How Chiropractic Care Heals Rotator Cuff Injuries
When you have an injured rotator cuff, your whole life gets put on hold. It’s amazing how many ways you use your rotator cuff during the day—from getting dressed to driving the car, to lifting your groceries—it’s an essential part of your life. Some rotator cuff injuries can only be repaired with surgery. But many are healed with chiropractor Baton Rouge services that are far less expensive and invasive. A rotator cuff injury is burden enough, without adding on the time and money spent recovering from surgery. With chiropractic care for rotator cuff injuries, you skip straight to the healing process and get back to life as you knew it.
HOW TO KNOW IF YOUR ROTATOR CUFF IS INJURED
The rotator cuff is comprised of four muscles and tendons that assist in stabilizing and moving the shoulder. A rotator cuff injury is categorized as tendonitis, bursitis, a strain, or a tear. Symptoms of rotator cuff injuries include pain when moving your arm in a circular motion, or difficulty bringing the arm straight up or to the side and can vary in intensity depending on the type of injury. Pain can also radiate down the arm or into the neck and back. You might experience the pain when using your shoulder, but also at rest and at night, especially when lying on it. Weakness and a crackling sound are also possible symptoms.
- Tendonitis: caused by inflammation from overuse—common in painters, tennis players, and swimmers.
- Bursitis: involves inflammation of fluid-filled sacs called bursa that sit between the muscle and bone, and can be caused by something as simple as repetitive office tasks.
- Tears or Strains: typically caused by chronic overuse or sudden injuries, such as a car accident or fall, and can cause sudden, intense pain.
HOW A CHIROPRACTOR CAN HELP
Good chiropractors know that rotator cuff injuries are specific to the individual and require different modalities of care. What heals bursitis can be different from what repairs a strain. Many people recover from rotator cuff injuries with therapies that target the muscle groups to strengthen and support the joint. Chiropractors know that the body needs to exist in homeostasis, and when one part is injured, the functionality of surrounding areas suffers as well. That’s why they offer techniques to keep your whole body in alignment and support the weakened shoulder. Their first goal is to alleviate pain and restore range of motion while healing the injured rotator cuff. Chiropractic care services for rotator cuff injuries include a variety of treatment protocols.
Electrical Muscular Stimulation (EMS)
EMS directs a special low-frequency current at rotator cuff muscles to relieve pain, reduce inflammation and muscle spasms, and prevent atrophy. This is a gentle procedure with multiple techniques to alleviate different symptoms. Most patients feel only a slight tingle when their muscles initially respond to the stimulation. Effective methods include:
- Low Volt: for pain and spasm
- High Volt Galvanic: for muscle spasm reduction
- Russian Stimulation: to strengthen muscles
- Interferential: to reduce pain and inflammation
- Iontophoresis: to reduce pain and swelling
- Micro Current: to increase cellular metabolism and enhance healing
Diversified Adjustment
Chiropractors can readjust your shoulder for maximum function. Massage and muscle release techniques can stretch and restore the muscles and tendons into their original condition. Techniques like these prevent scar tissue that accrues from surgery or from leaving the injury untreated. An untreated rotator cuff injury leads to degeneration of both muscles and joints, and possible immobility.
Dry Needling
Dry needling penetrates the skin to reach a very small trigger point in a skeletal muscle deep in a larger muscle group. It reduces pain and increases mobility. It physically reduces tension in the muscles so they can relax and stop the spasm. Dry needling not only quickly reduces pain in a tensed area, it also affects how pain messages are sent throughout the body, to alleviate pain more thoroughly. With reduced pain, range of motion increases.
ArthroStim Adjustment
The ArthroStim is a handheld device that delivers a series of taps, rather than twisting or cracking of joints. Rotator cuffs are problem areas where precision is crucial in treatment. The ArthroStim allows chiropractors to target a specific spot to heal the pain in a relaxing manner that promotes improved nerve interference patterns. It can be utilized in several positions, to keep your rotator cuff comfortable during treatment.
HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT CHIROPRACTOR
Your rotator cuff is essential to productivity in your day. Left untreated, these injuries can lead to muscular atrophy, degeneration, and limited mobility. Surgery is an invasive and costly step that is often unnecessary for rotator cuff injuries. The right chiropractor can identify what is causing your pain and alleviate it with the most effective and quickest method. But not just any chiropractor will do. This is your shoulder, after all, and it needs to be treated with precision and care. Check chiropractor websites to make sure they are experienced in shoulder injuries and offer the techniques used to treat them. Check for qualifications and certifications, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Ozark Chiropractic Care knows that your health means everything, and we want to get you back to living your life quickly, comfortably, and affordably. Contact us today to learn more!