Osteopathy Treatment for Shoulder Pain and Shoulder Injuries

The shoulder joint is a common source of pain and problems, because of its unique design. 

It has a ball-and-socket joint that allows for a wide range of movement, but it also has a shallow socket and a soft rim of cartilage to support it. To keep the joint stable, the shoulder uses a group of muscles called the rotator cuff, as well as ligaments. 

This makes the shoulder more prone to injury compared to other joints. And since the shoulder and neck are closely connected, shoulder injuries can often cause neck pain too.

The rotator cuff muscles are key players in keeping the shoulder joint stable during movement. These muscles can get injured from things like tears, trauma, overuse, weakening, or breakdown over time. When that happens, it can cause shoulder pain, instability, and trouble moving the shoulder normally.

This is when the fluid-filled sac (bursa) that cushions the tendons and muscles in your shoulder gets irritated and inflamed. This can happen from doing things over and over again that compress the shoulder, like throwing a ball, bowling in cricket, or serving in tennis.

This is when the tendons connecting your muscles to your bones get inflamed and painful. It can happen from overuse, overloading the tendon, or when the tendon isn't strong enough to do what you're asking it to do. In the shoulder, this often happens to the rotator cuff or bicep tendons.

A shoulder dislocation is when the upper arm bone (humerus) pops completely out of its socket in the shoulder joint. This is very painful and requires a trip to A&E. An expert will need to put the shoulder back in place to avoid further damage or trapping a nerve. 

A shoulder subluxation is when the humerus partly comes out of its socket in the shoulder joint. Often, it will go back to normal without help from a doctor, but the ligaments around the joint might be stretched, so some Osteopathy treatment may be needed to get everything back in shape.

Adhesive capsulitis (also know as frozen shoulder) is a frustrating shoulder condition characterised by pain, stiffness, and limited range of motion. It develops gradually over time, often causing discomfort at night. 

While the cause is often unclear, it may be associated with certain underlying conditions such as diabetes or hypothyroidism. The condition is believed to involve inflammation and scarring within the shoulder joint. Diagnosis is based on a thorough physical examination and symptom evaluation. 

Arthritis, simply defined, is inflammation of a joint, often causing pain, stiffness, and damage to the cartilage. The wearing down of the cartilage leads to reduced range of motion in the joint. The shoulder is a common area affected by arthritis, including osteoarthritis (degenerative), rheumatoid arthritis (an autoimmune condition), and post-traumatic arthritis (following injury).