Common Symptoms of Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain can present in many ways, including:
- Sharp or aching pain in the joint or surrounding muscles
- Stiffness or a “frozen” feeling when lifting the arm
- Clicking, grinding, or popping during movement
- Weakness or loss of strength in the arm
- Pain radiating into the neck, back, or upper arm
- Difficulty sleeping on the affected side
Because shoulder pain overlaps with conditions such as neck strain or arthritis, an accurate assessment is essential.
Root Causes and Contributing Factors
At Aligned Modern Health, we look beyond the pain itself to uncover what’s really driving it. Common causes and contributors include:
- Overuse and repetitive strain — common in athletes, weightlifters, and manual laborers
- Poor posture and biomechanics — forward head or rounded shoulders increasing stress on joints. Sitting at a desk for long periods of time can exacerbate low level injuries
- Muscle imbalances — weak upper back and mid back stabilizersor overly tight chest muscles
- Injury or trauma — sprains, dislocations, or rotator cuff tears
- Arthritis or degeneration — wear on cartilage leading to inflammation and stiffness
- Referred pain — imbalances in the neck or spine that manifest in the shoulder
By separating true causes from surface-level symptoms, we design care that helps you heal—and prevents recurrence.
How Shoulder Pain Is Diagnosed
Our providers begin with a thorough evaluation of your posture, mobility, and movement patterns. Depending on your history, we may recommend:
- Chiropractic or orthopedic exams to test joint stability and range of motion
- Imaging (X-ray, MRI) if structural damage is suspected
- Functional medicine testing for inflammation or nutrient deficiencies that impair healing
This root-cause lens ensures we’re not just treating symptoms but addressing the underlying reason your shoulder hurts.
Our Treatment Approach
We personalize every care plan to match your needs, combining therapies to restore mobility, reduce pain, and prevent reinjury:
- Chiropractic Adjustments: treatment to the upper backand shoulder to reduce pressure, improve posture, and enhance mobility.
- Soft Tissue Therapy & Rehab: Targeted exercises and manual therapy to strengthen stabilizers, improve range of motion, and rebuild muscle capacity.
- Acupuncture: Co-Treatment helps relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and speed recovery from shoulder injuries.
- Functional Medicine: Co-Treatment addresses systemic contributors like inflammation, nutrition, and stress.
- Lifestyle & Ergonomic Coaching: Adjustments to daily movement, work setups, and sleep positions to reduce strain.
This integrated, whole-body model is designed not just to heal your shoulder but to support long-term strength and function.
Conditions Commonly Linked to Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain can overlap with or be mistaken for:
- Sports injuries
- Neck pain
- Arthritis
- Frozen shoulder
- Mid back pain with shoulder movement limitations
(Internal links can connect to related AMH condition pages for better navigation.)
What to Expect From Care
Here’s what your journey looks like at Aligned Modern Health:
- Initial Visit – A provider listens to your history, reviews your symptoms, and examines your movement.
- Testing & Assessment – Advanced diagnostics or imaging, when needed, to clarify any underlying structural concerns.
- Care Plan – Tailored recommendations combining chiropractic andrehab. Acupuncture and functional medicine co-treatment with more complicated cases
- Ongoing Support – Regular check-ins to monitor progress and adapt your plan as your shoulder heals.
Appointments are available in-person across our clinics or virtually for functional medicine and nutrition. We accept major insurance plans, and all services are FSA/HSA eligible.
Is Shoulder Pain Affecting You?
You don’t have to live with pain or limited movement. With the right care, healing is possible—and lasting.
Book a visit today and take the first step toward restoring shoulder strength, mobility, and comfort.
