How To Get Rid Of Shoulder Pain?
Common Shoulder pain is an overuse injury that affects 15.4 percent of men and 24.9 percent of women, according to a survey conducted in Norway as part of general health screenings. Other nations have performed their own surveys, and they have found similar numbers across the board.
As for demographics, the majority of patients reporting shoulder pain are between the ages of 12 to 15 and 22 to 25 years old. For the younger demographic,12 to 15, it can be speculated that growth has an effect on the shoulder as well as the rising use of electronics amongst teens. As for the older group, 22 to 25 is the age most people first enter the job market and, as such, their bodies have to adapt to new stresses and movements, especially within manual labour and hospitality.
WHAT CAUSES SHOULDER PAIN?
Since shoulder pain is so prevalent in society, one has to ask oneself: Why is such a significant part of the population suffering from the same condition? To figure this out, we first need to know what shoulder pain is.
They make your shoulder up of 3 major bones: the scapula (shoulder blade), the humerus (upper arm bone) and the clavicle (collar bone). These are held together by tendons and are cushioned by cartilage. The joint that these three bones create is the most flexible joint in your body and is used for almost all daily activities.
When put under repeated stress, the tendons become inflamed or damaged in rare cases, the cartilage between them is worn away, exposing bone to bone (called osteoarthritis). Don’t worry, the injury is, in most cases, reversible with some tender love and care. Your shoulder will heal and you will be able to live life to its fullest again.
The most common cause of shoulder pain is an injury to the rotator cuff, which consists of the bones, muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint. Often the people who work in manual labour, regularly play sports or work at a desk are the ones who experience rotator cuff injuries. Stretching, rest and diversifying your movements is paramount in avoiding injuries to your rotator cuff.
HOW TO TREAT SHOULDER PAIN
When shoulder pain requires treatment or becomes unbearable, there are a few avenues of approach. The first is identifying which activity is causing the shoulder pain so that you can react and avoid those movements. The next step would be to give your injury some tender love and care.
As inflamed or torn muscles or tendons usually caused shoulder pain, it can be treated as any other case of muscle injury. Give your shoulder plenty of rest and make sure to promote blood flow so that your body can provide all the nutrients that your healing shoulder needs. Massages and heat treatment are excellent options which you can read further about in our other articles.
PREVENTION
Stretching is great for preventing shoulder pain as loose tendons can move more freely and as such are less likely to tear. Making sure to eat and drink healthy foods as well as maintaining a regular exercise regime will do wonders for everything health related. And finally, make sure to get enough rest throughout your day. If you find yourself sitting at your desk for prolonged periods of time, set a timer for yourself to stand up and shake those shoulders loose.
PRODUCTS
Here at Vitnesse, we have a carefully picked selection of self-care products that can help you treat all manners of muscle pains caused by overuse or stress. We particularly recommend our Mini Massage Gun and Neck and Shoulder Wrap as it can be used at work or at home while focusing on other tasks. The heat from the wrap helps loosen up those stiff tissues which promote blood flow while embracing you in all its cozy glory!
If you are one of these people that suffer from regular shoulder pain, please consult your local physician to make sure it’s not a serious condition and do everything you can to treat yourself at home.
Also, have a look at some of our posts that can help you ease your shoulder pain: Stress, Tension – Coping Mechanisms, Why Do You Need A Massage Gun (e.g. Mini Massage Gun), Massage and Muscle Recovery, Benefits of Heat Therapy (e.g. Neck & Shoulder Wrap), Home Remedies for Headache, Neck Pain Relief Stretches, and always keep improving your Posture, which will have an additional impact on your health.
