At the Parkinson Chiropractic & Musculoskeletal Centre we do not limit ourselves to only care of the spine. Shoulder problems can also often be aided with Chiropractic care as well as massage. ​Sometimes shoulder pain is caused by irritation and inflammation of the shoulder joint structures themselves and at other times the shoulder pain being felt is more because of a referred pain from another area such as the neck joints. ​The shoulder joint is the most mobile joint in the body. It needs to be so that we can place our hand in all the many and varied positions we do through any given day. This fantastic mobility though comes with a catch. The shoulder joint is not stabilised by a deep socket as it the case in the hip, rather it is stabilised by a grouping of muscles that together are called the rotator cuff. A breakdown of the normal functioning of the rotator cuff is a major cause of many shoulder pain issues. Causes of Shoulder Pain Shoulder pain can range from a mild annoyance to a complete inability to move the shoulder. This is because shoulder pain can actually come from many different causes. Mild shoulder pain following over-use is often caused by swelling and inflammation of the muscles, tendons or joint itself. ​Minor shoulder inflammation secondary to some low level activities such as sport or shoveling may often go away on its own in a few days and need no treatment. Pain that lasts past a few days however is something that should be evaluated. Rotator Cuff Injury Rotator cuff syndrome is caused by inflammation, swelling, or even tears in the muscles and tendons of the rotator cuff. The most common tendon injured in rotator cuff syndrome is the supraspinatus tendon. The supraspinatus tendon is on the top of the shoulder and is located between two bones. Whenever you raise your arm to the side and up to your ear, the supraspinatus tendon can (if things aren’t working properly) be pinched between the two bones. ​Muscular imbalances 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, and the pain is often worse at night. Lifting the arm to the side, especially if you are holding anything, is very painful. 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.