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Shoulder Pain Treatment
Shoulder pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal conditions worldwide, approximately 1 in 6 people experience shoulder pain, making it one of the leading causes of pain and difficulty in daily living acitivties — from reaching overhead and lifting objects to sleeping comfortably at night.
Where Do You Feel Shoulder Pain?
Different shoulder structures may produce pain in different areas of the shoulder and upper arm. While pain location can provide useful clues during assessment, shoulder pain patterns often overlap and cannot be used to diagnose a condition on their own.
Front of Shoulder
Pain at the front of the shoulder may be related to structures such as the biceps tendon
Neck to Shoulder
Pain can sometimes originate from the neck and be felt around the shoulder or upper arm.
Side of Upper Arm
Pain on the outer shoulder or upper arm is commonly seen in people with rotator cuff related shoulder pain
Deep Shoulder Pain
Some people describe a deep aching sensation inside the shoulder joint itself
Top of Shoulder
Pain felt on the top of the shoulder may sometimes be associated with the acromioclavicular (AC) joint
What Can Influence Your Shoulder Pain?
Shoulder pain is rarely caused by a single structure alone. Whether your symptoms started gradually or after an injury, understanding the factors influencing your shoulder pain is often the first step toward recovery.
Physical Loading
A sudden increase in lifting, sport, gym training, repetitive reaching, or overhead activities may contribute to shoulder symptoms.
Strength & Movement
Reduced strength, altered movement patterns, or fear of movement may contribute to ongoing symptoms.
General Health
Physical activity levels, lifestyle habits, and general health can all influence recovery and long-term shoulder function.
Sleep
Poor sleep can increase pain sensitivity and reduce the body's ability to recover.
Stress & Emotional Wellbeing
Stress, anxiety, and depression can influence how pain is experienced and managed.
Common Shoulder Pain Presentations
Shoulder pain can affect people in different ways. Understanding how your symptoms behave may provide useful clues during assessment and help identify the most likely contributors to your symptoms.
Shoulder Pain When Reaching Overhead
(commonly associated with Rotator Cuff-Related Shoulder Pain)
Pain during activities such as swimming, throwing a ball, reaching for items on a high shelf, or performing overhead exercises at the gym.
Shoulder Pain With Stiffness
(often seen in Frozen Shoulder)
Pain accompanied by difficulty reaching overhead, reaching behind your back, putting on a jacket, or fastening a bra.
Shoulder Pain At Night
(often accompanied with sleep disturbances)
Pain that becomes worse when sleeping on the affected shoulder.
Shoulder Pain With Weakness
(May occur alongside Rotator Cuff Pathology)
Difficulty carrying groceries, lifting weights at the gym, pushing or pulling heavy objects or performing activities that previously felt easy.
Shoulder Pain That Starts In The Neck
(often extending into the shoulder blade or upper arm)
Pain that begins around the neck and travels into the shoulder blade, shoulder, or upper arm. Symptoms may become more noticeable with certain neck movements or prolonged postures.
When Should I Seek Medical Attention?
Most shoulder pain is not serious and often improves with appropriate management. However, professional assessment is recommended if you experience any of the following:
Significant Trauma (Fall, Sporting injury, Motor vehicle accident, or other significant trauma)
Sudden Loss of Strength (A sudden inability to lift the arm)
Shoulder Instability (repeatedly slips out of place)
Persistent Numbness or Tingling
Symptoms That Are Not Improving
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If we identify any concerning findings during your assessment, we will refer you for further investigation when appropriate.
How Do We Assess Your Shoulder Pain?
Every patient is different. Our assessment aims to identify the factors contributing to your symptoms and determine the most appropriate management plan.
Goal of our assessment is to understand the factors contributing to your symptoms and identify the most appropriate management plan.
✔ Detailed history
✔ Movement assessment
✔ Static & Motion palpation
✔ Orthopaedic test
✔ Neurological test
✔ X-ray if indicated
How Can We Help?
Current clinical guidelines commonly recommend a combination of hands-on and hands-off care for many neck pain conditions.
Depending on your individual needs, your care may include:
Chiropractic Care
Making neurophysiological changes, helping pain relief and improving movement
Rehabilitation Exercise
Facilitating recovery and building strength and confidence in movement with long-term resilience
Pain Science Education
Helping you better understand your pain and recovery process
Lifestyle Guidance
Addressing sleep, stress, diet, misbelief, and daily habits that help recovery
Reference
Carmichael, J., Basson, A., Bialocerkowski, A., Schmid, A.B. and Lahham, A., 2025. Scapular pain in cervical radiculopathy: a narrative review. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 75, p.103212.
Desmeules, F., Roy, J.S., Cools, A., Lewis, J., Littlewood, C., Côté, P., Bussières, A., Mintken, P., Silbernagel, K.G., Ceyssens, L. and Van den Dolder, P., 2025. Rotator cuff tendinopathy and rotator cuff-related shoulder pain: clinical practice guideline. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 59(1), pp.1–20.
Katsuura, Y., Bruce, J., Taylor, S., Gullota, L. and Kim, H.J., 2020. Overlapping, masquerading, and causative cervical spine and shoulder pathology: a systematic review. Global Spine Journal, 10(2), pp.195–208.
Lewis, J., 2016. Rotator cuff related shoulder pain: assessment, management and uncertainties. Manual Therapy, 23, pp.57–68.
