How Upper Cervical Chiropractic Can Treat Shoulder Pain

What is Shoulder Pain?

As the name suggests, shoulder pain is an umbrella term for pain that is felt in the shoulder, the shoulder joint, and the surrounding shoulder muscles. Shoulder pain can be experienced by individuals of any age and is often a difficult condition to treat because of the broad range of underlying causes. One of the most common sources of shoulder pain is a vertebral misalignment in the upper cervical spine. 

Signs and Symptoms of Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain is characterized by pain that is felt in the joint or surrounding tissue of the shoulder. Shoulder pain can be a dull aching pain or a sharp stabbing pain. Depending on the underlying cause of shoulder pain, other symptoms that you may experience include pins and needles in the shoulder or arm, a reduced range of motion, difficulty lifting the arm or holding heavy objects, or even a complete lack of movement in the shoulder itself. 

How the Upper Cervical Spine Affects Shoulder Pain

In many cases, shoulder pain stems from a misalignment in the upper cervical spine rather than from internal injury of the shoulder. Because the upper cervical spine plays such an important role in supporting the musculoskeletal structures of the head and neck, a misalignment in this area can put undue pressure on the surrounding muscles and nerves, leading to pain and inflammation radiating into the shoulders. If left untreated, a vertebral misalignment can also lead to degenerative changes in the spine itself, which can further exacerbate imbalances and mobility issues in the shoulder joints.

How Our Natural Shoulder Pain Treatment Works

The Blair Chiropractic Technique is a progressive form of chiropractic treatment that specifically treats conditions caused by misalignments in the upper cervical spine. Using non-invasive, gentle correction techniques, Blair Chiropractic practitioners treat conditions like shoulder pain at the cause rather than simply managing the associated symptoms. 

During an appointment with a Blair Chiropractic specialist, your practitioner will perform an upper cervical spinal health assessment to determine whether a misalignment in the upper cervical spine could be triggering your shoulder pain. During this initial assessment, you’ll typically undergo a cone beam computed tomography scan or X-Ray. This process allows your chiropractor to pinpoint the exact location of any misalignments in your upper cervical spine.

Once a misalignment has been identified, your chiropractors will use certified Blair Techniques to gently push the vertebrae back into natural alignment. A Blair Chiropractor will never use techniques that involve harsh cracking or popping of the spine.