Restore Range of Motion and Strength with Functional Care
The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the human body, capable of a vast range of movement. However, that high level of mobility comes at the cost of stability. Whether you are a swimmer, a cross-fitter, or someone who simply struggles to reach into the cupboard without a “catch” in your shoulder, pain in this area can be incredibly limiting.
At Optimal Spine and Sports Medicine, Dr. Kenneth Haywood utilizes a sports-medicine approach to shoulder pain. We don’t just look at the joint; we look at the complex interplay between your neck, upper back, and rotator cuff to find the true source of your discomfort.
Why Does Your Shoulder Hurt?
Shoulder pain is rarely just a “shoulder problem.” Because the shoulder blade (scapula) sits on the ribcage and is controlled by nerves exiting the neck, dysfunction in the spine often leads to dysfunction in the arm.
Common conditions Dr. Haywood treats at our Houston clinic include:
- Rotator Cuff Tendonitis & Tears: Wear and tear or acute injury to the four key muscles that stabilize the shoulder.
- Shoulder Impingement: When the tendons of the rotator cuff are pinched during arm movements, often caused by poor posture.
- Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis): Extreme stiffness and pain that makes it nearly impossible to move the arm.
- Bursitis: Inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs that cushion the joint.
- Referred Pain from the Neck: Nerve irritation in the cervical spine that “shoots” pain into the shoulder and upper arm.
Our “Kinetic Chain” Treatment Approach
With a degree in Exercise and Sports Science, Dr. Haywood looks at the “Kinetic Chain”—the way your body moves as a whole. His treatment strategy for shoulder pain includes:
1. Cervical & Thoracic Adjustments
If your neck or mid-back is “stuck,” your shoulder cannot move correctly. By adjusting the spine, we ensure the nerves controlling your shoulder muscles are firing at 100%.
2. Extremity Adjustments
Dr. Haywood is skilled in adjusting the shoulder joint itself, as well as the AC joint and the clavicle (collarbone), to restore proper biomechanical tracking.
3. Soft Tissue & Functional Rehab
We utilize targeted therapies to break down scar tissue in the rotator cuff and prescribe Therapeutic Exercises to stabilize the shoulder blade. Strengthening the “scapular stabilizers” is often the missing piece in permanent shoulder recovery.
Why Choose Dr. Kenneth Haywood?
Shoulder injuries require a delicate balance of mobility and stability. Dr. Haywood’s background in high-level sports rehabilitation allows him to design a plan that is aggressive enough to get results but cautious enough to protect the delicate joint structures. Having dealt with his own sports-related surgeries and rehab, he is uniquely qualified to guide you back to pain-free movement.
Get Back in the Game
Whether your goal is to throw a baseball, lift your grandchildren, or simply sleep on your side without pain, we are here to help. At Optimal Spine and Sports Medicine, we provide the elite-level care you need to reclaim your shoulder function.
Don’t ignore the ache. Call Optimal Spine and Sports Medicine today at (281) 301-7710 to schedule your shoulder evaluation in Houston.