The shoulder is one of the most mobile joints of the body, with multiple structures and muscles contributing to the area. Due to so many contributing structures, shoulder pain is a common complaint, and can impact many aspects of daily life, including sleeping, working and driving. While shoulder pain can occur on its own, it can also be associated with neck pain, back pain, age or injury and trauma. For younger people, pain is more likely to be due to an accident or injury. As you age however, natural wear and tear occurs in the shoulder joint and the rotator cuff tendon. This may become persistently painful over time and may cause limited strength and movement, and loss of shoulder function.

The good news is that with appropriate treatment, pain will improve so you can get back to doing the things you enjoy.

HOW DOES CHINESE MEDICINE HELP SHOULDER PAIN?

Almost two years ago a middle-aged man came to see me with severe shoulder pain. He told me that he had suffered from this for 6 years. He previously had 5 cortisone injections and 2 operations, none of which solved the problem of his shoulder.  After his fifth session of acupuncture, his shoulder pain had completely cleared. The result of the treatment is no surprise because we always find out the cause of the pain so that we can resolve it quickly.

Shoulder pain is a very common symptom in the clinic. Apart from injury, it is mostly found in those over the age of 50 years.  It can, however, be found in all ages but is less common. This is why Chinese Medicine textbooks also refer to it as ‘Fifties Shoulder’ and ‘Frozen shoulder’.  Once you acquired, it not only affects work but also daily activities.

In the beginning it presents with mild pain in one shoulder around the joint which gradually worsens. The pain can be located on the front, top or back of the shoulder and can be worse during activities when using the arm.  When the pain gets worse it will affect the range of movement, including: lifting the arm forward, pulling the arm back, combing the hair, shaving and dressing. On top of pain, it might also be tight, stiff, numb or swollen.

Also known as adhesive capsulitis, frozen shoulder is a common condition characterised by pain and stiffness in the shoulder with severe loss of range and motion. It can occur either as the primary condition or secondary to an underlying condition.

Although the frozen shoulder may “thaw out” given time, full range of motion may not always return. The condition is considered to be self-limiting meaning that it can last between 18 – 24 months, however while most patients recover completely, many others can be left with long term pain and residual motion restriction.

Standard Care

Standard treatment options for frozen shoulder include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, oral or injectable corticosteroids may also be prescribed. Physical therapy including gentle range of motion exercises, ultrasound, massage, kinesiological taping, electrical stimulation, or laser stimulation.

Corticosteroid injections may be considered, along with physical therapy to reduce pain and improve range of movement. Surgical options are capsular distension through hydro-dilation, joint manipulation under anaesthesia and capsular release.

Acupuncture Treatment

Studies have shown that acupuncture can provide pain relief, improve range of motion and speed up recovery time. It has been proven to help with:

• Pain relief – Acupuncture needles stimulate the production of pain relieving chemicals both locally in the shoulder, and at the brain and spinal cord level. Chemicals such as endorphins and opioids are released and pain feedback channels from the pain source to the brain are blocked so that the level of pain perceived by the brain is reduced.

• Inflammation reduction – Needle insertion stimulates a natural anti-inflammatory response by releasing chemicals that cause vasodilation (blood vessel dilation) and vascular permeability (this allows greater flow of chemicals through the vessels). These physiological responses allow the removal of inflammatory toxins from the injury site and encourages fresh blood to the area.

• Trigger point release – In addition to promoting anti-inflammatory and pain relieving mechanisms, acupuncture can also be used to resolve regions of tightened muscle called trigger points. Trigger points (also known as muscle knots) occur when there is the over-contraction of a small number of muscle fibres in one region. Needling directly in to the trigger points simply causes mechanical disruption of the contracted muscle fibres to encourage relaxation. It also stimulates blood flow and the delivery of oxygen and nutrients through vasodilation, and reduces the elevated electrical activity in the muscle, allowing them to relax.

What to expect

Following the first treatment it is possible to feel an improvement in range of motion and reduction of pain. While this is a positive sign, it does not necessarily indicate instantaneous recovery. It may however indicate that the body is responding well and that a follow up treatment soon after is advisable to maintain this momentum. A common mistake made by patients is believing they are fully recovered after just one treatment and going back to normal duties which can further set back recovery time or even worsen the injury.

Similarly, if the state of the condition does not change or temporarily worsens, this does not necessarily indicate a negative response. The length of time someone has had shoulder pain may affect the body’s response time to treatment and it will most likely take more than one session to gain noticeable relief.

Course of treatments

As is the case with most musculoskeletal conditions, weekly treatments for at least several weeks are generally advised in the initial stages to gain momentum and see effective results before spacing the treatments out to once per fortnight/ per month. While it is not uncommon for positive results to be seen immediately after a single treatment or in the following hours or days, the effects of acupuncture can also be cumulative so a treatment plan consisting of multiple treatments may be advised in order to see more effective results.

You can book online to get started on getting the issue sorted once and for all.

Cathy Bell,

Doctor of Chinese Medicine,

Registered Acupuncturist AHPRA

Yin Studio:

Founded in 2006 by Cathy Bell, Yin Studio has become a sought-after health and wellness clinic, known for its warm, inviting atmosphere and sincere, compassionate care for its patients.

Cathy Bell provides results-oriented, natural wellness care for people of all ages. Her goal with each patient is a long-term, self-sustained shift in core factors that determine health and wellness. These core factors bridge all levels of being — physical, psychological, even spiritual.

My mission is simple: To support YOUR health and goals, and help you make the most of them. Whether you want to complement your conventional medical treatments with natural support, or go with a 100% natural solution, I do my best to help you achieve the best outcome possible. Treatments are based on getting results as quickly and efficiently as possible. Results matter, and I am proud of a proven history of positive outcomes.

Your body’s natural healing intelligence never forgets how to restore balance and vitality to every cell, tissue, and organ. All you have to do is give it the right support. At Yin Studio you are an active participant in the healing process. You will be educated on the proper way to get your healing system back on track via a targeted, customised treatment plan that will include one or more of the following: acupuncture, nutrition, herbs, lifestyle/mind-body coaching.