Chiropractic Care for Shoulder Pain Relief

The shoulder allows an extraordinary amount of movement—which also means several different structures contribute to the way it functions.

Shoulder pain may involve muscles, tendons, joints, surrounding soft tissues, or other structures.

Sometimes discomfort follows an obvious event.

You lifted something heavy, fell, reached awkwardly, increased your workouts, played a sport, or spent an entire weekend working around the house.

Other times there isn't one memorable moment.

The shoulder simply begins aching, becoming stiff, or losing comfortable movement over time.

And sometimes what feels like shoulder pain may actually involve the neck or a nerve.

That's why the first question shouldn't be:

“What treatment does shoulder pain need?”

It should be:

“What's causing my shoulder pain?”

Pain while reaching overhead is a common reason people seek evaluation for shoulder problems.

You may notice it while putting something on a shelf, washing your hair, getting dressed, exercising, or reaching into the back seat of the car.

Different shoulder conditions can produce discomfort during these movements.

The location of the pain, the movements that reproduce it, how the symptoms started, your available range of motion, strength, and other examination findings can help narrow down what may be involved.

Rather than repeatedly testing the painful movement yourself, an appropriate evaluation can help determine the next step.

Not all shoulder discomfort begins with lifting or exercise.

Hours spent working at a computer can also leave the neck, shoulders, and upper back feeling uncomfortable.

You may notice tension across the top of the shoulders, aching near the shoulder blades, or discomfort that becomes more noticeable toward the end of the workday.

In these situations, the problem may not be the shoulder joint itself.

Workstation setup, prolonged positions, limited movement, neck symptoms, muscle tension, previous injuries, and other factors can all be relevant.

The goal isn't simply to tell you to “fix your posture.”

It's to understand what your body is experiencing throughout the day.

Your visit begins with your story.

Dr. Nick Stojanovich, D.C. may ask:

When did the shoulder pain begin?

Was there an injury?

Where exactly do you feel it?

Which movements bother you?

Can you comfortably raise your arm overhead?

Does it hurt to reach behind you?

Does sleeping on that side bother you?

Do you also have neck pain?

Does the pain travel into your arm?

Are you experiencing numbness, tingling, or weakness?

Has your shoulder become noticeably more difficult to move?

Your examination may include assessment of shoulder and neck movement, musculoskeletal function, strength, joint motion, and neurological findings when appropriate.

The goal is to determine whether the symptoms appear appropriate for chiropractic and conservative musculoskeletal care or whether imaging, medical evaluation, or another type of referral should be considered.

Chiropractic care may be appropriate for certain musculoskeletal causes of shoulder discomfort.

But shoulder pain isn't treated with one standard adjustment or technique.

Dr. Nick Stojanovich, D.C. considers the shoulder itself as well as the neck, upper back, surrounding joints, muscles, movement patterns, previous injuries, and other relevant findings.

If chiropractic care is appropriate, treatment is individualized based on what the examination reveals.

The goal isn't simply to adjust something because your shoulder hurts.

It's to determine what appears to be contributing to the problem and choose care accordingly.

Not every painful shoulder is a routine musculoskeletal problem.

Seek prompt or emergency medical attention for symptoms such as:

• Significant shoulder pain following major trauma

• An obvious deformity

• Sudden inability to move the arm following an injury

• Severe or rapidly progressing weakness

• Significant swelling, redness, warmth, or other signs of acute illness

• Sudden neurological changes

• Shoulder or arm discomfort occurring with chest pressure or pain, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, dizziness, or other concerning symptoms

Shoulder or arm discomfort associated with possible heart-related symptoms should be treated as a medical emergency rather than assumed to be a muscle, joint, or spinal problem.