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3 REASONS BEHIND YOUR SHOULDER PAIN ACCORDING TO TCM


We rely on our shoulder joints more than we think, from reaching for a glass of water to lifting boxes off the ground. When we feel pain in our shoulder joint, it can be hard to determine if the pain is coming from the bones, muscles or joints. it can affect our daily routine more than we think! 

Structure Of The Shoulder

Three bones make up the structure of our shoulder – humerus, scapula and clavicle. They are cushioned by a layer of cartilage. The shoulder joint is a ball and socket joint that connects the scapula and the humerus. 

3 Types of Shoulder Pain 

    1. Rotator Cuff Injury [aka Shoulder Tendonitis]. If you are diagnosed with tendonitis, your tendons are inflamed. This is often seen in athletes that play sports such as badminton which requires them to lift their arm over their head constantly. 
    2. Frozen Shoulder. Frozen shoulder is characterized by pain and stiffness in the shoulder joint. The pain will worsen but gradually goes away, taking from one to three year. 
    3. Osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis happens when the cartilage that cushions the bones in our shoulder gradually wears out, leading to pain and stiffness as there is no more cushion between the bones. 
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What can cause shoulder pain?

    • Poor sitting posture
    • Sedentary lifestyle 
    • Bone degeneration due to age
    • Stress  

Many office workers are bound to their desks for a prolonged period of time. Most of them also have a poor posture, slouching or slumping with their shoulders forward as they work. Working in this posture for the whole day can cause neck and shoulder stiffness.

Being stressed about work or other things in life causes tension in the shoulders and neck area as one is always in the fight or flight mode, leading to stiffness as well. Many turn to TCM for treatments! 

TCM Perspective: 3 Causes Of Shoulder Pain

1. Lack of circulation in the neck

When there is a lack of circulation to the neck, it may cause shoulder pain. Usually, the pain is accompanied by a tingling sensation or numbness. 

2. External factor [Wind and Cold]

If you frequently sleep directly under the air-conditioner where the wind is blowing onto your upper body, the constant cold wind can cause stagnation in the shoulders, resulting in pain. Sleeping with fan instead of air-conditioner might seems better, but if you do not have a blanket to cover yourself with your shoulders are still exposed to the wind.

3. Blood Stagnation

This happens when there is some injury to the shoulder, causing a reduced flow in blood circulation and a stagnation of blood. The pain felt in the shoulder is usually sharp. 

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3 TCM Treatments

1. Acupuncture 

Acupuncture works by inserting disposable needles that are hair-thin into the different parts of the body. It stimulates the body to release certain chemicals compounds in the body, relieving the pain felt in the shoulders and also promote better blood circulation throughout the body. It is a relatively safe and painless treatment. 

2. Tui Na 

Tui Na is a form of massage that can help to relieve the stiffness and the tension in the muscles of your shoulders. After a session of Tui Na massage, you can find improvements in mobility and lesser pain! 

3. Herb

Herbs prescribed can help to reduce swelling and inflammation in your shoulder. Some herbs can also promote faster tissue healing. You can try the Bone & Joint Restoration supplement to prevent loss of bone mass by retaining calcium in bones and also repair and promote the growth of cartilages.


 

Bones & Joint Restoration

You can give Bone & Joint Restoration a try improve your joints problems! If you have any further enquiry, give us a call at our hotline +65 6846 003! 

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