Shoulder Pain Treatment in Birmingham & Warwickshire
Promoting A New Standard Of Clinical Excellence In The Diagnosis & Treatment Of Shoulder Pain.
Shoulder pain is one of the most frequent musculoskeletal issues in the UK. Research suggests that:
15% to 30% of adults experience shoulder pain at least once every year.  It is the third most common musculoskeletal condition, following back and neck pain. The lifetime risk of experiencing shoulder pain is estimated to be between 40% and 70%, meaning that approximately half the population may experience it at some stage in life.
It is more common among older adults, individuals with physically demanding jobs, and those who engage in repetitive movements. Certain sports and physical activities, such as swimming, tennis, and weightlifting, also contribute to a higher likelihood of developing shoulder pain over time.
While shoulder pain can be frustrating and limiting, early intervention, proper treatment, and preventive measures can help individuals manage pain effectively and maintain a healthy range of motion. If shoulder pain persists or worsens, consulting a healthcare provider is crucial for diagnosing the issue and finding the best treatment approach.
Common Causes Of Shoulder Pain.
Musculoskeletal shoulder pain can arise from various structures, including muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, and nerves. It is essential to differentiate between different causes to provide appropriate treatment and management. Some common causes of musculoskeletal shoulder pain include:
1. Rotator Cuff Pathology
- Rotator cuff tendinitis (Inflammation of the tendons)
- Rotator cuff tendinosis (overuse or degeneration of the tendons)
- Rotator cuff tear (partial or full thickness tear, often due to trauma or chronic degeneration)
- Subacromial impingement syndrome (compression of rotator cuff tendons under the acromion)
- Calcific tendinitis (calcium deposition in the rotator cuff tendons, leading to inflammation)
2. Bursitis / Bursopathy
- Subacromial bursitis (inflammation of the subacromial bursa, often associated with impingement)
- Subdeltoid bursitis (less common, can be due to trauma or repetitive strain)
3. Glenohumeral Joint Disorders
- Osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease, often seen in older adults)
- Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder)Â (progressive stiffness and pain due to capsular fibrosis)
- Labral tears (glenoid labrum injuries, e.g., SLAP lesions, often seen in overhead athletes)
- Glenohumeral instability (dislocations, subluxations, or hypermobility syndromes)
4. Acromioclavicular (AC) Joint Pathologies
- Acromioclavicular osteoarthritis (degenerative changes in the AC joint)
- AC joint separation (sprain)Â (ligament injury from trauma, classified from Grade I to VI)
- Distal clavicle osteolysis (stress-induced bone resorption, common in weightlifters)
5. Myofascial and Soft Tissue Conditions
- Myofascial pain syndrome (trigger points in the shoulder and neck muscles)
- Cervicogenic referred pain (pain originating from the cervical spine but felt in the shoulder)
- Muscle strains (such as deltoid, pectoralis major, or trapezius strain)
6. Nerve-Related Causes
- Cervical radiculopathy (nerve root compression from C5-C7, mimicking shoulder pathology)
- Brachial plexopathy (trauma or compression affecting the brachial plexus)
- Thoracic outlet syndrome (compression of neurovascular structures affecting shoulder and arm)
- Suprascapular nerve entrapment (can cause deep shoulder pain and weakness)
7. Fractures and Trauma-Related Injuries
- Proximal humerus fracture (common in elderly patients after falls)
- Clavicle fracture (often due to direct trauma)
- Scapular fracture (rare, usually from high-energy trauma)
- Post-traumatic osteonecrosis (avascular necrosis of the humeral head, e.g., from steroid use or trauma)
8. Systemic and Referred Pain Conditions
- Polymyalgia rheumatica (inflammatory disorder causing shoulder girdle pain and stiffness)
- Rheumatoid arthritis (autoimmune inflammation affecting the shoulder joint)
- Infectious arthritis (septic arthritis)Â (shoulder joint infection, often with systemic symptoms)
- Pancoast tumour (apical lung cancer causing shoulder and arm pain due to nerve involvement)
- Cardiac referred pain (e.g., myocardial infarction, presenting as left shoulder pain)
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Consultation & Diagnosis of Shoulder Pain.
Understanding your Shoulder Pain.
After your Consultation and Diagnostic Service Appointment, your clinician will carefully review the findings from your case and develop a personalised treatment or management plan for your condition. When you return to the clinic, we will sit down with you to thoroughly discuss our conclusions. During this discussion, we will provide:
A Diagnosis: Clearly explaining your shoulder pain and its potential underlying causes / contributions.
A Prognosis: Offering an understanding of how your shoulder pain is likely to progress and the expected recovery timeline.
A Treatment Plan: If we determine that your shoulder pain is suitable for management within our clinic, we will outline the proposed approach.
- What we can do to help.
- What you will be able to do, in order to help yourself.
- What results you can expect.
- The rate at which you can expect these results.
- What this result will cost you in time and money. ‘We aim to make all costs involved in the management of your case known to you from the outset.’
- If we feel that your complaint would be better managed by another clinician, the appropriate referral to that clinician will be made without delay.
Safe & Effective Treatment Of Shoulder Pain.
Our treatments typically include a comprehensive range of gentle, evidence-based conservative care procedures.
Each patient’s care plan is personalised, taking into account their unique needs, preferences, and circumstances. We recognise that some patients may feel apprehensive about treatment, and we are committed to providing comfort and reassurance throughout the process. The care we provide includes, but is not limited to:
- Spinal mobilisation
- Peripheral joint manipulative therapy
- Peripheral joint mobilisation
- Nerve mobilisation
- Pacing & graded exposure
- Postural & lifestyle advice
- Myofascial therapy (soft tissue work)
- Orthotic & splint prescription
- Cognitive behavioural therapy
- Pain education
- Rehabilitative exercise management:
- Strength & endurance training
- Movement pattern training
- Postural exercise
- Flexibility exercise
- Balance training
- Graded motor imagery
Who Should I See? Chiropractor Physiotherapist, Osteopath, or Podiatrist?
For the treatment of shoulder pain, or any other spinal problem we would probably suggest that you see one of our Chiropractors or Osteopaths, over a Physiotherapist or Podiatrist.
However, that said, each of these professions are essentially conservative (non-surgical) musculoskeletal care professions, and all can play a role in the diagnosis and treatment of shoulder pain.
