Shoulder Pain or Nerve Entrapment? A Chiropractic Perspective
Shoulder pain can be tricky. Sometimes it starts as a dull ache. Other times it shoots sharply with certain movements. You may feel it in the front, deep in the joint, or even radiating down the arm.
But here’s the thing: not all shoulder pain actually starts in the shoulder.
In many cases, the real issue lies in the spine — and chiropractic care is designed to find and fix it.
🔍 Where Is Your Shoulder Pain Really Coming From?
The shoulder is a complex joint with a wide range of motion. It relies on the health of surrounding structures: the cervical spine, upper back (thoracic spine), ribs, and even the muscles of the chest and neck.
Common causes of shoulder pain include:
Rotator cuff strain or tendonitis
Impingement syndrome
Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis)
Nerve entrapment from the neck (cervical radiculopathy)
Referred pain from spinal misalignments
Poor posture or muscle imbalance
If you’ve had shoulder pain that doesn’t respond to stretching or rest — or if it worsens with neck movement — it could be nerve-related.
🧠 How Chiropractors Find the Root Cause
Chiropractors are trained to trace pain back to its source — even when that source isn’t obvious. In the case of shoulder pain, that means:
A full spinal and postural exam
Orthopedic and neurological testing
Range of motion testing in both the neck and shoulder
Checking for joint restrictions or muscle imbalances
Imaging if necessary (like X-rays or MRIs)
We ask: Is the pain being caused by poor joint alignment? Muscle overcompensation? A nerve exiting the spine being compressed?
✅ Chiropractic Care for Shoulder Pain and Nerve Entrapment
Once we know the true cause, care is customized to your needs. Chiropractic care may include:
Spinal adjustments to free compressed nerves and restore proper alignment
Shoulder joint mobilization for stiffness or misalignment
Myofascial release for surrounding muscle tension
Posture and ergonomic coaching
Corrective exercises to strengthen and stabilize
🌟 Shoulder Pain Isn’t Something to “Push Through”
Too often, people wait too long — hoping shoulder pain will go away. But the longer it lingers, the harder it is to fix.
If your shoulder pain has been nagging, radiating, or keeping you up at night, it’s time to take a closer look. Chiropractic care can help you find relief — and restore the function your body was made for.
