Shoulder Injury Treatment in Chicago

Shoulder injuries come in a variety of forms which range from mild to very severe in nature. In order to properly diagnose a shoulder injury, a detailed history, physical examination, and possible imaging is necessary. Chiropractors can conservatively treat many shoulder injuries and prevent the necessity for more invasive treatments. 

A majority of shoulder injuries involve the rotator cuff which is a group of muscles which act to both stabilize and move the shoulder. 

The four muscles of the rotator cuff are: 

• the supraspinatus, 
• infraspinatus, 
• teres minor, and 
• subscapularis.

The shoulder is composed of several joints that must operate properly in order to allow for full range of motion. The upper thoracic spine also plays a major role in shoulder motion.  

There are many possible mechanisms of shoulder injury which include: a hit to the front of the shoulder, falling on an outstretched arm, sudden traction of the arm, a fall onto the top of the shoulder, etc.

The treatment of shoulder injuries varies greatly depending on the type and extent of injury. It is imperative that following initial shoulder injury passive treatment, a proper and progressive rehabilitation program is performed to prevent joint instability and chronic dislocations. Posture also has a major effect on proper shoulder girdle function. Abnormal posture such as anterior shoulder or anterior head carriage puts excessive stress on the shoulder musculature which leads to susceptibility to shoulder injuries.

The Journal of Chiropractic Medicine researched cases where patients had acute shoulder pain, reduced range of motion, positive shoulder orthopedic tests, palpable tenderness, muscle spasm, and muscle weakness. They found that “There is the need for a non-surgical, conservative approach to treatment of shoulder problems before considering the more aggressive treatment approaches that carry greater iatrogenic risks. The patients’ signs and symptoms responded to a unique method of evaluation and manipulative therapy when other approaches had failed. The risk/benefit ratio suggests that conservative care be considered a potential option for similar conditions¹.”

Dr. Max is an expert at treating shoulder injuries in Chicago. Call Irving Park Chiropractic at 773-880-0880 today to schedule an appointment.

¹Donahue, T. "Manipulative Assessment and Treatment of the Shoulder Complex: Case Reports." Journal of Chiropractic Medicine 2.4 (2003): 145-52.

Proper Ergonomics for Your Workplace

Many people spend eight or more hours sitting at a desk and looking at a computer. Improper desk space setup can lead to many issues including neck sprain, carpal tunnel syndrome, low back strain, and eye strain. By following the below steps to properly setting up your desk space, you will reduce the likelihood that you will suffer from the above conditions.

Your desk should allow you to place your computer monitor directly in front of you, at least 20 inches away. Also, the monitor should be placed so that the top of the screen is at or below eye level. If possible, the monitor should be placed perpendicular to any windows. Computer users often blink less when they are looking at a monitor. It is suggested that users rest their eyes on an item about 20 feet away for 5-10 seconds every fifteen minutes to avoid excessive eye strain.

Avoid storing items such as a computer under your desk. Having inadequate space under your desk can lead to shoulder, back, and neck pain due to users sitting too far away from the computer and they have to reach excessively for the computer and mouse. If possible, make sure you have enough work surface space so that devices such as a keyboard and mouse are not in undesirable positions which cause you to sit in awkward positions. The items that you use most (phone, keyboard, mouse, etc) should remain in your primary work zone (see photo below).



Some desks and computer equipment such as keyboards have hard, angled edges which come in contact with one’s arm or wrist. This can create stress on these areas leading to conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome. In order to minimize this stress, use a wrist rest or if possible, buy furniture with rounded edges. 

 

Your office chair is a very important part of your workstation. Proper back support is necessary to maintain the natural curvature of the spine. If your chair does not have a built in lumbar support, use a rolled up towel or you can purchase a removable lumbar support to attach to your chair. Your chair should be able to recline at least 15 degrees from vertical. The armrests of the chair should also be adjustable. If the armrests are too low, this may cause you to lean over to one side in order to rest your forearm leading to awkward positions and muscular fatigue. If the armrests are too high, it may cause you to raise your shoulders leading to neck and shoulder tension. If the armrests are too wide, it can cause you to reach with your elbows and lean forward which leads to awkward posture and muscle strain in the shoulders and neck.

Lastly, desk surfaces that are too high or too low may lead to users sitting in awkward positions. Possible ways to fix this are to raise your work surfaces by inserting boards or concrete blocks under the desk legs, remove center drawers to create additional thigh clearance, or lower work areas by cutting off desk legs. If the work space cannot be lowered, raise the chair to accommodate the user. If raising the chair to the proper height causes the users feet to not completely reach the floor, provide a footrest to support the users feet.

These relatively quick fixes to your work space can help prevent many future musculoskeletal issues due to improper ergonomics. 

Some desks and computer equipment such as keyboards have hard, angled edges which come in contact with one’s arm or wrist. This can create stress on these areas leading to conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome. In order to minimize this stress, use a wrist rest or if possible, buy furniture with rounded edges.

Your office chair is a very important part of your workstation. Proper back support is necessary to maintain the natural curvature of the spine. If your chair does not have a built in lumbar support, use a rolled up towel or you can purchase a removable lumbar support to attach to your chair. Your chair should be able to recline at least 15 degrees from vertical. The armrests of the chair should also be adjustable. If the armrests are too low, this may cause you to lean over to one side in order to rest your forearm leading to awkward positions and muscular fatigue. If the armrests are too high, it may cause you to raise your shoulders leading to neck and shoulder tension. If the armrests are too wide, it can cause you to reach with your elbows and lean forward which leads to awkward posture and muscle strain in the shoulders and neck.