Shoulder Pain

Pain and stiffness in the shoulder or both shoulders is a relatively common complaint. Most commonly, the pain is due to an overload of one or more of the tendons in the shoulder or an inflammation of the large bursa, known as impingement.

Impingement causes pain in the shoulder and upper arm when the arm is lifted outwards - upwards. This is usually due to one or more overloaded tendons being pinched in the shoulder. The cause of the overload can be a lot of athletic activity with the arms above the head, or other unfamiliar work done with the arms high up, such as painting or wallpapering.

Another cause of shoulder pain can be something called frozen shoulder or frozen shoulder. The pain comes on suddenly, the stiffness develops over time and particularly sudden, careless movements cause severe pain. The disease has a good prognosis and usually heals itself within one to two years. If you have suffered pain and stiffness in your shoulders, a naprapath, chiropractor or physiotherapist can provide you with an exercise programme or treatment, depending on the origin of your problems. Physical activity helps to increase blood circulation in the shoulder and is good as long as you avoid the most painful movements.

In order to move as naturally as possible, it can be nice to have a support that stabilises and warms the strained or injured area. A shoulder support or shoulder guard provides both relief and stabilisation for the strained and painful shoulder.