Shoulder Problems | Holly Cottage Chiropractic Clinic

SHOULDER PROBLEMS

Chiropractic Care For…

COMMON SHOUILDER PROBLEMS

Shoulder pain can affect everything from getting dressed in the morning to lifting, reaching, or even sleeping comfortably at night. Whether it’s a recent injury, long-term strain, or stiffness that’s crept in over time, shoulder problems can quickly limit your independence and quality of life. At Holly Cottage Chiropractic Clinic, we regularly help patients manage a wide range of shoulder issues — from muscular tension to joint dysfunction and nerve irritation.

Chiropractors are trained to assess the body as a whole, and the shoulder is no exception. With its complex structure of joints, muscles, tendons, and nerves — and its close relationship to the neck and upper back — shoulder pain can have many possible causes. At Holly Cottage, we take the time to carry out a detailed examination of your shoulder, posture, spinal alignment, and movement patterns to identify exactly what’s causing your symptoms.

Our team is skilled in diagnosing conditions such as rotator cuff injuries, frozen shoulder, impingement syndrome, tendonitis, referred pain from the neck, and joint restrictions. Where necessary, we can also refer you for imaging or further investigation to ensure an accurate diagnosis. Once we understand the cause, we’ll tailor a treatment plan to help restore function, reduce pain, and support long-term recovery.

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The Causes of
MECHANICAL SHOULDER PAIN

Mechanical shoulder pain typically arises from irritation, inflammation, or dysfunction within the muscles, tendons, or joints that make up the shoulder complex. It can be triggered by injury, repetitive strain, poor posture, or wear and tear over time. Understanding the specific cause is key to choosing the most effective treatment.

FROZEN SHOULDER

Frozen shoulder is a painful condition that causes stiffness and a gradual loss of movement in the shoulder joint. It often develops slowly and progresses through three stages: freezing (increasing pain and loss of motion), frozen (severe stiffness but less pain), and thawing (gradual return of movement). It may follow injury or surgery, but can also arise without an obvious cause, especially in people aged 40–60. Chiropractors can help by gently mobilising the joint, addressing surrounding muscular tension, and offering tailored exercises to improve range of motion. Early intervention is key to preventing long-term restriction.

IMPINGEMENT SYNDROME

Impingement occurs when the tendons of the rotator cuff muscles become compressed or irritated as they pass through the narrow space under the acromion (part of the shoulder blade). This often leads to sharp pain when lifting the arm overhead, reaching behind the back, or sleeping on the affected side. It’s commonly linked to posture, repetitive use, or muscle imbalance. Chiropractic care can help relieve pressure through mobilisation, soft tissue release, postural correction, and strengthening exercises to create more space in the shoulder joint and reduce inflammation.

ROTATOR CUFF SYNDROME

The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and tendons that stabilise and move the shoulder. Strain, overuse, or degeneration of these tendons can lead to inflammation (tendonitis), weakness, or even partial or full tears. Symptoms often include pain with lifting, reduced strength, and night discomfort. Chiropractors can assess the extent of the injury and offer conservative treatment including manual therapy, rehabilitative exercises, and movement retraining. In more serious cases, referral for imaging (like ultrasound or MRI) may be arranged to confirm a tear and guide further management.

SHOULDER DEGENERATION

As we age, the cartilage in the shoulder joints can wear down, leading to stiffness, aching pain, and reduced movement — particularly in the acromioclavicular (AC) joint or glenohumeral joint. Osteoarthritis in the shoulder may develop slowly and is often aggravated by repetitive activity or past injury. While degeneration cannot be reversed, chiropractic care can help improve joint mobility, reduce surrounding muscle tension, and support better function with targeted exercises and lifestyle advice. Our Clinical Dietitian may also offer nutritional support to help manage inflammation and joint health.

"Have been seeing Sarah here for years after suffering issues with my jaw. Now I get her to help with my lower back too as I am a teacher and get pain from leaning down all the time. The team are fantastic and I couldn’t recommend them more!"

Shelley Buckingham

Jaw / Lower Back Pain

"Brilliant service. Had back problem for about 6 months, went to see Tom at Holly Cottage. He explained the treatment and after a month started to feel the difference now after couple of months I am about 80% better and it’s had improved my day to day life. Highly recommended"

Jay Singh

Patient - West Midlands

"Holly Cottage are amazing I have had a few issues over the years, Ash has successfully treated my tennis elbow and foot pain and currently Naresh is treating a neck problem and it’s improved so much I am so relieved. Would definitely recommend this team, they are spot on."

Nikki Birch

Tennis Elbow / Neck & Back Pain / Foot Pain

"Highly recommend The Webster Technique for mummies to be!!!!! Pregnant with my first child at 40, I discovered at 34 weeks that baby was breech and had been breech for majority of my pregnancy. At 36 weeks the hospital consultant suggested manually turning baby but this was not something I was personally comfortable with, so at this point I was booked in for a C-section for 39 weeks as the medical team advised it was highly unlikely that baby would turn this late into the pregnancy. Trine Hansen at Holly Cottage Chiropractor Clinic has been treating me for many years for a chronic back issue and had also been treating me throughout my pregnancy. When I informed her that baby was breech she suggested trying the Webster Technique. After two treatments I went to the maternity unit for a routine growth scan at 38 weeks only to discover that baby had actually turned!!!! I highly recommend Trine Hansen to any mummies to be".

Amanda Diplock

Pregnancy Pain

"I first saw Jonathan while overweight. I was trying to lose weight and get fit, had started running, but then started suffering with bad hip pain. My GP’s advice really didn’t help, but with Jonathan’s treatment the pain cleared up. I slowly got fitter and became a triathlete. Jonathan has helped me overcome chronic insertional achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis and various calf and hamstring issues. I’m still successfully racing Ironman distance events and honestly cannot recommend Jonathan highly enough".

Steve Wallis

Sports Injuries

"Very professionally run, with friendly staff. I have been a fairly frequent visitor with (usually) sporting injuries over the years and Ashley has always managed to relieve my problems without me having to resort to surgical intervention."

Di Statham

Sports injuries

WHO CAN WE HELP?

Chiropractic care is suitable for people of all ages and stages of life. Whether you are struggling with everyday aches and pains or managing a long-term problem, we are here to help. Each patient will be given a specific and individualised treatment programme designed for them including advise on lifestyle, exercise, posture and can offer preventitive care to improve long term health.