“Which is better chiropractor or massage for a stiff shoulder?”
I have a stiff shoulder. Which is better chiropractor or massage for a stiff shoulder?
6 Answers
Causes of stiff shoulder need to be evaluated first. I would recommend seeing your PCP or orthopedic doctor. If it turns out to be a frozen shoulder then your doctor might recommend physical therapy.
Hope it's helpful for you.
Hope it's helpful for you.
It depends on why your shoulder is stiff. If it is from a frozen shoulder, physical therapy is the mainstay of treatment. You need to see an orthopedic surgeon for a proper diagnosis.
Thank you for sharing your shoulder stiffness question with the FATD community. I offer you my thoughts, tips and suggestions to this question.
Chiropractors are very helpful in certain scenarios. However, some are better educated, more understanding, and more comprehensive than others. The first item to understand is whether or not this is in fact a shoulder issue or a neck issue with referred pain into the shoulder. A good examination is therefore recommended. Shoulder stiffness is quite common. If there was no big trauma or accident that brought the stiffness on, then it can be a transient stiffness secondary to sleep, overuse, or may be part of the normal aging process. However, it does not mean you need shots or surgery, but rather some guidance and action items. I like this link to help regain shoulder motion:
https://www.pop-doc.com/browse.cgi?&action=browse_results&category1=Shoulder&category2=Motion
I prefer a great massage by a massage therapist rather than a chiropractor, but once again it depends on whether or not the stiffness is due to a neck problem or a shoulder problem. With or without massage, doing the right exercise to get back your motion is the most important aspect to resolve the shoulder stiffness. This may be a slow and steady process, but every two weeks you should feel a bit better rather than a bit worse. I hope this helps.
David T. Neuman, MD FAAOS
Sports Medicine and Orthopedics
131 West 33rd St.
Suite 12E
New York, NY 10001
P: 212-813-3634
F: 212-857-9411
www.nysportscare.com<http://www.nysportscare.com/>
Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail communication and any attachments may contain confidential and privileged information for the use of the designated recipients named above. It may contain confidential and protected health information subject to privacy regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this communication in error and that any review, disclosure, dissemination, distribution or copying of it or its contents is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify me immediately by replying to this message and deleting it from your computer.
Chiropractors are very helpful in certain scenarios. However, some are better educated, more understanding, and more comprehensive than others. The first item to understand is whether or not this is in fact a shoulder issue or a neck issue with referred pain into the shoulder. A good examination is therefore recommended. Shoulder stiffness is quite common. If there was no big trauma or accident that brought the stiffness on, then it can be a transient stiffness secondary to sleep, overuse, or may be part of the normal aging process. However, it does not mean you need shots or surgery, but rather some guidance and action items. I like this link to help regain shoulder motion:
https://www.pop-doc.com/browse.cgi?&action=browse_results&category1=Shoulder&category2=Motion
I prefer a great massage by a massage therapist rather than a chiropractor, but once again it depends on whether or not the stiffness is due to a neck problem or a shoulder problem. With or without massage, doing the right exercise to get back your motion is the most important aspect to resolve the shoulder stiffness. This may be a slow and steady process, but every two weeks you should feel a bit better rather than a bit worse. I hope this helps.
David T. Neuman, MD FAAOS
Sports Medicine and Orthopedics
131 West 33rd St.
Suite 12E
New York, NY 10001
P: 212-813-3634
F: 212-857-9411
www.nysportscare.com<http://www.nysportscare.com/>
Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail communication and any attachments may contain confidential and privileged information for the use of the designated recipients named above. It may contain confidential and protected health information subject to privacy regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this communication in error and that any review, disclosure, dissemination, distribution or copying of it or its contents is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify me immediately by replying to this message and deleting it from your computer.
I would recommend seeing an orthopaedic surgeon who can first assess why you have a stiff shoulder. There are many different causes for a stiff shoulder. Your doctor will take a detailed history, examine your shoulder, and may get xrays to confirm or rule out certain diagnoses. Depending on the diagnosis, massage therapy or chiropractic treatments may be an option, but it would be best to have an accurate diagnosis first.
Mariam Hakim-Zargar, MPH, MD, FAAOS
New England Orthopaedic Center, LLC
The Medical Office Building
538 Litchfield Street, 204
Torrington, CT 06790
(860) 489-6363
Mariam Hakim-Zargar, MPH, MD, FAAOS
New England Orthopaedic Center, LLC
The Medical Office Building
538 Litchfield Street, 204
Torrington, CT 06790
(860) 489-6363
Neither. If you have a stiff shoulder you may have arthritis or a frozen shoulder. I would recommend that you visit an orthopedic specialist and get some x-rays.
Neither. A good physical therapist is probably best.
