Align Health - Common Causes For Shoulder Pain

Common Causes For Shoulder Pain

Shoulders are the joints where the humerus (upper-arm bones), scapula (shoulder blades), and clavicle (collarbone) meet. In the rounded sockets of the scapula, the humerus fits on each side of our shoulder. A rotator cuff is a group of four tendons and muscles that covers and protects each humerus and help us move and lift our arm. The rotator cuff helps move our shoulders forward and backwards.  

As our shoulders have a versatile range of movements, if anything goes wrong, they will not move freely, and there will be a great deal of discomfort and pain. Your shoulder can be injured by playing sports, repetitive movements, or performing manual labour. 

What Causes Your Shoulder Pain?

Many factors and conditions contribute to our shoulder pain, while the most general cause is rotator cuff tendinitis. In this condition, tendons get swollen. 

Sometimes there is no direct injury to the shoulder, but an injury to the neck or biceps causes pain in the shoulders. This type of pain is termed referred pain, and generally, it does not worsen when you move your shoulder. 

Other causes of shoulder pain are following;

  • Torn Cartilage: if you injure your cartilage that covers the rim of your shoulder joint, you will feel pain whenever you move your arm or absorbs a lot of force. 
  • Torn Rotator Cuff: your rotator cuff got torn due to overuse or in a fall. It shows wear and tears as you grow old. 
  • Osteoarthritis: where it affects other bones and joints, shoulder joint get affected also. It affects the cartilage through stiffness and causes pain.
  • Broken shoulder or arm bone: your bone can crack or break if you take a hard hit or fall. Mostly clavicle and humerus get affected. A broken collarbone makes your shoulder sag, and you might not be able to lift your arm.
  • Osteophytes: in this condition, small, smooth piece of your bone rub up against each other to cause tendinitis or rotator cuff tear.
  • A pinched nerve in the shoulder or neck: this condition is also known as “impingement”. In this case, there will be severe swelling and pain.
  • Dislocated shoulder: if you pull back or rotate back your shoulder too hard, then your arm’s top might pop out of the socket, and there will be severe pain and weakness in your shoulder.
  • Frozen shoulder: your joints will be limited in this condition. Adhesions will build up when the shoulder is not in use due to an injury or surgery.
  • Heart attack: when your shoulder hurts a lot, and you also feel tightness and severe pain in the chest, you immediately need to see a doctor.

Diagnosis of Shoulder Pain

Your doctor will do a physical exam to check any structural problem in your neck or spine. Then they will check the flexibility of your arms by rotating them in 90 and 180 degrees. After that, your doctor will perform different tests like X-rays, MRI scan and CT scan to get a closer look. 

At Align Grapevine, we have a team of highly skilled and professional massage therapist, physician and chiropractor who help you get rid of your shoulder pain. If you are suffering from shoulder or neck pain and looking out for an expert chiropractor, contact Align Grapevine to get quick relief from muscle tenderness. 

Rehab After an Accident

How Does Rehab Help You After An Accident?

A mishap or any accident that causes critical, crippling wounds can indeed toss your life into an abrupt, surprising kind of confusion. Those who have experienced a similar experience and lost all motivation and will to get back on their feet can turn to rehab for recovery as an alternative therapy to aid them in regaining their awareness and well-being. Here we’ll discuss the significant ways that can help you to recover quickly with the help of rehab assistance.

How Can Rehab Help In A Speedy Recovery?

Rehab centers offer a degree of care that you will not find in the regular outpatient recovery program. In rehabs, they provide extensive treatment, and respect is conveyed to patients by a multidisciplinary group of rehabilitative experts. These experts know how to cooperate, with the patient controlling everything from helping them in moving to keep a strict eye on their medication; this gives the rehabs a scope of administrations to advance ideal recuperation results.

They offer the therapy and treatment of severity – with a base of three hours of treatment gave day by day. Profoundly customized and designated towards guaranteeing that patients make their healing fast in the most limited conceivable time. This treatment typically shows quicker improvements after mishaps than a standard approach to outpatient recovery programs.

It Helps In Improving The Conditions

The rehabilitation center offers escalated, firmly organized, and profoundly customized treatment and care that will not be found in other treatment centers. Patients frequently make more noticeable progress in strength, capacity, and adaptability in such centers than it may be seen in hospitals, where much of the time is consumed, and fewer results are witnessed. These rehabilitation centers turn out to be the best places for patients, implying a more significant degree of freedom and superior personal satisfaction during and after the mishap.

