Shoulder Pain Chiropractic Care in Victoria Park, Perth
Shoulder pain refers to discomfort affecting the shoulder joint and surrounding muscles, tendons, ligaments, and connective tissues.
Symptoms can range from mild stiffness and irritation to more significant pain that impacts work, exercise, sleep, and daily activities.
Shoulder pain may be associated with muscle strain, tendon irritation, joint dysfunction, reduced mobility, or changes in movement patterns. Symptoms often develop when the shoulder is exposed to repeated stress without adequate recovery or movement variation.
Is shoulder pain affecting your work, sleep or training?
Book an assessment with Dr Alex or Dr Joel – no GP referral needed, and private health rebates are available on most extras policies. Prefer to talk? Call 0493 290 505.
What are the common types of shoulder pain?
Shoulder pain can present in different ways depending on the structures involved and the underlying contributing factors.
Rotator Cuff-Related Shoulder Pain
Pain or discomfort around the shoulder that may be aggravated by lifting, reaching, or overhead activities.
Shoulder Impingement
Pain that occurs when structures within the shoulder become irritated during movement, particularly when raising the arm.
Frozen Shoulder
A condition characterised by significant stiffness and reduced range of motion that can gradually affect daily activities.
Shoulder and Neck Tension
Pain and tightness that extends between the neck, upper trapezius muscles, and shoulder region.
Repetitive Strain Shoulder Pain
Symptoms that develop gradually due to repeated movements, occupational demands, or sporting activities.
Shoulder and elbow complaints sometimes occur together; see our elbow pain page.
Common causes of shoulder pain
Shoulder pain may be caused by a range of issues, including:
Muscle strain or overuse
Poor posture and ergonomic stress
Rotator cuff irritation or injury
Joint dysfunction or restriction
Referred pain from the neck or spine
Previous injuries or trauma
Understanding what's contributing to your shoulder pain helps us choose the right care for you.
Signs it's time to get your shoulder checked
You don't need to wait until shoulder pain becomes severe before seeking an assessment.
You may consider having your shoulder assessed if:
Pain keeps returning
Lifting or reaching has become uncomfortable
Sleep is being disrupted by shoulder discomfort
You have ongoing stiffness or reduced movement
Training or sport is being affected
Symptoms are spreading into the neck or upper arm
Pain is gradually worsening over time
Early assessment is often less about chasing symptoms and more about understanding why they continue to occur.
How we can help with shoulder pain
Your first visit is a thorough assessment – a detailed health history, a physical and orthopaedic examination, and muscle activity scans (sEMG). Before any treatment starts, we explain what we've found and what's likely contributing to your shoulder pain.
Depending on your assessment, your care may include chiropractic adjustments to the shoulder, neck and upper back, soft tissue therapy and dry needling. We'll also give you practical advice on movement and daily habits, so you know what you can do between visits.
No GP referral needed · Private health rebates available
Shoulder Pain Chiropractors
Dr Alex Freeman
Firm, hands-on adjustments, dry needling and soft tissue work. Experienced with stubborn shoulder and neck pain.
Dr Joel Maylor
Exercise science and sports rehab background. Practical, movement-focused care for active people.
Your Shoulder Pain Questions, Answered
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Frozen shoulder, also called adhesive capsulitis, involves thickening and tightening of the shoulder joint capsule. It typically causes marked stiffness in every direction, even when someone else moves the arm for you, and often passes through painful, stiff, and recovery phases over many months. Other causes, such as rotator cuff irritation, usually restrict some movements more than others.
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Lying on the affected shoulder compresses irritated tissues, and lying on the other side can let the arm drop forward and stretch them. Supporting the affected arm on a pillow in front of your body often eases night pain. Your chiropractor can advise on sleeping positions suited to the cause of your shoulder pain.
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Pain around the shoulder blade, across the top of the shoulder, or in the upper arm can be referred from the joints and nerves of the neck. Neck-related shoulder pain is often accompanied by neck stiffness or by tingling that travels below the elbow. Assessing both regions helps your chiropractor determine whether care should focus on the shoulder, the neck, or both.
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Raising the arm out to the side or overhead, reaching behind your back, and carrying loads with the arm away from the body commonly aggravate rotator cuff-related pain. Avoiding these movements completely is rarely necessary. Instead, your chiropractor can help you adjust how often and how heavily you perform them while strengthening the muscles that control the shoulder blade and upper arm.
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At Freeman Chiropractic, shoulder care begins by assessing how the shoulder, shoulder blade, upper back, and neck move together. Care may include hands-on techniques for the shoulder and upper spine, soft tissue therapy for the surrounding muscles, and exercises for shoulder blade control and strength. Dr Alex Freeman brings more than 20 years of hands-on experience to these presentations.