Shoulder Pain Treatment in Helensvale
We use our shoulders constantly for things like driving, cooking, playing sports—even when we’re relaxing, our arms and hands are usually moving, and that relies on our shoulders. With such constant use, it’s no wonder shoulder pain and dysfunction are so common.
At Family Health Professionals Helensvale, we have nearly 30 years’ experience helping patients with shoulder problems find relief and restored mobility.
Pectoral Muscles and Shoulder Pain
Rarely do we see someone who has suffered an acute injury that is the entire cause of their shoulder condition. Most of the time, issues have been building over years, often due to poor posture, improper neck function, or repeated minor traumas. These issues accumulate, interfering with the normal mechanical processes of the body.
There are different patterns of dysfunction, but one of the most common is that the pectoral muscles pull the shoulders forward. In this posture, neck pain and irritation of the biceps tendon result. When the biceps tendon is inflamed, scar tissue forms and the body sets up a protective mechanism, which is to contract the muscles of the rotator cuff at the back of the shoulders.
When these muscles remain contracted, they become tight and rigid to stabilise the shoulder joint and pull it back where it belongs—but they can never overcome the strength of the pectoral muscles. Over time, calcium builds up in the tissues, making the muscle rigid, less flexible, and more prone to severe injury, such as rotator cuff tears, even in a minor trauma.
Many times, the “knots” you feel in your shoulders are not actually tight muscles. They’re your ribs, which are elevated because your pectoral muscles are too tight. We need to address your pectorals, which allows your rib cage to drop down. Then those “knots” disappear.
Breathing and Shoulder Pain
Another common cause of shoulder issues is improper breathing. These days, most people tend to take shallow, fast breaths, using the upper rib cage and shoulders to pull air into the lungs. This causes the shoulders to roll forward, creating pain and dysfunction. This type of breathing also creates adhesions in the rib cage, which further exacerbates the mechanical dysfunction of the region.
Your diaphragm is designed for respiration, and we should use this powerful muscle to draw in air, using the upper ribs only at the end of a breath.
Frozen Shoulder Complex
Frozen shoulder complex is a debilitating condition that can take months to clear. Altered mechanics and improper breathing can both contribute to this difficult and painful condition. You can learn more about this particular condition in our blog below.
Our Approach
Our chiropractor, Dr Hennessy, will assess your situation to determine the underlying cause of your shoulder issues. Then he’ll design a custom care plan to help restore proper mechanics of the region, so you can get out of pain and start moving again.
Your plan will be tailored to your specific situation, and may include exercises to help restore proper posture. Addressing the postural component allows your chiropractic adjustments to be much more beneficial in creating lasting improvement.
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