Shoulder Pain Treatment in Brisbane

If shoulder pain is affecting your work, sleep, or active lifestyle, there’s help available. At Prime Health Co., we provide effective shoulder pain treatment in our clinic locations, Redland Bay and Grange, that targets the root cause of your discomfort and helps you return to full function.

Whether your pain is due to poor posture, muscle weakness or imbalance, overuse, injury, or joint degeneration, we use hands-on care and personalised rehab strategies to support your recovery.

Common Causes of Shoulder Pain

The shoulder is one of the most mobile joints in the body—and also one of the most vulnerable to injury and dysfunction. Below, we explore the common causes of shoulder pain to help you better identify the type of shoulder pain you may be experiencing.

Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy

Rotator cuff tendinopathy with or without calcific deposits in the tendon can be a cause of shoulder pain. This results from overuse, poor posture, or repetitive overhead activity. It involves irritation or degeneration of the collagen fibres of the tendons that support and stabilise the shoulder joint, leading to pain, weakness, and reduced mobility, especially during lifting or reaching overhead or behind you.

Rotator Cuff Tear

Recurrent rotator cuff injuries due to poor shoulder or thoracic spine biomechanics can cause further damage to the collagen fibres of the tendons, resulting in partial or full tears.

Shoulder Impingement (Subacromial Pain Syndrome)

Impingement syndrome occurs when the tendons or bursa in the shoulder become compressed between the AC joint of the shoulder and the head of your humerus (the bone of your upper arm) during arm movement. This leads to inflammation of the subacromial bursa, pain and restricted motion. It’s often caused by repetitive overhead activities, poor posture, or muscular imbalances.

Adhesive Capsulitis (Frozen Shoulder)

This a condition characterised by stiffness, pain, and a gradual loss of shoulder movement. It often develops slowly and can last for months. It is sometimes triggered following injury, surgery, or periods of immobility. The condition involves thickening and tightening of the joint capsule, which restricts normal movement. It is more common to see this condition in women.

Postural Strain (Upper Cross Syndrome)

Forward shoulder, head posture and rounded upper backs can overload muscles and joints over time. This condition is known as “Upper Cross Syndrome”. There is an overactivity of one muscle group, which leads to weakness and inactivity of their opposing muscle group. Over time this leads to poor shoulder blade mechanics and can cause rotator cuff injuries if left untreated.

Referred Pain from the Neck or Upper Back

Sometimes pain felt in the shoulder originates from the cervical spine or thoracic region and is due to referred pain from the facet joints, muscles or intervertebral disks of the cervical spine. In severe cases, the referred pain can be due to irritated spinal nerve roots as they exit the cervical spine and travel towards the shoulder.

Arthritis or Degenerative Changes

Wear and tear in the shoulder joint, the Acromioclavicular (AC) or sternoclavicular (SC) joint, can reduce mobility and increase pain during activity.

Diagnosing Shoulder Pain

Accurately diagnosing shoulder pain is essential to creating an effective treatment plan. At Prime Health Co., we begin with a thorough history and physical and orthopaedic examination to assess joint movement, muscle strength, posture, and any neurological signs. We’ll determine whether your pain is coming from the shoulder itself, the neck, or another related area. In some cases, we may refer you out for imaging, such as an ultrasound or an MRI scan, to confirm the diagnosis or rule out more serious conditions.

When To Get Treatment For Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain can vary in intensity and character, from a dull ache to sharp, stabbing discomfort. It’s always recommended to get it assessed as soon as possible. If there has been a recent trauma to the shoulder, imaging may be helpful to grade the degree of injury and to guide your treatment.

It’s important to seek treatment for your shoulder if you have:

• Pain that persists for more than a few days
• Discomfort that limits your arm or shoulder movement
• Pain when lifting, reaching, or lying on your side
• Weakness or instability in the shoulder
• Clicking, grinding, or catching sensations in the joint

What Are the Treatment Options for Shoulder Pain?

Treatment depends on the cause and severity of the pain. Our approach to treating shoulder pain focuses on restoring movement, reducing inflammation, and addressing the root cause, not just the symptoms. Here’s what our chiropractic care typically includes:

• Soft Tissue Therapy: Manual muscle release, fascia scraping and trigger point therapy are some of the soft tissue techniques we use when treating shoulders.

• Shoulder Mobilisation: Mobilisation of the Glenohumeral joint (the main joint in your shoulder) combined with scapular mobilisation can help when there is decreased range of motion of the shoulder or after surgery to regain normal range of motion.

• Shockwave Therapy: is a non-invasive treatment that uses high-energy sound waves to stimulate healing in damaged or inflamed shoulder tissues. It’s particularly effective for chronic conditions like rotator cuff tendinopathy, calcific tendinitis, and shoulder bursitis. know more about Shockwave therapy treatment.

• Dry needling: Acupuncture needles are used to perform dry needling in the shoulder. This technique works extremely well when treating muscular tension, knots or “trigger points:” in the rotator cuff or postural muscles.

• Exercise Rehabilitation: You’ll receive a custom exercise plan to improve shoulder stability, strengthen the rotator cuff and scapular muscles. Postural imbalances will also be rehabilitated to help maintain normal biomechanics and prevent future flare-ups.

Why Choose Us For Shoulder Pain Treatment?

We’re experienced chiropractors with training in the field of sports chiropractic, where we utilise advanced shoulder assessment and rehabilitation techniques. We assess and treat the whole body, instead of just the joint noting your movement patterns, posture, muscle imbalances and weaknesses.

Ready to Treat Your Shoulder Pain?

If you’re looking for a trusted, professional Chiropractor for shoulder pain treatment in Redland Bay and Grange, our chiropractic team is here to help. Whether it’s from injury, posture, or everyday wear and tear, we’ll work with you to relieve pain and restore confidence in your movement. We operate from two convenient locations and are ready to support your recovery.

Book an appointment online with our team. Otherwise, please feel free to call the clinic on 07 2103 5896 to schedule an appointment.