It Gives 24 Hour Care and Support

Recovery and restoration after a mishap are challenging, and an excruciating and unsolved interaction is expected. Suppose a patient stays in a rehabilitation center in the first days of the accident. In that case, there are higher chances of fast improvising results as the caretakers can give the required assistance, backup, and support you need to remain calm as you run out from your trauma. Probably the most common wounds that come from accidents can be treated through chiropractic care include:

  • Whiplash
  • Neck and Shoulder Pain
  • Chest Pain
  • Head Injuries
  • Herniated Disks
  • Back and Spinal Injuries

Conclusion

Asking for help from a group of highly trained professionals to get back soon will increase your recovery chances. With special care techniques, these caretakers can quickly get through any of the mishaps no matter how badly you’ve met an accident. All you need is extra support and care. Align Grapevine is one of the highly reputable centers that offer additional caring techniques for those who need rehab support.

Causes of Back Pain

Common Causes for Back Pain

Back pain is becoming one of the major problems among young individuals. This has also become a common reason for the absence from work and for seeking medical treatment. Back pain can be debilitating and uncomfortable. Back pain can result from any activity, injury, or medical condition. People of any age group can be affected by back pain and for any reason. As people age, the chances of lower back pain increase which can be because of their previous professions, lifestyle, or degenerative disk disease.

Lower back pain may usually be linked to discs between the vertebrae, bony lumbar spine, ligaments around the discs and spine, nerves and spinal cord, pelvic and abdominal internal organs, lower back muscles, and the lumbar area. Also, if we see upper back pain, this may be due to spine inflammation, and disorders of the aorta.

Now, let us see the most common causes of back pain.

Strain

The most common cause of back pain is strain, injury, or tension and the most frequent causes in this category are:

  • Muscle spasm
  • Strained ligaments or muscles
  • Damaged disks
  • Muscle tension
  • Fractures, injuries, or falls

Activities that can lead to spasms or strains include:

  • Lifting heavy things
  • Lifting things improperly
  • Making awkward or abrupt movement

Structural Problems

Various kinds of structural problems can also lead to back pain.

  • Bulging Disks: Bulging disk leads to more pressure on a nerve, which further causes back pain.
  • Ruptured Disks: Each vertebra in our spine are cushioned by disks. If these disks rupture, more pressure is put on the nerve and that results to back pain.
  • Sciatica: In Sciatica, shooting and sharp pain starts from the buttock and goes down to the back of the leg which is caused by a herniated disk or bulging.
  • Arthritis: Arthritis cause problems to the lower back, hips joints, and other places.
  • Abnormal Curvature: When the spine curves in an unusual way, it leads to back pain.
  • Kidney Problems: Kidney infection or kidney stones may also lead to back pain.
  • Osteoporosis: When bones become porous or brittle including the spine vertebrae, it causes compression fractures which leads to back pain.

Posture

Another major reason for back pain amongst youngsters is posture and movement. While using computers, sitting in a very hunched position increases shoulder and back problems over time. Poor posture or one of the following day-to-day activities may lead to back pain.

  • Bending awkwardly
  • Bending for long periods
  • Overstretching
  • Muscle tension
  • Lifting, pulling, pushing, or carrying something
  • Sitting or standing for long periods
  • Twisting
  • Long drives without taking any break can lead to back pain even if the posture is not hunched
  • Sleeping on a mattress that doesn’t support your body posture
  • Coughing or sneezing
  • Straining the neck forward when on the computer or when driving

Align Grapevine

Depending on the cause of your back pain, your treatment is decided which may include lifestyle changes or medication. At Align Grapevine, our team is fully dedicated to giving you pain-relieving chiropractic, physical medication, or rehabilitative solutions depending on the need of the situation. Contact us today to set up an appointment!

Neck Pain

Common Causes of Neck Pain

Neck pain is a common complaint in today’s time, especially because of the increased stress handled by us in our everyday lives. Staring for long hours into a computer screen, replying to texts and emails on the smartphone, writing, cooking, driving, studying and so on are common activities that put pressure on our necks. That is because activities as such require our necks to be held up high, and at a fixed position for prolonged time periods which ultimately result in neck pain. Every muscle, including the ones in our neck requires some sort of movement from time to time. But when we are indulged in our stressful and tiresome work, we fail to do so which leaves us with an achy neck.

