At Elite Spine & Health Center in Houston (Westchase) and Spring (Champion Forest), we help patients restore shoulder motion by identifying which structures are irritated and which mechanics are contributing.
Schedule your shoulder pain evaluation.
What is shoulder pain?
Shoulder pain refers to discomfort in or around the shoulder joint—either the large glenohumeral joint or the smaller acromioclavicular (AC) joint—or from soft tissues around them. It may come from overload, wear, impingement, injury or nerve referral.
Experts estimate that shoulder impingement alone causes around half of all shoulder-pain cases.
The overall prevalence of shoulder pain in general populations is up to 30 % in some groups.
Suffering from Shoulder Pain?
Shoulder pain can make it especially difficult to reach upward or outward, significantly limiting your arm mobility. At Elite Spine and Health Center in Houston and Spring, Texas, experienced chiropractor Billy Cheong and his team provide shoulder pain treatments using advanced therapies that target the source of your pain. To schedule a shoulder pain consultation, call the office or book online today.
Why Your Shoulder Hurts?
Shoulder pain often shows up in predictable patterns. Some people feel a sharp pinch lifting the arm. Others struggle to reach behind the back or feel pain when lying on their shoulder. These patterns help identify what’s irritated.
Common symptoms include:
- Pain lifting the arm overhead
- Pain reaching behind your back
- Pain when sleeping on the affected shoulder
- Weakness or fatigue holding objects
- Clicking, catching, or grinding sensations
- Pain during pressing, pulling, or overhead movements
- Stiffness after inactivity
- Pain spreading into the neck, upper back, or arm
If these sound familiar, your shoulder needs a targeted evaluation to pinpoint the source.
Book your evaluation to get answers.
What Causes Shoulder Pain?
Common drivers include:
- Tendon overload and impingement, especially of the rotator cuff tendons, from repetitive overhead motion or structural narrowing in the sub-acromial space
- Tendinopathy of the rotator cuff which affects many people, especially with age and repetitive use
- Joint wear or arthritis in the AC or glenohumeral joint and adhesive capsulitis such as frozen shoulder, especially in mid-life and older adults
- Muscle imbalance, poor posture such as forward head or rounded shoulders and weak scapular stabilizers
- Previous trauma including falls, lifting accidents or sports injuries
- Occupation and lifestyle factors such as overhead work, older age, obesity and metabolic issues that increase risk
Shoulder pain treatment often combines soft tissue therapy, mobility-focused rehabilitation, and chiropractic care to improve movement and reduce muscular strain. Patients may benefit from Sports Rehabilitation, dry needling, and Graston Technique, and Shockwave Therapy depending on the severity of symptoms and movement restrictions.
How we evaluate shoulder pain at Elite Spine & Health Center
Your first visit includes:
- Full history of your pain, work or sports habits, past injuries and daily posture
- Physical exam including shoulder joint motion, strength testing of the rotator cuff and deltoid, scapular movement, posture and neck or upper back interaction
- Special tests to identify impingement, tendon tears, joint issues or nerve referral
- When needed, imaging review such as X-ray or MRI or referral to rule out major tears, arthritis or instability
- Our goal is to identify which structures are causing your pain and build a plan aligned with your lifestyle and goals
Non-surgical treatment options in Houston & Spring
Your personalized plan may include:
- Chiropractic adjustments to improve joint and spinal alignment influencing shoulder mechanics
- Myofascial release, Graston technique or soft-tissue work for tight shoulder, scapular or neck muscles
- Dry needling or trigger-point therapy when deep muscle tension refers into the shoulder
- Class IV Laser therapy to reduce pain and accelerate tissue healing in tendons, joints or bursae
- Radial Pulse Wave (Shockwave) therapy for chronic tendinopathy or soft tissue degeneration around the shoulder
- Rehabilitation exercises focused on rotator cuff strength, scapular control, posture correction and movement pattern retraining
- Ergonomic and posture coaching including workstation setup, driving posture, overhead repetitions and movement breaks
- Ongoing progress tracking and plan adjustments as you improve
When shoulder pain needs urgent attention
Most shoulder pain improves with targeted care, but you should seek prompt medical evaluation if you notice:
- Sudden severe pain after major trauma or fall, especially with deformity or inability to move the arm
- New weakness in lifting or carrying that was not present before
- Severe night pain, swelling, redness or fever near the joint which could indicate infection
- Symptoms of nerve involvement such as numbness, tingling or loss of function in the arm or hand
If you notice any of these signs, get seen quickly then we’ll help you move into the right non-surgical path.
What you can do at home
Your habits outside the clinic influence your recovery. Try:
• Take frequent breaks if you sit at a desk or work overhead—reset your posture, move your arms and shoulders
• Keep your monitor or tools at comfortable height—avoid prolonged reaching or overhead work when possible
• Perform your home exercises consistently—especially shoulder, scapula, upper back mobility and strength
• Use ice after heavy activity or heat for chronic stiffness based on provider recommendation
• Avoid sleeping on the painful side if it promotes discomfort or restricts shoulder motion
Shoulder pain is pain or discomfort in either or both of the joints attaching your arms to your torso. Your shoulders are ball-and-socket joints with wide ranges of motion, but they can sustain injuries either suddenly or from overuse. Your shoulders are also not immune to common joint conditions like arthritis.
Over time, the shoulder can become less stable and more prone to pain. You have an especially high risk for shoulder pain if you perform reaching motions repeatedly throughout the day because of a specific hobby, occupation, or sport. You might feel pain just when moving your shoulder, or all the time including while at rest.
When you visit Elite Spine and Health Center with shoulder pain, you should be as specific as possible while describing your symptoms. With pain in the joint, you might also experience symptoms like stiffness, weakness, and swelling.
By far, the most common causes of shoulder pain are injuries or damage to the rotator cuff. The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that holds your upper arm bone in the shoulder’s socket.
It also helps you move the joint in many different directions; ball-and-socket joints like the shoulder have a wide range of motion.
Other possible injuries and health complications leading to shoulder pain are:
- Arthritis
- Bursitis
- Fractures
- Shoulder dislocation
- Nerve problems
The team at Elite Spine and Health Center physically examines you after asking about your current shoulder pain and medical history. They also use imaging tests and other services to detect the exact source of your shoulder pain and plan treatment for your symptoms.
The Elite Spine and Health Center team creates a treatment plan for you using advanced treatment protocols appropriate for your diagnosis. Most treatment plans for shoulder pain and other joint aches involve multiple approaches, including modification of your normal activities.
Your treatment plan for shoulder pain at Elite Spine and Health Center might include:
- Chiropractic adjustments
- Physical therapy
- Dry needling
- Therapeutic ultrasound
- E-stim
- Myofascial release
As you go through your shoulder pain treatment plan, you visit the Elite Spine and Health Center office regularly for treatment updates. At any time, the team can alter your treatment plan to be more beneficial in meeting your needs and goals.
To schedule your initial evaluation for shoulder pain, call Elite Spine and Health Center or book a visit online today.
We Believe in a Personalized Chiropractic Solution.
Houston – Westchase: 2901 Wilcrest Dr, Suite 140, Houston, TX 77042 • Call: (832) 925‑6004
Spring – Champion Forest: 18425 Champion Forest Dr, Suite 200, Spring, TX 77379 • Call: (346) 808‑8338
Prefer online? Use the Contact/Book page to request an appointment.