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Acupuncture
Dry Needling
for Shoulder Pain
Can acupuncture help shoulder pain?
Dealing with shoulder pain in San Francisco, CA?
The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the human body. As a result, it is susceptible to a host of different injuries and conditions. Shoulder pain affects nearly half of all Americans, making it one of the most common regional pain syndromes. It is often characterized by pain, limited range of motion, and difficulty engaging in activities of daily living. In more severe cases, shoulder pain can be representative of a permanent disability.
Shoulder pain can be the result of either an acute injury or a chronic condition like frozen shoulder.
Does acupuncture help frozen shoulder?
acupuncture for shoulder pain in san francisco
dry needling for shoulder pain in san francisco
acupuncture for frozen shoulder san francisco
acupuncture for shoulder pain in san francisco
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Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, is an inflammatory condition that causes pain and stiffness in the shoulder joint, making it difficult to raise and move your arm smoothly. Pain is often increasingly intense at night, and the loss of mobility and range of motion can be debilitating. This condition can last up to several years and can have a huge impact on your quality of life.
Frozen shoulder can be described in terms of three stages:
- Freezing stage (approximately 6 to 9 months): the first stage of frozen shoulder, characterized by severe pain
with any movement of the shoulder. Pain often worsens throughout this stage, and range of motion is greatly
limited.
- Frozen stage (approximately 4 to 12 months): stiffness of the shoulder joint typically worsens during this stage,
though patients may see some improvements in terms of pain. Range of motion and ability to perform daily
tasks remain severely limited.
- Thawing stage (approximately 6 months to 2 years): the final stage of frozen shoulder, where pain continues to
decrease and shoulder mobility gradually returns to normal.
While the exact reason why people develop frozen shoulder remains unknown, it is physiologically due to inflammation of the connective tissues that hold the shoulder joint together. When these tissues become inflamed, they tighten and thicken around the joint, resulting in pain and decreased range of motion.
Some risk factors can make you more prone to developing frozen shoulder:
- Diabetes
- Thyroid dysfunction (hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism)
- Cardiovascular disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Stroke recovery
- Post-surgery
- Adults, especially women, ages 40 to 60
Aside from pain medication, anti-inflammatory drugs, and steroid injections, patients often choose acupuncture and dry needling for relief from frozen shoulder.
Dry needling and acupuncture, particularly electroacupuncture, help to relieve pain, improve circulation, reduce inflammation, and increase range of motion in patients suffering from frozen shoulder. At Optim Health and Acupuncture, we often combine other modalities such as cupping, Graston Technique, and heat therapy with acupuncture and dry needling for shoulder pain.
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