Your shoulder is one of the most mobile joints in your body, and
also one of the most vulnerable to pain. Shoulder pain can make it
harder to reach, lift, or rest comfortably, keeping you from the moments
that matter most. Learn what causes shoulder pain, common symptoms
to watch for, and how to find lasting relief.
Shoulder pain is any discomfort you feel in or around your shoulder, ranging from a dull ache to a sharp, stabbing sensation. Shoulder pain can stem from many issues, such as rotator cuff injuries, arthritis, bursitis, frozen shoulder, or dislocation. With so much motion built into the joint, it’s no surprise the shoulder is more vulnerable to injury than many other parts of the body.
Your shoulder moves more freely than any other joint in your body, but that same freedom also makes it less stable. Over time, that instability may lead to natural wear and tear, strain, or small injuries that cause pain.
Whether your shoulder pain comes on suddenly or gradually, it can make even simple daily routines, like getting dressed or washing your hair, frustratingly difficult. But with the right care, you may experience real relief and get back to living your life.
Your rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons around your shoulder joint that help stabilize and move your arm. When they get inflamed from overuse (sometimes called shoulder impingement) or torn from an injury, it may cause rotator cuff pain and stiffness, making it difficult to lift your arm or sleep comfortably.
Shoulder bursitis happens when the small, cushioning sacs of fluid in your shoulder (called bursae) swell up and get inflamed. The inflammation may cause pain, tenderness, or stiffness, and it’s usually a result of excessive repetitive motions from work, sports, or hobbies. This is also considered a type of shoulder impingement.
Frozen shoulder is a condition that causes pain, stiffness, and loss of motion in your shoulder, making the joint feel like it's locked up. It goes through three stages, starting with pain as you lose your range of motion, followed by persistent stiffness as the pain subsides, and eventually "thawing" as movement starts to return.
Arthritis is a condition where your joints get swollen and tender, and it’s fairly common in the shoulder. Two of the most common types are osteoarthritis, which is when the cartilage in your joints wears down, causing your bones to rub together, and rheumatoid arthritis, where your autoimmunity system mistakenly attacks your healthy joints.
Your shoulder is made to move freely, but repeating the same motion over and over can push it past its limit.Repeated strain from activities as simple as carrying a heavy backpack or throwing a baseball may create small tears that build up over time, leading to repetitive stress disorder, which may make your shoulder feel tight, weak, and painful.
Not all shoulder pain starts in the shoulder; sometimes the source of the trouble is actually in your neck or upper back. If a disc or bone in your neck pinches the root of a nerve, the resulting tingling, numbness, or ache may travel down into your shoulder and arm. We call this referred pain, because the true origin is elsewhere in your body.
Inflammation is one of the ways your body heals injuries and fights infections. It causes shoulder pain symptoms in a few ways, such as when your tendons get irritated and swell up from overuse (called tendinitis). It may cause pain when your shoulder’s bursae, which are tiny fluid-filled sacs that cushion your joint, swell with extra fluid from overuse or an infection. Rheumatoid arthritis may also cause painful inflammation by mistakenly attacking your healthy joints.
Sometimes shoulder pain starts suddenly after a shoulder injury. That could be a dramatic fall onto your outstretched arm while stepping off a curb or someone slamming into your shoulder during a football game. The sudden force may dislocate your shoulder, sprain the ligaments (the tough bands that hold bones together), or cause a tear in the muscles or tendons.
As you get older, the cartilage that cushions your joints may naturally begin to wear away, potentially causing osteoarthritis. When this cushioning thins out, your bones may start to rub together, leading to friction that may cause stiffness, reduced motion, and a deep ache in your shoulder joint.
30.7% of US adults have experienced pain in their shoulders, arms, or hands in the past 3 months1
61.3 of patients with shoulder pain had a rotator cuff tear2
45-64 is the age group most at risk for shoulder pain3
59% of people with shoulder pain find relief within a year4
One of the bigger factors to put you at risk of shoulder pain is the passage of time. As you get older, especially past 50, the connective tissues and protective cartilage in your shoulder naturally wear down, which may lead to rotator cuff damage, arthritis, and other issues.
If your job forces you to constantly use your arms above shoulder level or lift heavy objects, your shoulders take on a lot of strain. Painters, carpenters, assembly line workers, and really anyone performing those kinds of repeated activities are at risk of developing little tears on their muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The result may be tendinitis, bursitis, or other conditions.