Signs of Stress

Neck pains are the easiest signs of prolonged stress. The symptoms can be achy shoulders, stiffness around the neck, headaches and disability in moving the head freely at all angles. Thus, to get rid of neck pains naturally you can make use of ice packs. Just dab the ice pack gently around the achy areas to get rid of the annoying pain. You might also move around and straighten your back a bit, since sitting in a fixed position for long hours lead to neck pains as well. You might also move your hand and shoulders in circular motions to free the muscle tension.

Neck Pain Relief

But, for a quick relief from your neck pain, it is advised that you take pain relief medicines. This can be done when you are at work or are doing something important, but you suddenly experience a neck pain and need an immediate solution to it. Natural remedies like putting hot and cool packs and the easy exercises for neck pain obviously are a better option, but they require some time and may not work as fast as medicines.

When to Visit a Doctor

As mentioned before, neck pain has become an inevitable part of our lives. But, there are times when these pains are not common and reach an advanced level, requiring medical attention from doctors. But how do you know when you shall visit a doctor? If you have a striking pain around your neck and numbs the surrounding areas then seeing a doctor becomes a must. These types of neck pain can spread from your neck down to your arms and legs and may make you suffer continuously for several days. Upon encountering such symptoms, see a doctor immediately without letting the pain get the best of you.

Align Grapevine

If you are someone who has been suffering from prolonged neck pain, then make sure you seek professional help. If you live in Grapevine, Texas, then reach out to us at Align Grapevine. We are a trusted chiropractor who can help you get rid of your muscle and joint pains effortlessly in a swift and secured manner. You may send us a message or give us a call at (817) 251-0550 to schedule your appointment. We at Grapevine would be truly pleased to serve you.

5 TIPS TO CURE BACK PAIN

Introduction 

Back pain is one of the most common health problems among adults in the United States. It can affect people of all ages, for different reasons. Experts believe that about 80 percent of adults experience back pain at some point in their lifetime. In fact, about 31 million Americans experience lower back pain at any given time. It may be mild or extreme, sudden or constant resulting due to strained muscles or ligaments, nerves or vertebrae.

Facts Check 

Back pain is found to be one of the most common reasons for missed work. One half of the population of all working Americans admit to having back pain symptoms each year. Back pain accounts for more than 264 million lost work days in one year, that’s two work days for every full-time worker in the country. Low back pain costs Americans at least $50 billion in health care and each year adds in lost wages and decreased productivity and that figure easily rises to more than $100 billion.

Causes of Back Pain

It has been observed that the common causes of back pain among men, is due to poor sitting posture, lifting of heavy weights improperly, and smoking. Whereas, among women, it’s prevalent mainly due to pregnancy, menstrual period, poor physical fitness and obesity.

Tips To Cure Back Pain

  •   Quit Smoking

Smoking doesn’t only affect your lungs but invariably damages your back as well. A study recently published in the American Journal of Medicine states that Nicotine causes the small blood vessels to constrict and consequently decreases the delivery of blood to the soft tissues and thereby resulting in severe back pain. It has been found that quitting smoking has significantly helped in alleviating patients back pain.

 

  •   Practicing relaxation techniques

A study made on patients suffering from chronic back pain has proved that practicing relaxation techniques on a daily basis such as meditation, Yoga and deep breathing has effectively resulted in reducing perceived pain level. Yoga in specific helps in reducing back pain and maintaining a healthy spine. Various Yoga asana help stretch and strengthen back muscles if perceived for a longer duration.

 

  •   Medications 

If the back pain is severe and needs immediate assistance, medication with the help of your Doctor’s recommendation may prove to be a big relief in a short span of time. Doctors generally recommend Over-the-counter medicines such as Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that might relieve acute back pain. In addition, muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatory injections as directed by the Doctors might be a useful measure to overcome pain immediately.

 

  •   Chiropractic Treatment

Chiropractic Treatment is considered to be a safe and effective treatment for acute back pain, which is caused due to sudden injury while lifting or shifting heavy load. The word ‘chiropractic’ derives from the Greek word, which means ‘done by hand’. It involves treatment through manual therapy, viz. Spinal manipulation and manual manipulation. It refers to a high-velocity, short lever arm thrust that is applied to abnormal vertebrae with the aim of improving functionality and reducing nerve irritability. Researches have shown remarkable results in treating lower back pain and strained nerve or muscles.

