QuestionHello, I am a 28 year old Male Athletic Build and I work out avidly. About 5 weeks ago I was working out with my normal set of weights at the gym (chest work out using dumbbells on a flat bench) everything felt fine nothing really happened...but later on that evening my left shoulder felt painful right near the front ball of my left shoulder...It feels like I may have sprained it I抦 not sure though, it抯 been 3 weeks now and the pain hasn抰 gone away completely. I usually workout about 5 times a week I took about 8 days off of the gym in hopes that it would get better and indeed it did but as soon as I started working out my chest using the flat bench (this time I was using the straight bar less than half my normal weight that I usually put up) the pain started coming back slowly, rendering me from completing my normal set of repetitions. My question here is, is this more than just a sprain? Is there anything you would recommend to help me recover faster? So that I can go back to my normal workout routine, and be rid of this annoying pain. How long does a shoulder sprain usually take to heal? And I have recently been looking into heat therapy for it, in hopes that this will help the recovery process along. Any help would be much appreciated.
Thank You
AnswerSprain, Strain, Bursitis, Tendinitis, Shoulder Sprain, Staten Island Sports Chiropractic, Staten Island Sports Medicine,
Hello Demitri,
Congratulations on exercising and pursuing a healthy, fit life.
Sorry to hear you are hurting.
You state, "....I may have sprained it I抦 not sure though, it抯 been 3 weeks now and the pain hasn抰 gone away completely...".
Time to see your local Sports Chiropractor. If not your local Doctor of Chiropractic (preferably with a CCSP or DACBSP after their name -- see http://www.acbsp.com/ ), then a Medical Doctor of the Orthopedist, Physiatrist, or Sports Medicine specialty.
In my Staten Island Sports Chiropractic practice I see injury like this all the time. Many High School, College athletes come in, often 'weekend warriors', and sometimes even a stray semi-pro or professional. I work the sidelines at events with many a Staten Island Sports Medicine specialist, we each have our place and expertise; I do not do surgery- they usually dismiss the bumps and bruises, sprains and strains.
Your pain has persisted.
It is time for a health professional to evaluate you.
In all likelihood it is just a generalized sprain or strain, that should resolve with rest, Ice, a change in routine. Perhaps it is a specific Bursitis (quite possible from your description, or possibly a tendinitis). Usually conservative treatment such as Chiropractic, Physiotherapy, nutrition, rest, Ice, change in routine can be helpful and lead to complete recovery. Perhaps more invasive measures such as medication, NSAIDS, or even Injection is necessary, only appropriate evaluation will give an answer.
In my Staten Island Chiropractic office I utilize this information handout which
you may find interesting:
P.R.I.C.E. =
P protection. R rest. I ice. C compression. E elevation.
Hurt yourself ?? injury/ trauma/ bruise/ not even sure - - a broken bone ??
You should certainly get to the Doctor or trained health professional to be examined if you think it is bad enough. BUT in the meantime, some simple steps may help.
PRICE.
The PRICE protocol will usually help just about any musculoskeletal injury.
P = Protection; protect the area from further injury- stop what you are doing, can you pad or bandage the area ? Tape the area? Do something to protect the area !
R = Rest; rest the area as much as possible, if a part is damaged, give the body time to repair the area
I = Ice; ice is a potent anti-inflammatory; it will slow swelling, help with pain control (ice is analgesic), place ice over cloth over the injured area for 5, 10 minutes, off the injured area for 30 minutes; then back on again
C = Compression; to help prevent swelling compression may be helpful- for example if it is an ankle, wrap the ankle with an ace bandage and ice the area. Many body parts may not be applicable to compression.
E = Elevation; again to fight swelling and pain, raising the injured body part above the heart may be helpful- ie raise an ankle or knee, you lay down, raise the injured part
PRICE may help : Sprains, Strains, musculo-skeletal injury, bruise,
contusion
Sometimes a slip, trip, fall, heavy lift, athletic injury, or a motor vehicle accident can cause a bump or bruise, sprain or strain. Sometimes also involved with the injury is a vertebral subluxation (or other joint subluxation) (subluxation is a mechanical problem- of any joint- and requires a mechanical correction). In the spine, a sprain/strain is a misalignment, a 'kink' in the joint, a stretch of the muscles, tendons and/ or ligaments:- more properly
termed a Vertebral Subluxation. Sometimes symptoms can come immediately, sometimes days, weeks or even months later!- Well after the actual trauma !!!
