Shoulder pain is an extremely common complaint with many causes. The pain can come from many different causes, ranging from a mild annoyance to inability to move. If your pain lasts for more than a few days, schedule an appointment with a shoulder chiropractor for an examination and evaluation. Like any other painful condition, the sooner you seek treatment and receive the appropriate care, the quicker you will be able to get back to normal activities. And, the less likely it will develop into a recurring and chronic problem.

Doctors of Chiropractic, often referred to as chiropractors, practice a drug-free, hands-on approach to health care that includes patient examination, diagnosis and treatment. Chiropractors have broad diagnostic skills and are trained to recommend therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises, as well as to provide nutritional, dietary and lifestyle counseling.

The most common therapeutic procedure performed by chiropractors is known as "spinal manipulation" or "chiropractic adjustment." The purpose is to restore joint mobility by manually applying a controlled force into joints that have become restricted in their movement as a result of a tissue injury. Tissue injury can be caused by a single traumatic event, such as improper lifting of a heavy object, or repetitive stresses, such as sitting in an awkward position with poor spinal posture for an extended period of time. The injured tissues undergo physical and chemical changes that can cause inflammation, pain, and diminished function for the sufferer. Manipulation, or adjustment of the affected joint and tissues, restores mobility, thereby alleviating pain and muscle tightness, and allowing tissues to heal.

In many cases, such as lower back pain, chiropractic care may be the primary method of treatment. When other medical conditions exist, chiropractic care may complement or support medical treatment by relieving the musculoskeletal aspects associated with the condition.

Chiropractors assess patients through clinical examination, laboratory testing, diagnostic imaging and other diagnostic interventions to determine whether chiropractic treatment is appropriate or not. If chiropractic care is not suitable for the patient's condition, chiropractors will readily refer patients to the appropriate health care provider.


The shoulder is one of the most mobile joints in the human body. We are able to reach over our head, behind our back, and across the front of our body. This extreme motion can lead to injuries rather easily. The shoulder joint is very shallow and is held together mostly by ligaments. The muscles surrounding the shoulder are what actually give it most of its stability and strength. A small group of muscles that hold the humerus, the bone in the upper arm, against the shoulder joint is called the rotator cuff. The shoulder is stabilized even further with several muscles in the upper chest and upper back, ensuring smooth and even motion of the shoulder.

Rotator Cuff: Injury and Pain

A condition that is fairly common is rotator cuff syndrome. This condition is caused by inflammation, swelling, or even tears in the muscles and tendons in the rotator cuff. The tendon most injured in rotator cuff syndrome is the supraspinatus tendon, located on the top of the shoulder and between two bones. Whenever you raise your arm to the side and up to your ear, the supraspinatus tendon can be pinched between the two bones. Any muscular imbalances between the upper chest and the upper back can place the supraspinatus tendon in a position where it is even more likely to be pinched.

Rotator cuff syndrome causes shoulder pain in the front and side of the shoulder. Lifting the arm to the side, especially if you are holding anything, is very painful, and often seems worse at night. Any activity that involves a lot of overhead arm motion, such as swimming, throwing, or even sleeping with your arm up, can cause rotator cuff syndrome.

If shoulder pain is holding you back from carrying out your daily activities, schedule an appointment with our shoulder chiropractor at McKim Chiropractic. Call today or go to http://www.mckimchiropractic.com/ for more information. Our licensed and certified staff is committed to helping the residents of Boise, ID, Nampa, ID, and Caldwell, ID find relief from pain!