Posted on Sunday 26, April, 2026
Shoulder pain
Shoulder pain is a common injury that affects people of all ages and fitness levels. Whether caused by sporting activities, such as throwing or swimming, or daily activities, like lifting boxes, shoulder pain can occur.
What can cause shoulder pain?
Shoulder pain can be caused by a variety of factors you may not realise:
- Poor posture
- Previous traumatic injury
- Overuse during sports or work
- Reduced strength or flexibility in the shoulder
Common injuries that cause shoulder pain:
- Cervical spine dysfunction: shoulders often feel sore due to pain referring from the neck
- Subacromial impingement syndrome: Inflamed or irritated tendons causing pain as they pass through the subacromial space. This may also result in weakness and reduced mobility of the shoulder.
- Tendinopathy: Pain and weakness felt when moving the shoulder caused by overuse of the rotator cuff or biceps tendons.
- Adhesive capsulitis: formation of excessive scar tissue or adhesions around the shoulder joint leading to pain, stiffness and dysfunction.
- Glenoid labral tear: An injury to the tissue rim surrounding the shoulder joint, often causing instability throughout the area.
How may osteopathy assist?
We will take your case history and assess your injury. This will include an examination of the shoulder itself, as well as the surrounding structures, such as the neck, back, elbow, and wrist, to determine the cause of your pain.
Treatment may include:
- Teaching you about your posture and shoulder mechanics that may be leading to the injury
- Identifying improper form in any sporting or daily activity, and teaching you to adjust if necessary
- Manual therapy, including movements and massage to the painful area
- Providing strength and mobility exercises for at-home rehabilitation
- Shockwave therapy, which may also aid in shoulder injury rehabilitation
Manual therapy
- Lying on your back and assessing the range of motion using external rotations
- Sitting, assessing the range of motion using flexion in both planes
- Subscapularis release
- Peri scapular massage
-Ends-
Andy Mohareb
Osteopath
Spring Osteo Clinic
Surrey Hills Vic 3127
Book online
T: 03 9830 7044
E: [email protected]
W: www.springosteo.com.au
References
Diercks, R., Bron, C., Dorrestijn, O., Meskers, C., Naber, R., Ruiter, T. D., Willems, J., Winters, J., & van der Woude, H. J. (2014). Guideline for diagnosis and treatment of subacromial pain syndrome: A multidisciplinary review by the Dutch Orthopaedic Association. Acta Orthopaedica, 85(3), 314-322. https://doi.org/10.3109/17453674.2014.920991
Hopman K, Krahe L, Lukersmith S, McColl AR, & Vine K. 2013. Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Rotator Cuff Syndrome in the Workplace. The University of New South Wales.
Oliveira, V. O. M., Vergara, J. M., Oliveira, V. F., Lara, P. H. S., Nogueira, L. C., & Arliani, G. G. (2021). EXTRACORPOREAL SHOCKWAVE THERAPY IN SHOULDER INJURIES: PROSPECTIVE STUDY. Acta ortopedica brasileira, 29(5), 268–273. https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-785220212905237628