Shoulder and Elbow Pain
Osteopathy can help manage various types of shoulder and elbow pain through the use of manual therapy techniques to help with pain relief, improve mobility, and enhance overall function.
Common causes for shoulder & elbow pain include:
Shoulder
- Rotator Cuff Conditions:
- Tendinitis – Inflammation of the rotator cuff tendons
- Tears – Partial or full tears of the rotator cuff muscles or tendons.
- Bursitis – Inflammation of the bursa, a fluid-filled sac that reduces friction in the shoulder
- Frozen Shoulder – Stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint, leading to reduced range of motion.
- Impingement – Compression of the rotator cuff tendons during shoulder movements.
- Osteoarthritis- Degeneration of the cartilage within the shoulder joint causing pain and stiffness.
- Instability – Weakness of the shoulder joint, often as a result of injury or overuse.
Elbow Pain
- Tennis Elbow (Lateral epicondylitis) – Inflammation of the tendons on the outside of the elbow. Often as a result of overuse and repetitive movements.
- Golfers Elbow – (Medial epicondylitis) – Inflammation of the tendons on the inside of the elbow, also often due to overuse and repetitive motions.
- Bursitis – Inflammation of the bursa in the elbow – usually due to injury or prolonged pressure on the area.
- Osteoarthritis- Degeneration of the cartilage within the elbow joint causing pain and stiffness.
- Cubital Tunnel Syndrome – Compression of the ulnar nerve at the elbow which can cause pain, numbness, and tingling in the hand and fingers.
How can Osteopathy help?
Osteopathy can be a valuable part of an integrative approach to managing shoulder and/or elbow pain and associated musculoskeletal conditions of the back and neck, and is often used in conjunction with other treatments such as medication, physical therapy, and lifestyle changes. It’s important for individuals to have a treatment plan tailored to their specific needs.
Our osteopaths will take a thorough case history and assessment. In some cases we may refer you for further tests such as imaging, or blood tests.
Osteopathy focuses on the musculoskeletal system, using manual techniques to promote overall health and alleviate pain. Once a working diagnosis for your pain is established, your osteopath will discuss a treatment plan with you – with the aim to help pain management, reducing inflammation and improving mobility and function.
Osteopathic treatment uses gentle hands-on manual therapy techniques to reduce pain and improve joint function. These may include soft tissue massage, stretching, and gentle joint manipulation.
Shoulder and elbow pain can interfere with daily activities, work, and recreational activities and your osteopath may provide recommendations for these to help you manage your symptoms and support overall health. Managing pain often requires a combination of treatments and lifestyle adjustments, and your osteopath may provide you with specific exercises to strengthen muscles around the joints, improve range of motion, and enhance overall function and stability.
Osteopaths are trained to screen for medical conditions. If the cause of your shoulder and/or elbow pain is not musculoskeletal, you may need to be referred to another healthcare practitioner.