Spinal = Vertebral Subluxation Complex (a.k.a.
'subluxation') ; ( subluxation COULD be any joint )
The vertebral subluxation complex is the underlying cause of many healthcare problems.
A subluxation interferes with the proper functioning of the nervous system (the master system which controls and coordinates all function within the body) and may cause various other conditions, symptoms and problems.
This is a serious condition identified by its five parts:
Spinal Kinesiopathology:
This is fancy way of saying the bones of the spine have lost their
normal motion and position. It restricts your ability to turn and bend. It sets in motion the other four components.
Neuropathophysiology:
Improper spinal function can choke, stretch, or irritate delicate
nerve tissue. The resulting nerve system dysfunction can cause symptoms elsewhere in the body.
Myopathology:
Muscles supporting the spine can weaken, atrophy, or become tight and
go into spasm. The resulting scar tissue changes muscle tone, requiring repeated spinal adjustments.
Histopathology:
A rise in temperature from an increase in blood and lymph supplies
result in swelling and inflammation. Discs can bulge, herniate, tear, or degenerate. Other soft tissues may suffer permanent damage.
Pathophysiology:
Bone spurs and other abnormal bony growths attempt to fuse
malfunctioning spinal joints. This spinal decay, scar tissue, and long-term nerve dysfunction can cause other systems of the body to malfunction.
The Vertebral Subluxation Complex describes what happens when spinal bones lose their normal movement patterns and position.
Automobile accidents, improper lifting, improper posture, alcohol,
emotional stress, chemical imbalances, and long periods of sitting can cause the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.
Vertebral Subluxation cannot be corrected through chemicals
(medicine), stretching, yoga, vitamins or physical therapy alone.
Subluxation-
a neuro/skeletal/muscular- mechanical- problem requires a mechanical correction-
- - a manipulation, best performed with the chiropractic adjustment.
For good health- Treat the Cause, not just the Symptoms. Sprain/ strain/ bump/ bruise?= may result in subluxation of the nearby joint. CORRECT the subluxation !!!!
Dr. Victor E. Dolan, Doctor of Chiropractic; Diplomat, American Chiropractic Board of Sport Physicians; Diplomat, American Academy of Pain Management; Certified Clinical Nutritionist (IAACN); FIRST Chief of Chiropractic in a Hospital in New York State (DHSI); As Seen in PREVENTION Magazine
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Since you are exercising- perhaps you are interested in performance improvement or athletic competition, the following information may be helpful to you also:
Athletic Performance Improvement, Accelerated Recovery
Chiropractic is well known to improve athletic performance, prevent sport injury, and accelerate recovery from injury or hard training. With Doctors of Chiropractic serving on almost every nation抯 Olympic Team, with Chiropractic holding official status with the USOC and serving almost every US Olympic Athlete: the results of chiropractic cannot be denied. Coaches and athletes are aware of terms such as
enhanced performance, performance improvement,
accelerated recovery, restoration and regeneration.
Many coaching conferences discuss strategies on these aspects of
exercise, competition, sports and athleticism.
An interesting study was performed and published way back in 1991. The January 1991 issue of the Journal of Chiropractic Research and Clinical Investigation published findings that demonstrate significant increases in athletic performance after a twelve week program of Chiropractic treatment.
Athletic Ability Research:
Male and female athletes between the ages of 18 and 42, representing a variety of sports backgrounds, were recruited to participate in this study. None had ever before been under chiropractic care. Each of these participants underwent eleven separate tests, each test designed to measure a specific aspect of athletic performance. Then, half the participants were evaluated through chiropractic analysis and placed on a twelve week program of chiropractic treatment
( consistent regimen of chiropractic, similar to a consistent
regimen of physical athletic training/ exercise ).