Sports that involve repetitive, forceful motions above your head, like a baseball pitch, a tennis serve, or a swimming stroke, put tremendous rotational forces on your shoulder. These intense, repeated demands may cause small tears in your tendons and ligaments, leading to painful swelling and increasing your risk of joint instability or injuries.
Certain health conditions (especially those related to your metabolism) are associated with shoulder issues because of the way they weaken your tendons, joints, and other tissues. Diabetes, for example, puts you at higher risk for developing conditions like frozen shoulder because of how high blood sugar sometimes thickens and restricts your joint’s connective tissues.
Carrying extra weight, particularly around your stomach, puts you at higher risk for shoulder pain. Part of that’s just because of the extra physical strain on your shoulders, but it’s also because body fat produces certain compounds that promote inflammation, potentially swelling joints throughout your body.
Shoulder pain symptoms can make your daily tasks feel like an uphill battle. Whether you’re putting on a seatbelt, slipping on a jacket, or simply rolling over in bed, that stiffness and pain get in the way. But relief is in reach.
If shoulder pain is limiting your life, know there are ways to find relief. By getting a clear understanding of what’s causing the pain and setting up a care plan with your doctor or chiropractor, you may start reclaiming the freedom to move.
You might start by managing shoulder pain at home. Simple care methods like rest, gentle stretching, or alternating heat and ice may help reduce soreness and swelling. Taping and physical therapy are also common options to support movement and stability during recovery. Over-the-counter pain relievers can help ease inflammation in the short term, but they often only provide temporary relief.
When pain lingers or movement feels restricted, chiropractic care may help. Chiropractic treatment focuses on restoring alignment and improving how your body moves and functions. Routine visits offer a natural alternative to prescription or over-the-counter medications, addressing the underlying cause rather than just the symptoms.
Licensed chiropractors deliver a gentle, non-invasive therapy called a chiropractic adjustment. Adjustments help reduce joint restrictions or misalignments in the shoulder and spine, which may relieve pressure, improve mobility, and support better nervous system function. With consistent care, your shoulder may begin to move more freely and comfortably over time.
To help you find relief, chiropractors identify and address:
There are many potential health benefits of chiropractic care when you have repetitive stress disorder, including:
When combined with healthy habits like staying properly hydrated, stress management, and consistent sleep, chiropractic care may provide lasting relief and help restore quality of life.
Walk in for quality, affordable care that fits your schedule. Enjoy hassle-free visits and same-day relief.
Relieving shoulder pain often begins with conservative, non-invasive care that helps restore movement and reduce inflammation. Start by giving the joint a short period of rest, especially if the pain started after overuse or strain. Gentle stretching and controlled range-of-motion exercises can help maintain flexibility while preventing stiffness from setting in.
Alternating heat and ice may also help. Ice can reduce swelling and numb sore areas, while heat can relax tight muscles and improve blood flow to the shoulder. Some people find temporary support from taping or bracing to limit irritation while the joint heals.
Chiropractic care offers another natural, drug-free option for relief. Chiropractors may perform gentle adjustments to the shoulder, neck, and upper back to improve alignment and motion throughout the region. These adjustments can help reduce pressure on surrounding muscles, tendons, and nerves. Depending on your specific needs, care may also include soft tissue therapy, stretching guidance, or personalized exercises you can do at home to build shoulder stability and strength.
If pain persists, worsens, or limits daily activity, it is important to seek professional evaluation. A chiropractor can help identify whether your shoulder pain stems from joint dysfunction, muscular imbalance, or another underlying cause, and then recommend the most appropriate path forward for your recovery.
Pain when you lift your arm is a common sign of a shoulder impingement. That could take the form of rotator cuff tendinitis, where the tendons in your shoulder are inflamed from overuse, or shoulder bursitis, where the little fluid-filled sacs that cushion your joint are swollen. To know for sure what’s wrong with your shoulder, though, you’ll need to talk with a doctor or chiropractor.
People usually describe rotator cuff pain as a dull, deep ache in your shoulder. It often gets worse when you try to lift or rotate your arm and may be painful enough to disrupt your sleep, especially when lying on that side.
The best way to tell if your shoulder pain is caused by the muscle or rotator cuff is to test your strength and mobility. If you just have general muscle soreness, you may feel achy, but can usually still lift your arm. If the issue is your rotator cuff, you may have more trouble lifting or turning the arm, usually due to weakness.
