When the shoulder pain is referred

The osteopathic manual treatment to relief the disorder

Our body is a set of psychophysical and functional relations and correlations.

Taking into account this established fact, pains in the shoulder can be caused by a trauma or a physiologic disorder in the joint, but can also be the consequence of irradiations from other structures. In this case we can talk about referred pain.

Here are some examples of possible correlations with disorders in other structures:

1. Neurologic integrity disorder at the cervical ribs C5/C6. Deltoid, biceps, and subscapolaris are concerned muscles, as they are irradiation points of neurological disorders.

2. The shoulder girdle is related to the pelvic girdle and the internal organs; thus, to solve the problem at the shoulder, it can be necessary to treat pelvis and internal organs too.

3. The shoulder disorder is directly connected to the diaphragm disorder. The cause of both can be a compression to the rib C4, which concerns the phrenic nerve, which innervates the diaphragm.

4. Periarthritis in the right shoulder can be related to hepatic disorders. Mobilization or drainage of the liver can be an effective way to mobilize the shoulder.

Remedies belonging to the folk knowledge:

Anti-inflammatory remedy: In the situation of inflammation resulting in acute pain, apply compresses of cool water and vinegar.

Anti-pain compresses: In a chronic situation, and non-pulsating pain, with contractures at the ligaments, try lukewarm compresses of water and salt. If the compresses are applied before the osteopathic treatment, the treatment allows the tensed structures to be more easily mobilized.

Be aware of ice compresses: it is a great “anesthetic” but it is also a vasoconstrictor and freezes, and therefore after a temporary relief the pain can increase.