Shoulder Pain: Assessment and Conservative Care Options

Shoulder pain may arise from tendons, the joint, an injury or sometimes a problem involving the neck. An examination helps identify the likely cause and whether conservative care, imaging or specialist assessment is appropriate.

Describe what has changed

Tell the clinician about injury, pain location, weakness and difficulty reaching, lifting or sleeping. Mention symptoms that travel from the neck into the arm. Shoulder pain does not by itself establish a spinal cord problem or prove that the body is out of alignment.

What might treatment involve?

For suitable musculoskeletal conditions, a plan may include changes to aggravating activities, tailored exercises and selected manual treatment. The plan depends on the diagnosis and your goals. A fixed number of adjustments cannot guarantee recovery, and some conditions need medical or surgical care.

Know when to seek medical attention

Seek prompt care after a significant injury or if the shoulder looks deformed, becomes very swollen, or you cannot use the arm normally. Fever with a hot, painful joint also requires assessment. Call 911 for shoulder or arm discomfort accompanied by chest pressure, breathlessness, sweating or other possible heart-attack symptoms.

Review your progress

Ask how treatment will be measured against everyday tasks and when the plan should change. New weakness, increasing numbness or worsening pain warrants reassessment. Do not stop prescribed medicine based on a general claim that manual care makes it unnecessary.

See our shoulder-pain assessment page or call 704-461-1836 for non-emergency office questions.

Sources: AAOS: Shoulder Pain and Common Shoulder Problems; NCCIH: Spinal Manipulation; American Heart Association: Heart Attack Warning Signs.