The shoulder is one of the most complex joints in the body, consisting of the scapula, clavicle, and humerus. It requires a wide range of motion to function properly. At Northwood Chiropractic Oxford, we understand that shoulder pain and dysfunction can significantly impact daily activities. We understand that resolving this as quickly as possible is often a key goal for those suffering from shoulder pain.
Through detailed analysis, we often find that shoulder problems stem from the intricate relationship between joint mobility and stability. The shoulder's high mobility makes it particularly susceptible to injury when these mechanisms aren't working optimally.
There are several conditions that commonly affect the shoulder:
One of the most common issues we see is when the large muscle that covers the side and back of your neck becomes tight. This is called Upper Trapezius Overactivity. This can happen due to:
This condition can present as either shoulder or neck pain due to the muscle's attachment from neck to shoulder.
Also known as adhesive capsulitis, this condition involves:
The rotator cuff consists of four key muscles that stabilize your shoulder. Injuries can occur from:
This is the most important question to ask. What is causing the upper trapezius overactivity, the frozen shoulder or the rotator cuff injury and most importantly, why isn’t it healing? Most often, like a lot of conditions in the body, this comes down to 2 things: mechanical dysfunction and nerve pressure from the spine.
At Northwood Chiropractic, we prioritize getting to the root cause of your shoulder pain. This means we have to look not only at the shoulder but also the spine. The nerves that control the shoulder come from your lower neck. A mislalignment in this area can cause the shoulder not to function very well. Over time this puts pressure on certain structures and then suddenly you get an injury. Therefore, to really get to the cause of this issue, the spine must be addressed as well as the shoulder. By addressing both is how we not only get good results, but lasting results.
