People often seek chiropractic care for shoulder pain. Most treatment options are applied directly to the injured shoulder, but that’s not the case for spinal manipulation. Instead, chiropractors apply manual thrusts to the thoracic spine (upper and middle back) to treat shoulder pain and dysfunction. The thoracic spine impacts shoulder mobility and range of motion. Manual thrusts on the thoracic spine correct shoulder stability and improves range of motion to reduce shoulder pain.
Spinal manipulation is a type of manual therapy performed on the joints in the spine to relieve pain, fix alignment issues, and improve mobility. Manipulative treatment of this kind has been around since 400 BC. Today, chiropractors practice different spinal manipulation techniques to treat ailments such as:
- Back pain
- Neck pain
- Shoulder pain
- Headaches