Your shoulder is essential for almost everything you do, like lifting, reaching, pushing, and pulling. It’s one of the most mobile joints in your body, giving you the freedom to move in multiple directions.
This mobility comes from a complex system of joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and cartilage all working together to provide strength, support, and stability. But when something goes wrong, even simple tasks can become painful. Schedule a consultation today with one of our expert sports medicine physicians at Hughes Health and take your first step toward relief!
About the Shoulder
Built for Movement
Your shoulder is the most flexible joint in your body, allowing you to reach, lift, and rotate with ease. This incredible range of motion comes from a complex system of bones, muscles, and cartilage working together.
Three Key Bones:
1) Humerus (upper arm bone) – The “ball” in the ball-and-socket joint
2) Scapula (shoulder blade) – Connects and stabilizes the shoulder
3) Clavicle (collarbone) – Supports movement and structure
Key Structures That Keep Your Shoulder Moving:
1) Acromion: Connects the scapula to the clavicle
2) Glenoid & Labrum: The socket and cartilage rim that hold the joint together
3) Rotator Cuff: A group of four muscles that surround and stabilize the shoulder
With so many moving parts, it’s no surprise that shoulder pain is common but it doesn’t have to slow you down. At Hughes Health, we find the root cause of your pain and help you move freely again.
Common Causes of Shoulder Pain
Understanding Why It Happens
If you’re experiencing shoulder pain, you’re not alone. When pain strikes your shoulder, it can be frustrating and difficult to pinpoint the cause on your own. That’s why getting expert guidance is key. Pain can stem from overuse, injuries, or even underlying conditions with each requiring the right approach to treatment.
As sports medicine & movement specialists in Westerville, OH, we see it all the time. In fact, shoulder pain will occur in around 70% of people at some point in their lives. For this reason, shoulder pain is a very common condition that is treated by our doctors at Hughes Health.
Acute vs. Chronic Shoulder Pain: What’s the Difference?
• Acute Shoulder Pain happens suddenly, often due to an injury, car accident, or fall. The sooner you address it, the faster your recovery. Around 50% of these cases will resolve within 8-12 weeks.
• Chronic Shoulder Pain lasts more than 3 months and can be harder to treat because your body starts adapting to the discomfort. Around 40% of shoulder pain turns into a chronic problem making it incredibly frustrating to experience. That’s why early intervention is key!
1) Inflammation & Irritation – Conditions like tendinitis (inflamed tendons) and bursitis (inflamed bursa sacs) can cause pain, swelling, and stiffness.
2) Arthritis & Cartilage Damage – Wear and tear on the joint’s cartilage can lead to pain, stiffness, and limited mobility. Tears from sports, collisions, or falls can also cause joint instability.
3) Sprains & Strains – Ligament sprains and muscle strains happen when tissues are overstretched or injured, leading to pain and weakness.
4) Impingement – When a structure in your shoulder is pinched or compressed, it can create sharp pain and restrict movement.
The good news? There are many treatment options available, and you don’t have to navigate the pain alone. Our expert sports chiropractors can help you find the right solution so you can get back to moving, working, and living without limits.
Common Conditions of the Shoulder
Your shoulder has intricate connections of muscles and ligaments that work together to support your movement, strength, and stability. But when something goes wrong, whether from injury, inflammation, or wear and tear, it can lead to pain and mobility issues. Here’s a breakdown of some common conditions and what they mean for you.
Wear and tear on the joint’s cartilage, leading to stiffness, pain, and reduced mobility.
Bursitis
Inflammation of the bursa (fluid-filled sacs) that cushion your shoulder, causing swelling and pain.
Tendinitis
Overuse or irritation of the tendons, leading to aching pain and difficulty moving your arm.
A tear in the muscles that stabilize your shoulder, making it painful or impossible to lift your arm.
Frozen Shoulder & Adhesive Capsulitis
Thickened, tight tissue around the joint, causing severe stiffness and restricted movement.
Shoulder Impingement
A tendon or structure is pinched inside the joint, creating sharp pain with movement.
