Acupuncture is a very effective modality for the treatment of shoulder injuries and shoulder pain. Whether the problem is acute (recent) or chronic (long standing), acupuncture can provide relief and allow you to return to your regular activities. Often pain in the shoulder interferes with the ability to sleep. By taking care of your shoulder problem, your body will feel better and you will be able to get needed rest. The goal of treatment is to allow you to return to normal activities without pain as soon as possible.
The following are some typical shoulder injuries that respond well to acupuncture treatments:
Shoulder Pain due to Rotator Cuff Muscle Injury or Tendonitis – The rotator cuff is composed of four muscles and their associated tendons. These structures allow for the extraordinary range of motion of the shoulder and also stabilize and protect the shoulder joint. Injuries to the rotator cuff are common with (but not limited to) athletes such as those who play racquet sports, swim, weight lift, ski, and throw a ball as in baseball and football. You do not have to be an athlete to experience a rotator cuff injury. These structures are often injured by hairdressers, painters, and anyone who uses a computer often. I have seen a number of patients who have injured their rotator cuff by swinging a heavy grocery bag up onto the kitchen counter or by carrying heavy bags while shopping or traveling.
Some of the complaints I hear from patients with an injury to the rotator cuff include: difficulty putting on a shirt or jacket, aches and pains off-and-on during the day as well as at night, and pain associated with reaching into the back seat of the car. Pain may be in the top of the shoulder, the front, the back or in the joint itself. Often the discomfort is felt into the upper arm and forearm. For some injuries, pain is described as dull, for others it can be quite sharp.
Shoulder Pain due to Bicipital Tendonitis – The tendons of the biceps muscle attach to the front of the shoulder area. There are two heads of the biceps muscle and they are subject to inflammation and/or tears. Bicipital tendonitis is typically an overuse injury common in athletes and non athletes alike. It is not uncommon to find this injury in weight lifters, bowlers, gymnasts, tennis players and other athletes involved in throwing sports. I have also seen the injury in patients who were performing routine daily activities.
Often the patient will not only feel pain in the front of the shoulder, but there may be clicking or snapping or popping when the arm is moved. Pain may be isolated in the front of the shoulder, or it may radiate down the biceps toward the elbow. The biceps tendon injury is sometimes found along with a rotator cuff injury.
Shoulder Pain due to AC Joint Separation – The acromial –clavicular or AC Joint is the meeting place of the end of the scapula (shoulder blade) and the clavicle (collar bone). This tiny joint is subject to injury most often from a fall where there is a direct blow to the front of the shoulder. In athletes, this type of injury occurs in skate boarders, skiers, snow boarders, and in contact sports such as football and hockey. I have also seen this injury in non-athletic patients who are only participating in routine activities.
AC joint separation is often an acute injury, but some patients experience arthritis pain in the area from a previous injury that they may have forgotten about. Acute injuries respond quickly to acupuncture treatment, chronic injuries take longer to respond but treatment often results in decreased pain and increased mobility.
Shoulder Pain due to Frozen Shoulder – Frozen shoulder is not considered an injury, but describes a loss of mobility in the shoulder with difficulty lifting the arm to the side and difficulty placing the arm behind the back. There is often dull or aching pain and a feeling of stiffness. The loss of mobility can come on suddenly or gradually. It can develop after a traumatic injury or after surgery, especially if the shoulder has been immobilized. Frozen shoulder is reported 70% more often in women than in men.
In developing a treatment plan for your specific injury, I take a complete history and then perform orthopedic tests, and manual muscle tests. I carefully palpate the shoulder to identify the source of the problem. The number of treatments necessary to resolve the injury varies. Often patients feel some improvement after the first visit though for long standing problems it may take additional visits to feel relief. Complete recovery comes much more quickly for acute problems, two to six visits might do it. Recovery from long standing problems may take longer, every patient is different and it depends on your age, physical condition and activities.
You can book an appointment at attainharmon.com
Take care,
Dr. Ann