While pain between your shoulder blades is overwhelmingly caused by musculoskeletal issues like poor posture or muscle tension, it may in rare cases be a sign of something more serious, like lung cancer. If you have other symptoms beyond just shoulder blade pain, like weight loss that’s hard to explain, fatigue, or a persistent cough, go talk to a doctor.
You should see a doctor or chiropractor for shoulder pain if it’s severe, sticks around for more than a few weeks despite rest and ice, or if you lose the ability to move your arm normally. Get emergency care immediately if your shoulder joint looks deformed after an injury, if your chest feels tight, or if you’re having difficulty breathing.
Shoulder pain, especially in your left shoulder, is a common symptom of heart attacks, just like neck, arm, and back pain can be. If your shoulder pain appears suddenly and is paired with chest tightness, shortness of breath, or sweating, you should head straight to the ER.
Severe acid reflux (or GERD) does sometimes cause pain in your shoulder or upper back. The reason is because your esophagus shares a nerve pathway with your shoulder, making it possible for irritation in your esophagus to send pain along the path to your shoulder.
Although carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by a pinched nerve in your wrist, the pain, tingling, and numbness it causes may sometimes travel back up the nerve to your shoulder. If your shoulder pain is also accompanied by symptoms in your wrist, hand, or fingers, carpal tunnel may be involved.
Tennis elbow (which is painful inflammation in your elbow joint) doesn’t directly cause shoulder pain, but the two often appear together. One reason is when your elbow hurts, you’ll often subconsciously adjust how you use your arm, which may put more strain on your shoulder. Another reason is that tennis elbow and shoulder pain are both often caused by excessive repetitive motions, so the same activity that’s causing one (like practicing your tennis serve) may also be causing the other.
Absolutely. Chiropractic care is a great option for shoulder pain, targeting the specific issues in your joint, neck, and surrounding muscles and tissues. By returning proper alignment and flexibility, a chiropractor may help relieve strain on your shoulder and improve your overall mobility.
The majority of shoulder issues, including many rotator cuff injuries, respond well to conservative treatments like chiropractic care, rest, and physical therapy. Surgery is usually reserved as a last resort for severe cases, such as large tears or complex fractures.
The best position is usually sleeping on your back, which keeps direct pressure off your injured shoulder. If you prefer to sleep on your side, you should lie on the unaffected shoulder, using a pillow to prop up your painful arm in front of you for support and comfort.
As a former competitive swimmer and now an active triathlete, Dorra knows all about pushing her body to achieve incredible things. But all that activity started to catch up with her, causing pain in her back, shoulders, and knees. She tolerated that discomfort for years. Then, finally, she found relief at The Joint Chiropractic. Now chiropractic care is an easy, essential part of her wellness routine, so she can keep competing and living her life.
When Billie tried chiropractic care, everything shifted. Gentle adjustments eased the tension in her neck and helped restore her strength. The headaches grew less intense, and her energy slowly returned. Today Billie no longer relies on narcotic pills. She’s present with her daughter, able to laugh, play, and finally live with a sense of calm and control.
1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, July 29). Products - data briefs - number 415 - July 2021. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db415.htm
2 Grusky, A. Z., Song, A., Kim, P., Ayers, G. D., Higgins, L. D., Kuhn, J. E., Baumgarten, K. M., Matzkin, E., & Jain, N. B. (2021). Factors associated with symptomatic rotator cuff tears. American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 100(4), 331–336. https://doi.org/10.1097/phm.0000000000001684
3 Djade, C. D., Porgo, T. V., Zomahoun, H. T., Perrault‐Sullivan, G., & Dionne, C. E. (2019). Incidence of shoulder pain in 40 years old and over and associated factors: A systematic review. European Journal of Pain, 24(1), 39–50. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.1482
4 van der Windt, D. A., Koes, B. W., Boeke, A. J., Devillé, W., De Jong, B. A., & Bouter, L. M. (1996). Shoulder disorders in general practice: Prognostic indicators of outcome. British Journal of General Practice, 46(410), 519–523.
Offer valued at $45. Valid for new patients only. See clinic for chiropractor(s)' name and license info. Clinics managed and/or owned by franchisee or Prof. Corps. Restrictions may apply to Medicare eligible patients. Individual results may vary.