Joint & Soft Tissue Care
Shoulder Pain Treatment
In Kent, WA.
Shoulder pain can result from seatbelt strain in an accident, repetitive use, or joint dysfunction. Treatment focuses on restoring range of motion and addressing the underlying cause.
Overview
Understanding Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain can result from seatbelt strain in an accident, repetitive use, or joint dysfunction. Treatment focuses on restoring range of motion and addressing the underlying cause. Our evaluation determines the specific cause before recommending adjustments, soft tissue therapy, or rehabilitative exercise.
Common Signs
Signs Of Shoulder Pain To Watch For
Pain Raising The Arm
Seatbelt-Line Bruising Or Strain
Reduced Range Of Motion
Pain Radiating Into The Neck
Common Causes
What Causes Shoulder Pain?
Seatbelt Strain In An Accident
The seatbelt's diagonal strap can strain the shoulder and chest during a collision, even at low speeds.
Repetitive Use & Overhead Motion
Repeated overhead reaching or lifting can gradually irritate the shoulder joint and surrounding tissue.
Referred Pain From The Neck
Cervical spine issues can refer pain into the shoulder even when the shoulder joint itself is the not primary source.
Our Approach
How We Treat Shoulder Pain
Shoulder & Cervical Spine Exam
We evaluate both the shoulder joint and the neck, since pain often involves more than one area.
Identifying Joint vs. Referred Pain
We determine whether your pain originates in the shoulder itself or is being referred from elsewhere.
Restoring Range Of Motion
Your plan focuses on the specific movements that are limited and the cause behind that limitation.
Shoulder Pain That Limits Reaching Or Sleeping Shouldn’t Be Ignored
Shoulder pain that makes it hard to raise your arm, reach overhead, or sleep on that side often has a specific, identifiable cause. Waiting it out can allow the surrounding muscles to compensate in ways that make the underlying issue harder to resolve.
Shoulder Pain Treatment FAQ
Yes — seatbelt strain across the shoulder and chest is a common injury pattern in collisions, even in relatively low-speed impacts.
We evaluate the shoulder joint and surrounding soft tissue as part of a full exam and refer out when a case falls outside chiropractic scope of care.
Yes — pain can refer from the cervical spine into the shoulder, which is why our exam evaluates both areas together.
We evaluate shoulder range of motion and refer out when a case, such as frozen shoulder, falls outside chiropractic scope of care.
As soon as possible — seatbelt strain can present similarly to whiplash, with symptoms sometimes appearing a day or two after the accident.
Related Conditions
Also Commonly Treated Together
Dealing with shoulder pain?
Call 253-631-7933 or request an appointment — we'll start with an exam to understand what's causing your symptoms.