Spring showers bring flowers and life to southwest Missouri, but this beautiful time of year also brings sore shoulders, backs, necks, and muscles.
Why does pain and inflammation occur?
Pain occurs when there is an activity that results in tissue damage i.e. an injury. When the sensation travels through your nervous system and up your spinal cord, your brain then interprets the signal as pain.
Inflammation arises as a symptom of a negative sensational experience which the brain has interpreted as pain. When this happens, the body reacts with one or more of the four cardinal signs of inflammation to help heal and restore the injured area back to homeostasis.
The four cardinal signs of inflammation are:
- Redness
- Heat
- Swelling
- Pain
The redness in an inflamed area is caused by the dilation of small blood vessels around the area the injury occurred.
What can a chiropractor do for soft tissue pain and inflammation to alleviate shoulder pain?
Chiropractors offer a number of solutions that all revolve around using the body to heal naturally. These therapies are as follows, but not limited to just these.
Cold Therapy works by reducing blood flow to a particular area. This can significantly reduce inflammation and swelling that causes pain, especially around a joint or a tendon. It can temporarily reduce nerve activity, which can also relieve pain.
Heat Therapy is used to treat inflammation (including various forms of arthritis), muscle spasms, and injuries such as sprains and strains. Heat may be applied to the body’s surface or to deep tissues. Hot packs, infrared heat, paraffin (heated wax) baths, and hydrotherapy (agitated warm water) provide surface heat.
Interferential Therapy frequencies produced by an interferential device have been proven to stimulate endorphins, the body’s natural pain killers. This can help to create a self-healing process without the need to for medications. This form of therapy is also extremely useful in reducing pain, inflammation, curing edema, and spasms.
Manual Manipulation adjustments help reduce the production of two inflammatory cytokines, which can reduce inflammation throughout the body. Chiropractors use their hands to put pressure on muscle tissue and manipulate joints in an attempt to decrease back and shoulder pain caused by muscle spasm, muscle tension, and joint dysfunction.
Does gardening and yardwork have your shoulder, back and neck sore? Contact Us at 417 Spine and ask how we can help you alleviate your shoulder pain and inflammation.
