Chiropractic care for shoulder and upper back pain
Between the shoulder blades, across the top of the shoulder, or deep in the joint — three different problems.
Understanding Shoulder and Upper Back Pain
Shoulder and upper back pain gets lumped together, but the location tells you a lot about the source, and the three common patterns need different treatment. Chiropractic care for shoulder and upper back pain may be considered based on the location, symptoms, and underlying cause of the discomfort.
Between the shoulder blades. Usually thoracic spine and rib joint restriction, with the muscles around it guarding. Often load-related — desk work, driving, carrying. Responds well to manual treatment.
Across the top of the shoulder and into the neck. Usually cervical in origin, referring outward. Treating the shoulder itself achieves little; the neck is where the work is.
Deep in the shoulder joint, worse reaching or lifting overhead. More likely a genuine shoulder problem — rotator cuff, impingement, or the joint itself. This one usually belongs with physiotherapy rather than chiropractic, and we will tell you so.
Common Causes of Shoulder and Upper Back Pain
Thoracic and rib movement
Rotation and extension through the mid-back, and whether the rib joints move as they should.
Cervical contribution
Whether the pain is referred from the neck rather than arising locally.
Shoulder joint testing
Range, strength and specific tests to identify a true shoulder problem needing rehabilitation.
Scapular control
How the shoulder blade moves on the ribcage, which drives a great deal of shoulder mechanics.
Neurological screening
Any numbness, tingling or weakness in the arm changes management.
Load history
What changed — a new job, new training, a house move, a long drive.
Common Questions of Shoulder and Upper Back Pain
Most often restricted thoracic and rib joints with surrounding muscle guarding, driven by sustained posture. It is one of the more satisfying things to treat because it usually responds quickly.
That pattern points to the shoulder joint itself rather than the spine. Physiotherapy with a progressive loading programme is usually the better route — see rotator cuff injury.
Frequently, yes. Pain across the top of the shoulder is very often cervical in origin, which is why we assess the neck even when the neck itself does not hurt.
Shoulder or upper back pain with chest tightness, shortness of breath, sweating or nausea needs emergency medical care, not a chiropractor. Unexplained weight loss, night pain that wakes you consistently, or a history of cancer also warrant medical assessment first.
Coverage and Direct Billing
We direct bill Alberta Blue Cross, Great-West Life, Sun Life Financial, Cowan Insurance Group, Manulife Financial, Maximum Benefit, Desjardins, Johnson Insurance and Green Shield Canada. We also handle WCB claims and motor vehicle accident claims directly.
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Book an Appointment in Camrose
Point to where it hurts and we will work out where it is coming from. Book an assessment.
Central Physiotherapy & Massage · 6028 48 Avenue, Camrose, AB · (780) 673-0573
Monday to Thursday 8:30am–7:00pm · Friday 8:30am–5:00pm