 

  •   Improving Flexibility and Strengthening Your Core 

Flexibility plays a very important role in putting an equal load throughout the body from the feet all the way up to the head. One such exercise for improving flexibility is to sit on the edge of the bed, extending one leg forward and the other one on the floor. Give your hamstring a stretch by leaning forward and keeping your back in a neutral position. This exercise helps in improving flexibility by loosening your muscles and nerves. Strong abdominal muscles benefits in curing chronic back pain, by reducing the strain on the lower back.

Conclusion

In addition to these tips, it’s very important to have a healthy as well as an active lifestyle to develop an immunity that helps in fighting any abnormalities within the body.  

 

What Is Stem Cell Therapy?

What are stem cells?
Every person has stem cells in their body. They act in a normal body as the blueprint for all other cells to start from. These cells reproduce and either become more blueprints or specialized- brain cells, blood cells, etc. 

No other cell in the body can produce this effect so stem cells are unique and therefore under the right conditions can be manipulated into forming new cells and used for repairing.

 

How does the treatment take place? 

 How the treatment is accomplished is by harvesting cells from areas saturated with stem cells. These cells are concentrated before being injected into the recipient. 

 

What could stem cell therapy mean long term for medicine? 

Stem cell treatment is a breakthrough therapy that’s used as a choice for individuals suffering from a wide selection of problems because of disease, trauma or degeneration. By manipulating stem cells to form a specific type of cell we could repair damage within the body.

 

What conditions could be helped with stem cell therapy? 

Diabetics and those with conditions such as Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease could benefit from cell treatment and therapy as well through scientists being able to gain a deeper understanding of the root of these conditions and developing treatments where regeneration of cells is performed through stimulating the cells which are affected by these diseases. As well as being used for long term issues such as knee problems. 

 

Potential other uses for stem cell research

There is also a growing need for stem cells to be used in the testing of new drugs safely and effectively. By using stem cells that have been changed to reflect cells targeted for treatment we could effectively remove unsafe ways of drug testing whilst still achieving the same goal. 

 

Where could stem cells come from? 

Stem cells come from a few places and some of these have proved controversial. Embryonic cells for an example. Embryonic Stem cells are more versatile than adult cells and therefore have the potential to be used in a more diverse way such as tissue regeneration and repairing of damaged organs. 

Adult stem cells until very recently were only thought to be useful when trying to create more of the same type of cell from where they were found- bone marrow cells could only create blood cells- however recent studies have shown these might be slightly easier to manipulate to related cell types- bone marrow to blood or heart muscle cells. 

There is a 3rd option of using adult cells that have been modified with stem cell qualities like those in embryonic stem cells. This could mean any cell in an adult could be changed into another type of cell in the future, but further research is needed to see if this could harm humans’ long term. 

Whether stem cell therapy becomes a long-term solution to several medical issues and diseases remains to be seen but its potential is there.    

Ways to fix back pain

The number of people suffering from back pain or lower back pain is increasing day by day. Our lifestyle, lack of exercise and many other factors are the reason behind the increasing back pain. There are several home remedies prescribed for relief from back pain. Although a doctor must be consulted in severe case of pain, you can follow some basic home remedies that can relieve you from back pain. Some simple twist in our daily lifestyle can help us to reduce the suffering from back pain. 

Spending less time in front of the TV, computer or laptops is one way to reduce back pain. There are several studies that showed the connection between the video game and back pain. You can try limiting your time in front of the screen which is beneficial for your health. There have been several discussions regarding workplace ergonomics and its effect on your back pain. Since you spend many hours sitting at your office, it is essential you have a well-arranged work station. Your chair must be comfortable with proper armrest and make sure to have your computer screen straight to your eyes. Your chair must have the provision of proper lower back support. 

Excess weight is the risk to health and it can be a reason for your back pain as well. It becomes necessary that you lose your extra weight with right exercise and a balanced diet. You can take help from your dietician for making food chart that can help you stay fit and slim. Proper posture during your work is important so is a proper sleeping position. Make sure you are sleeping in right posture with your knee bent and a small pillow beneath your neck. If you are looking to visit your doctor to consult about your back pain, you can discuss possible herbal remedies. 

Meditation is very effective in different medical condition. Back pain can be reduced with proper meditation. Although there is no proper meditation prescribed for back pain there are people who experience less pain after regular meditation. Apart from these, you can take care of little things like a proper way to carry bag. Make sure you do not carry heavy objects in your backpack. You need to bend your knees when you get down to pick an object from the ground. These little things are essential in keeping you safe from back pain. It all depends on our way of living and doing things. In severe cases, you need to visit your doctor.

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