An achy shoulder is very common; we all have it once in a while. It can happen because of muscle strain, joint dislocation, ligament sprain, or spinal dysfunction.

Most commonly, it is because of a muscle or ligament which has been stretched and worn-out during the day. Routine work and exercise can both result in such mild shoulder pain.

Even though it is mild, it can be very disturbing because it usually occurs at night. Going to bed with pain in a part of your body is sure to leave you sleepless and groggy in the morning. So what can you do to relieve this pain?

One of the easiest things is performing some exercises to increase shoulder flexibility. Here are a few exercises that can help you achieve that:

Stand up or sit down in an upright position. Now, reach around the front of your torso and grab your opposite elbow from underneath. Pull the back of your flexed elbow until you feel a nice stretch. This should take around 30 seconds.
In a similar starting position, reach behind your back and push your palms above towards the shoulder blades. Take your other hand behind the torso and interlock with the first one. Now try to pull down your second hand until your feel a stretch.
Do a doorway stretch. Stand up in a doorway and open your arms wide. Now grip the side of the doorway but make sure both your hands are gripping at the same height. Now lean inward with your hands strongly gripping the doorway. You must keep your back straight and shift your weight on your toes. Do it until you feel a stretch. Don’t lean in too much as it will leave your muscles overstretched.
Do some pulling exercises. Get a resistance band and attach it to a wall above your shoulder height. Sit on one knee; use the leg that is on the same side as your injured shoulder. Hold the band in your arm and pull it towards yourself without moving your body. Do it at least thirty times for a good stretch.
Stand with your feet apart. The space should at least be equal to your shoulder’s distance. Hold a lightweight in both hands and raise them away from your body so your shoulder blades move together. Do not raise your arms above shoulder height and repeat at least thirty times.

Have you done these stretches and still experience pain? In this case, it is recommended that you consider acupuncture treatment for pain relief. Whether pain in your neck, shoulder or back, consult us today to learn more about acupuncture.