Arm Injuries

Arm Injuries

Dynamic Motion Imaging is the future of imaging. Dynamic Motion Imaging is a form of x-ray that is conducted with the desired body joint moving, or “dynamic” as opposed to not moving, or “static.” The direction of the technology for medical diagnostic equipment is evolving to focus on testing the function of the body systems (of which one system is the skeletal system, involving the body’s joints) and focusing less on the anatomy.

Whiplash in the neck can easily Translate into pain Stiffness, and soreness in the shoulders.

When the neck experiences trauma by being moved violently back and forth, side to side, or any combination of directions, the surrounding muscles tense and move in unnatural directions, straining ligiments and nerves. The stabilizing muscles for the shoulders originate from the neck, so it is not unusual for the shoulders to be strained, stretched, and otherwise injured at the same time as the neck muscles. This is how arm or shoulder pain from whiplash extends down from the neck.

Whiplash, or violent shaking or jerking of the head and neck can easily lead to pain in the closely connected shoulder. At times, injury or stresses on the delicate nerves in the neck can block signals between the brain and the body resulting in uncomfortable tingling or numbness in the arms.

This kind of shoulder pain is usually addressed through therapy. Minor cases will hopefully fade overtime, however more serious cases may lead to months if not years of chiropractic therapy, physical therapy, massage therapy, biofeedback, and other doctor recommended treatments. Luckily, most shoulder pain caused by whiplash in the neck will lessen as the whiplash heals.

In the case of a vehicle collision, seatbelts can also be the cause of pain in the arm and shoulder, rather than arm or shoulder pain from whiplash directly. When the seatbelt tightens around the shoulder in order to secure your body, it pushes your body back against the seat while the rest of your body is flung around with the movement of the vehicle.

This can cause strained muscles and tendons in the shoulder or even damage the cartilage. In addition, arm muscles can be seriously strained from the violent motion. Small sacs of fluid called bursa, may swell in the shoulder and reduce or stop blood flow to the tiny blood vessels running through the shoulders and arms. This causes pain when the arm is simply lifted in the midst of daily activities.

Unfortunatly, if left untreated, some of these injuries can progress into more serious conditions such as a torn rotator cuff, torn cartilage (labrum), or a frozen shoulder.

Frozen Shoulder

A frozen shoulder typically originates from injury or overuse pain which limits the shoulder’s range of motion. Common conditions that cause pain in the shoulder are bursitis or a tear in the rotator cuff.

If you baby your injured shoulder, barely moving it for weeks on end, the tissue around the shoulder joint thickens and shrinks. It loses its elasticity, causing even more pain when the shoulder is moved, creating a vicious cycle as the joint caspule continues to stiffen the longer you keep the joint still.

A frozen shoulder develops over the course of months and therapy is extrememly important in the recovery process.