles while the damaged ligaments heal over time. We also utilize Advanced Injections and Deep Tissue Laser to further assist in and accelerate the healing process of the damaged ligaments. Surgery may be required if there is a complete rupture of the ligament, but this is not always the case. If the problem is identified promptly, it can usually be resolved through conservative treatment methods.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis, also known as Degenerative Arthritis, is when the affected joint wears down over time. It results in decreased joint space and inflammation, which can be painful and limit the shoulder’s ability to function. Some risk factors for developing osteoarthritis include but are not limited to, age, weight, past injuries, and repetitive motions/stress to the joint over time. It can affect any joint in the body, but the shoulder is a particularly common location for it to occur.
Osteoarthritis cannot be reversed but can be appropriately managed to slow or halt progression. This makes treatment extremely important. At Harbour Medical Centers, we utilize proven non-invasive medical approaches, chiropractic adjustments, and weight-bearing exercises to help strengthen the joint and improve mobility. We must preserve as much range of motion and function as possible to decrease the chance of its detrimental impact on a person’s quality of life. If managed diligently, we can diminish the impact of osteoarthritis, allowing you to enjoy your life and the activities you love to do.
Rotator Cuff Injury
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles that surround and support the glenohumeral joint in the shoulder, providing some stability in keeping that joint from dislocating. Rotator cuff injuries are one of the most common shoulder injuries. Straining a rotator cuff muscle can present with a deep ache in the shoulder that worsens with many different shoulder movements. It is common in athletes and those who work with their arms a lot, such as construction workers.
Most rotator cuff injuries can be resolved through entirely natural means. We use non-invasive advanced injections, chiropractic, electrically based passive therapy, and therapeutic exercises to ensure proper joint movement, joint stabilization, and tissue healing. Utilizing ice and being diligent with exercises and stretches at home can ensure that your recovery from a rotator cuff injury is smooth and hassle-free. For more serious rotator cuff injuries, including more extensive tears or even ruptures, other treatments, such as advanced injections, as seen on our diagnostic ultrasound, may be required. Regardless, it is vital to assess your shoulder as quickly as possible so we can implement the right strategy for care.
Frozen Shoulder
Another common condition that causes shoulder pain is adhesive capsulitis, commonly known as “Frozen Shoulder.” The shoulder joints are enclosed in a joint capsule, where synovial fluid is present to reduce friction during joint movement. When the capsule thickens, it begins to restrict motion in the shoulder, which can cause pain that can worsen over time. Frozen shoulder often occurs in 3 stages: freezing, freezing, and thawing.
In the freezing stage, mobility decreases, and it can be painful at times with specific movements.
In the frozen stage, the pain usually decreases, but movement is extremely limited.
In the thawing stage, mobility improves, and symptoms dissipate.
Frozen shoulder commonly occurs in people who aren’t able to move their arm as much, such as people with a broken arm bone or someone who recently had a stroke.
The key to treating frozen shoulder is getting these joints moving again. Exercises and stretches frequently help the condition “thaw,” restoring proper shoulder range of motion. Exercise ensures the shoulder stays balanced to avoid future episodes even after improvement. They should also be performed on the unaffected side, as it can be common to develop frozen shoulder in the opposite shoulder than the one that initially had it. Keeping the shoulder balanced can help maintain good mobility and posture in the upper part of the body.
Check Out Our Location Near You
1411 SE Ocean Blvd, Stuart, FL 34996
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Integrated Medical Providers help with shoulder pain?
Yes. Our medical team is trained to assess the movement of the shoulder and identify any restrictions or misalignments occurring in the shoulder’s different joints. Through advanced injections, passive therapy, and shoulder adjustments, they can restore normal alignment and motion, which can help get your shoulder feeling back to normal again
Should I see a medically integrated doctor for my shoulder pain?
A medically integrated practice is a great place to start regarding your shoulder pain. They will perform orthopedic, neurological, and functional movement testing to diagnose the problem and, if possible, treat it conservatively. If further evaluation, such as advanced imaging or consultation with an orthopedist is necessary, we will point you in the right direction.
Why is my shoulder pain not going away?
We use our shoulders for so many different movements, so it is, of course, frustrating when the pain is not going away. If the problem has existed for a while, it can take time for treatment to work and healing to fully occur. Try to be patient with yourself, as this problem didn’t develop overnight in the first place, either. If you are under care, stay the course and follow your doctor’s recommendations. Relief will come with time.
How should I sleep with shoulder pain?
If you have shoulder pain, there are two ideal sleeping positions. The first would be on your back. This allows your shoulders to relax and not be compressed. The second would be on your side with the affected shoulder up. Lying on your hurt shoulder could make for an uncomfortable night, so it would be best to lay on the other shoulder if you are a side sleeper. It is not recommended to sleep on your stomach.
What is the best exercise for shoulder pain?
There are many different exercises that you can perform to alleviate shoulder pain. Focusing on the rotator cuff muscles is a great place to start. Using resistance bands around a doorknob to internally and externally rotate your shoulder can help strengthen these muscles and provide more stability for your shoulder. Over time, this can address your pain and dysfunction.
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