Is it the shoulder, the neck, or both?
The shoulder relies on a stack of moving parts: the ball-and-socket joint, the shoulder blade sliding on the ribcage, the collarbone joints, and the rotator cuff muscles that hold it all together. The nerves that supply the shoulder come from the neck, so a stiff neck can produce pain in the shoulder with nothing wrong in the shoulder at all.
Common patterns we see:
- Rotator cuff strain or irritation: pain reaching overhead or behind the back, often worse at night.
- A stiff, "frozen" shoulder: gradual loss of movement in every direction, most common in your forties and fifties.
- Posture-related shoulder pain: rounded shoulders and a stiff upper back that overload the muscles around the shoulder blade.
- Neck-referred pain: pain across the top of the shoulder, sometimes with pins and needles into the arm.
What happens at your first appointment
Your first appointment takes about 30 to 40 minutes. It includes:
- Your history. How it started, what movements hurt, whether it wakes you, and whether the neck or arm is involved.
- A physical examination. Range and quality of shoulder movement, strength tests for the rotator cuff, how the shoulder blade moves, and examination of the neck and upper back to see whether they are contributing.
- Posture analysis. Digital posture analysis for adults, including shoulder position.
- An explanation. What we think is going on and whether we are the right people to treat it.
- Your first treatment, when clinically appropriate.
If the examination suggests a tear or another problem that needs imaging, we refer you to your GP, or work with ACC if it followed an injury.
How we treat shoulder pain
- Mobilisation of the shoulder joint and shoulder blade, and adjustment of the stiff parts of the neck and upper back that feed into the problem.
- Soft tissue work for the rotator cuff, chest and upper back muscles.
- A progressive exercise programme, because shoulders recover through movement and strength, not rest alone.
- Advice on sleeping position, desk set-up and the activities that keep aggravating it.
Shoulders can be slow. Rotator cuff problems often take several weeks of consistent exercise to settle, and a frozen shoulder takes months. Your chiropractor will be honest about the timeline and review the plan with you.
When to get shoulder pain looked at
If shoulder pain has lasted more than a fortnight, wakes you at night, or you are losing movement, get it assessed. A sudden loss of strength after an injury needs to be seen promptly.
If you have been searching for a shoulder chiropractor near me in Auckland, both clinics are open seven days: Remuera and Henderson. You can book online or phone either clinic.
- An obvious deformity or inability to move the arm after a fall or collision (possible dislocation or fracture).
- Pain in the left shoulder or arm with chest pain, shortness of breath, sweating or nausea (possible heart problem): call 111.
- A hot, swollen, red shoulder with fever.
- Sudden weakness in the arm or hand, or numbness that is spreading.
What the research says
Research has found that adding manipulation and mobilisation to usual medical care can help some people recover from shoulder pain more quickly. In a trial involving 150 people with shoulder symptoms and associated shoulder-girdle dysfunction, 43 percent receiving additional manual treatment reported full recovery at 12 weeks, compared with 21 percent receiving usual medical care alone.
Bergman, G. J. D., Winters, J. C., Groenier, K. H., Pool, J. J. M., Meyboom-de Jong, B., Postema, K., & van der Heijden, G. J. M. G. (2004). Manipulative therapy in addition to usual medical care for patients with shoulder dysfunction and pain: A randomized, controlled trial. Annals of Internal Medicine, 141(6), 432-439. doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141-6-200409210-00008More on the research we rely on.
ACC and shoulder injuries
Shoulder injuries from a fall, a tackle, lifting or a sudden pull at work may be covered by ACC. We are ACC registered, so no GP referral is needed. Your chiropractor assesses the injury at your first appointment and lodges a claim if it qualifies, or sees you under an existing claim. If imaging is needed, an accepted claim can help with that too.