Shoulder Clicking
Popping or clicking sounds that may indicate joint instability, cartilage damage, or tight tissues.
Bicep Tendon Tear or Rupture
When the bicep tendon partially or fully tears, leading to weakness and a visible bulge in the upper arm.
SLAP Tear (Labrum Tear)
A tear in the cartilage rim around the socket, causing deep shoulder pain and instability.
Bankart Lesion
Damage to the front of the labrum, often from dislocations, making your shoulder feel unstable or prone to popping out.
AC (Acromioclavicular) Joint Injuries
Damage to the joint where the collarbone meets the shoulder blade, leading to pain at the top of the shoulder and difficulty lifting your arm.
Treatments for the Shoulder
Find Relief Once & For All For Your Shoulder Pain in Westerville, OH
Before we are able to treat your shoulder pain at Hughes Health, we must perform a detailed consultation and examination. We start with a one-on-one consultation where our doctors truly listen. We want to understand how your shoulder pain is affecting your life, whether it's keeping you from working, exercising, or simply enjoying time with family. This conversation helps us gather key details that point us toward the root cause of your pain.
In the examination, we assess your movement, muscles, ligaments, and joints using orthopedic and functional movement testing, typically used at the elite and professional athletic level. Pain is your body’s way of signaling that something isn’t working right. Our job is to find out why and help you understand why. Once we pinpoint the cause, we create a personalized treatment plan to restore function and get you back to living pain-free without unnecessary medications or surgery.
PiezoWave Focused Shockwave Therapy: Break Through Stubborn Pain
For shoulder pain, studies have shown that PiezoWave Shockwave Therapy yielded 91% improvement by useing focused and targeted sound waves to:
Break up scar tissue and adhesions
Increase blood flow for faster healing
Stimulate natural tissue repair without surgery or downtime
Deep Tissue Class IV Laser Therapy: Heal from the Inside Out
Our Class IV Deep Tissue Laser uses light therapy to reduce pain and inflammation at the cellular level. This advanced treatment:
Boosts your body’s natural healing process
Reduces pain and inflammation in just 5-10 minutes
Feels like a gentle, warming sensation with no discomfort
Soft Tissue Manual Therapy: Digging Deep
At Hughes Health, we specialize in a wide variety of techniques to address the soft tissue causes of the pain.
Dry Needling: This targets tight or dysfunctional muscles by inserting small acupuncture needles into specific muscles and their trigger points to release tension and promote muscle recovery.
Fire Cupping: Using heated cups to create a suction effect on the skin helps increase blood flow to relieve muscle tightness and reduce pain. This warming effect has been shown to be more effective than the dry suction counterpart.
Graston Technique: Using specialized tools, we gently break up adhesions in your muscles and tendons, improving mobility and encouraging proper tissue healing.
Myofascial Release: Active Release Technique (ART), also known as manual trigger point release, takes your muscles through dynamic movement to release tension and alleviate pain at its source.
Sport Rehab and Custom Exercises: Build Strength, Prevent Injury
Pain relief is just the first step. Staying pain-free while moving and grooving is the goal. Our Custom Therapeutic Exercise Programs help you:
Strengthen muscles and improve mobility
Fix imbalances that cause recurring pain
Get back to doing what you love with confidence
The Right Care, Every Time: Adaptable for You
At Hughes Health, your recovery comes first. While we specialize in non-invasive, non-surgical sports medicine and movement dysfunctions, we also know when you need more. If our exam reveals that additional care is necessary, we’ll connect you with our trusted network of physical therapists, orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, and pain specialists. No guesswork, no wasted time! The right plan for the best results is a click away.
Your health is our priority. Let’s get you on the path to recovery today!
Why Choose
Hughes Health?
We take pride in providing evidence-based non-invasive approaches to healthcare. Our goal is to identify the root cause of your discomfort and pain to then provide effective and personalized treatment plans to help you achieve long-lasting results. If you're experiencing any of the conditions listed above, don't hesitate to contact us.