Do you experience Shoulder Pain?
The shoulder is one of the most mobile joints of the body, with multiple structures and muscles contributing to the area. Due to so many contributing structures, shoulder pain is a common complaint, and can impact many aspects of daily life, including sleeping, working and driving. While shoulder pain can occur on its own, it can also be associated with neck pain, back pain, age or injury and trauma.
In this post and video, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Practitioner and Acupuncturist Dr Hank Chen explores shoulder pain: how common it is, how pain in your shoulder can affect your daily life, how Chinese Medicine diagnoses shoulder pain pain, and the treatment options available to it.
How common is Shoulder Pain?
Due to there being so many structures contributing to the shoulder region, Shoulder Pain is a very common complaint, and is one of the most common conditions that I see here at Ryde Natural Health Clinic.
How does Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnose Shoulder Pain?
In an appointment with a TCM Practitioner, your health professional will spend time gathering a detailed history of your pain, and perform a series of tests to try to clarify exactly where your pain is coming from. With so many structures making up the shoulder, shoulder complaints can at times be tricky to diagnose, and so your practitioner will spend time on your history and seeing what movements aggravate or relieve your pain. Through this, along with assessment of your range of motion and other provocative testing, we will aim to determine the exact structure causing your pain so that we can develop a treatment plan specific to you and your pain. Your practitioner may refer you on to further testing, such as and X-Ray or MRI, if necessary for an accurate diagnosis.
What can Chinese Medicine do to help with Shoulder Pain?
Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture has an expansive history, and has a variety of techniques which can be used in the treatment of shoulder pain, all with their own rich history dating back thousands of years. TCM treatment will aim to restore normal function to the joints, ligaments, muscles and other soft tissues in your shoulder, and to encourage normal blood and energy flow to your body.
Some of the techniques that may be used in an appointment with a TCM practitioner for your shoulder are:
- Acupuncture and Electro-acupuncture
- Massage
- Scraping
- Cupping
- Herbal Medicine
- Moxa (Moxibustion)
Where can I learn more about TCM practitioner Dr Hank Chen?
For more information on Dr Hank and Traditional Chinese Medicine, or to book an appointment, call RNHC Reception on (02) 9878 5021, or head to https://rydenaturalhealthclinic.com.au/services/acupuncture-and-chinese-herbal-medicine/