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Rotator Cuff Tears and Chiropractic Care at The Bridge Chiropractic

Rotator cuff tears—whether partial or full-thickness—can leave you struggling with shoulder weakness, pain when lifting your arm, and difficulty with everyday tasks like reaching or dressing. At The Bridge Chiropractic in Clairemont, our focused approach combines precise chiropractic adjustments with supportive therapies to relieve pain, restore shoulder mechanics, and promote long-term healing.


What Is a Rotator Cuff Tear?

Your rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and their tendons that stabilize the shoulder joint and allow smooth overhead movement. Tears can develop gradually from overuse (common in athletes or repetitive-motion jobs) or suddenly from trauma (like a fall). Symptoms often include:

  • Sharp or aching pain when lifting or rotating the arm

  • Weakness during overhead reach or carrying objects

  • Night pain that disrupts sleep when lying on the affected side

  • Reduced range of motion and stiffness


How Chiropractic Adjustments Help

  1. Joint Realignment: Gentle adjustments to the shoulder girdle, upper spine, and ribs restore normal biomechanics, taking excess stress off the injured tendons.

  2. Nerve Relief: By ensuring proper alignment in the cervical spine, we reduce nerve irritation that can amplify shoulder pain.

  3. Improved Circulation: Adjustments enhance blood flow to torn tissues, delivering oxygen and nutrients vital for tendon repair.

  4. Muscle Balance: Correcting postural imbalances around the neck, back, and scapula prevents compensatory patterns that worsen tears over time.


Supportive Therapies We Offer

  • Therapeutic Ultrasound: Deep-tissue warming to decrease inflammation and encourage collagen synthesis in the torn tendon.

  • Soft-Tissue Mobilization: Instrument-assisted or manual techniques break up adhesions and improve tendon glide.

  • Rehabilitative Exercises: Tailored strengthening drills for the rotator cuff and scapular stabilizers to rebuild support and prevent re-injury.

  • Electric Stimulation: Calms painful muscle spasms and retrains proper firing patterns after injury.


Your Personalized Treatment Plan

  1. Comprehensive Evaluation: We assess your shoulder’s range of motion, strength deficits, and perform special tests (e.g., empty‐can, drop‐arm) to gauge tear severity.

  2. Targeted Adjustments: A series of precision chiropractic sessions focuses on spinal and shoulder mechanics.

  3. Therapy Sessions: Ultrasound, soft-tissue work, and e-stim are integrated based on your needs.

  4. Home-Care Strategies: You’ll receive easy-to-follow exercises, posture tips, and activity modifications to protect your healing tendon.


Benefits of Chiropractic for Rotator Cuff Tears

  • Drug-Free Relief: Minimize reliance on anti-inflammatories or injections.

  • Faster Healing: Enhanced circulation and biomechanical correction speed tissue repair.

  • Restored Function: Regain strength and full range of motion without surgery in many cases.

  • Long-Term Prevention: Strengthening and alignment reduce the risk of future tears.

Ready to Heal Your Shoulder?
Call The Bridge Chiropractic at (858) 247-1214 or click Book Now on our website to schedule your rotator cuff assessment. Let our expert chiropractic adjustments in Clairemont help you lift, reach, and move with confidence—pain-free!

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