( measured aspects: side step test, dodging run, right boomerang run, modified bass tests of dynamic balance, vertical power jump, standing broad jump, distance perception jump, horizontal linear space test, nelson hand reaction test, nelson speed of movement test, nelson choice of response-movement test )
All subjects continued to train and practice as usual in their sports. At the half-way point of six weeks, they were all reevaluated and changes in scores for each group were compared. All increases in performances by each group were measured by the average percent of change in all eleven tests combined.
The control group, those not receiving chiropractic care, showed slight improvement in eight of eleven tests ( this group had been training 'as usual' for the time period ). By combining the average percentages of change on each test it was found that the control group showed an overall improvement of 4.5%.
Those receiving chiropractic treatment (along with their 'usual
training'), the test group, had dramatically different results. They showed improvement on all eleven tests for a total 10.7% average increase after six weeks. And when retested again after the second six week period of care this test group demonstrated a remarkable 16.7% average increase in athletic ability.
( consider that one/ onehundredth of a second ( 1/100th ) is the difference between win / lose,,, 16.7% is HUGE )
What Do Chiropractors Do?
Chiropractors analyze the structure of the body, looking for misalignments, primarily in the spine, and also the extremities. Spinal misalignments, termed vertebral subluxations, irritate the nerves which in turn inhibits the body's ability to function optimally. Like a high performance automobile, the human structure must be balanced and in alignment to be at it's best. A Ferrari with pistons that don't fire in sequence, wheels that are out of balance or alignment, and high performance specifications that are improperly set will not only have it's performance compromised but will also have dramatically increased potential for parts to wear out and breakdown. The human body, far more delicate and complicated than even the most advanced automobile is similar.
If the framework, particularly the spine, isn't properly aligned and
balanced- the body cannot perform to it抯 potential and is more susceptible to illness and injury, with slower recovery when injury does occur.
What Do Vertebral Subluxations Do?
Vertebral subluxations cause nerve conduction interference. This inhibits millions of messages from the brain from flowing smoothly along the nerves and in this in turn interferes with the coordination of the actions of the body.
The only health care provider trained to diagnose and correct vertebral subluxations is the Doctor of Chiropractic.
Like a properly tuned Ferrari, the chiropractic patient athlete, when properly aligned, functions at a level of peak performance.
Famous Athletes Utilize Chiropractics.
Many athletes have discovered the relationship between proper spinal alignment and their own level of achievement. San Francisco Forty-Niner Greats Joe Montana and Roger Craig as well as heavy weight champion Evander Holyfield are examples of professional and world-class athletes who realize(d) the value of proper structural alignment and balance in their bodies. They have learned through
their own experiences what research has shown; that through chiropractic care - one can demonstrate faster reaction time, better balance, improved coordination, increased muscular power; and when injured- accelerated recovery and regeneration.
The Competitive Edge.
Emphasis on athletic excellence continues to escalate in this country in terms of both dollars and extremes in personal sacrifice. Though the dangers of taking anabolic steroids have been widely publicized for years, the number of athletes who suffer serious health problems caused steroids continues to grow. Now, however, the athlete looking for the competitive edge need not look beyond the framework of his(her) own body. Increased public awareness is leading many to realize that a natural method is available in achieving performance enhancement. The method is Chiropractic!
Dr. Victor E. Dolan, Doctor of Chiropractic; Diplomat, American Chiropractic Board of Sport Physicians; Diplomat, American Academy of Pain Management; Certified Clinical Nutritionist (IAACN); FIRST Chief of Chiropractic in a Hospital in New York State (DHSI); As Seen in PREVENTION Magazine
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Your pain has persisted.
It is time for a health professional to evaluate you.
I hope this helps answer your question. If you need further information, do not hesitate to re-contact me here at ALLExperts.com
http://allexperts.com/ep/965-100794/Chiropractors/Victor-Dolan-DC-DACBSP.htm
Thank you for your question.
I wish you Good Luck and Good Health NATURALLY,
Your Staten Island Chiropractor Friend,
Dr. Victor Dolan, DC
http://drvictordolan.chiroweb.com (email newsletter)
