The subacromial bursa is a sack of fluid which allows tendons and muscles to glide over structures in the shoulder joint, such as bone and ligaments. When the shoulder joint is not functioning correctly, the bursa becomes irritated and inflamed. Inflammation of the bursa leads to pain with movement of the shoulder.
Causes of subacromial bursitis:
- Rotary cuff imbalances left untreated, such as impingement syndrome causing excessive rubbing on the bursa resulting in inflammation. Subacromial bursitis is mostly a secondary issue to a primary shoulder problem:
- Rotary cuff issues come from repetitive overhead activity.
- This condition can be difficult to diagnosis from a rotary cuff issue. Balancing the function of the shoulder/rotary cuff is crucial for pain relief.
Symptoms:
- Pain down the arm and towards the elbow.
- Pain along the front and side of shoulder.
- Pain lifting arm overhead.
- Weakness/stiffness of shoulder.
- Pain washing hair or reaching for something on shelf
- Pain at night while sleeping on effected shoulder.
- Painful catching in the shoulder during movement.
- Shoulder pain when someone else moves your arm
The Cause of Tennis Elbow:
- Repetitive activities resulting in rotary cuff imbalances
- Localized stress can cause inflammation.
I approach treating your shoulder pain to your presentation, which involves:
- Analyzing your posture – what imbalances are occurring in the shoulder?
- Discussing potential lifestyle dynamics impacting the effected elbow.
- Understanding how other factors such as arthritis can aggravate the problem.
- Muscle testing the muscles comprising the elbow for weakness and pain.
- Targeting effected muscles, releasing motor points, trigger points and relaxing the fascia
- Providing exercises to continue treatment success between acupuncture treatments
Call (914) 572-5137 today or click here to schedule an appointment & learn more about how we can help you.