RICHMOND, Va., July 15, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dr. Douglas Ambrose of Ambrose Chiropractic & Acupuncture Clinic, LLC is raising awareness about shoulder injury treatments. According to the Richmond chiropractor, many patients who suffer from neck injuries also experience shoulder issues. Left untreated, shoulder problems may worsen over time and put the body at risk for future injuries and chronic pain. Dr. Ambrose has had great success treating patients with chiropractic care and complementary therapies, including acupuncture.
According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, more than 4 million Americans suffer from shoulder pain each year. Shoulder pain may be the result of repetitive motion injuries or a traumatic injury. Dr. Ambrose, chiropractor and owner of Ambrose Chiropractic & Acupuncture Clinic, LLC, is working to educate patients about effective treatments.
"Many individuals think that shoulder pain will simply go away over time," said Dr. Ambrose. "Unfortunately, it never does. Without proper care, shoulder pain may actually worsen. This may cause the body to alter its natural movements, which can lead to strain and stress in other parts of the body. Ignoring shoulder problems only increases the risk for injury and pain. I strongly encourage anyone with shoulder pain to proactively seek corrective care."
Dr. Ambrose uses a combination of four different treatment techniques to help patients recover. These treatments are acupuncture, extremity adjustments, electrical stimulation therapy and trigger point therapy.
"These four treatments work together to naturally provide pain relief while stimulating internal healing," said Dr. Ambrose. "I have seen great results with these techniques."
Acupuncture uses long, thin needles to stimulate pressure points in the body. According to Ancient Chinese tradition, stimulating these points unblocks the body's energy channels. Unblocking these channels may help bring pain relief for a rotator cuff injury, tendonitis and frozen shoulder.
Trigger point therapy address chronic tension trapped in the body's shoulder joint and rotator cuff muscles. The therapy focuses on small muscles that can be overworked through repetitive motions and competitive sports.
"Acupuncture and trigger point therapy both help bring relief by unblocking the flow of energy in the body," said Dr. Ambrose. "With trigger point therapy, our goal is to identify the underlying trigger points connected with the shoulder pain. Acupuncture follows a similar principle, using thin needles to stimulate the flow of energy along the body's meridians."
Dr. Ambrose also recommends electrical stimulation therapy. This is a physical therapy modality that may help strengthen the shoulder muscles while promoting internal healing.
"Contracting the shoulder muscles via electrical stimulation helps them strengthen," said Dr. Ambrose. "Many of our patients have overly flexible shoulders but lack the muscle strength for stability. Our goal is to help patients find a balance between flexibility and stability."
Dr. Ambrose says that Richmond acupuncture patients choose his practice because of the results he can provide for treating shoulder pain.
The center also provides chiropractic adjustments, physical therapy and massage therapy.