Shoulder pain can significantly impact your daily life, making simple tasks like reaching, lifting, or sleeping difficult. At Osteopathy London, we understand the profound effect it has on your comfort and independence. Our highly experienced osteopaths in Central & East London are dedicated to helping you understand your pain and guiding you towards lasting relief, so you can regain full use of your arm and shoulder.
Does this describe you?
- Do you struggle to put on a coat or reach for something on a high shelf because of shoulder pain?
- Does lifting your arm cause sharp or aching pain, making it difficult to do everyday tasks like brushing your hair or getting dressed?
- Do you find your shoulder feeling weak or stiff, making it hard to carry groceries, push open doors, or hold objects for long periods?
- Is shoulder pain preventing you from sleeping comfortably, especially when lying on your side?
- Has shoulder pain made it difficult to enjoy activities like swimming, playing sports, or even simple exercises?
Understanding your shoulder pain: Causes & Contributing Factors
Common Causes of Shoulder Pain
- Poor Posture: Sitting or standing with rounded shoulders can strain your shoulder and neck muscles. Over time, it may lead to stiffness, weakness, and pain.
- Repetitive Movements: Doing the same motion repeatedly, as in computer mouse use, painting or lifting, can irritate shoulder muscles and tendons. This may result in conditions like tendonitis or rotator cuff injuries.
- Lifting Incorrectly: Lifting heavy objects with poor technique can strain muscles and joints. For example, reaching too far or using your shoulder instead of your legs can cause injury.
- Sleeping Position: Sleeping on your side, especially on the painful shoulder, creates pressure on the joint. An awkward arm position can lead to stiffness and discomfort.
- Lack of Movement or Weakness: If you don't use your shoulder enough due to pain or inactivity, the muscles can weaken. This makes the joint more prone to pain and stiffness.
- Overuse in Sports or Work: Athletes, like tennis players and swimmers, and those who reach overhead, such as carpenters, face a higher risk of shoulder pain. Repeated stress of this nature without proper recovery can cause inflammation and injury.
- Sudden Injuries: Falling on the shoulder, a direct blow, or an awkward twist can damage ligaments, tendons, or the shoulder joint. This may lead to dislocations, sprains, or fractures.
Contributing Factors & Risk Factors
Rotator Cuff Injuries: The rotator cuff is a group of muscles that help move and stabilise your shoulder. These muscles or their tendons, can become inflamed , torn, or irritated from repetitive use, poor posture, or sudden injury. This often causes pain when lifting your arm, reaching overhead, or lying on the affected side.
Shoulder Impingement: Narrowing of the space between muscle and muscle tendons and bone within the shoulder can cause painful pinching with movement. This pain can be sharp and debilitating, redcuing mobility and strength.
Arthritis in the Shoulder: Over time, the cartilage in the shoulder joint can wear down, leading to osteoarthritis. This may cause stiffness and pain. It is more common in older adults or people with a history of shoulder injuries, or overuse.
Shoulder Dislocations or Instability: If the shoulder has dislocated before, it can become less stable, leading to pain and weakness. Some people have naturally loose joints (hypermobility), making them more prone to shoulder instability.
Referred Pain from the Neck (Cervical Spine Issues): Sometimes, shoulder pain isn’t actually from the shoulder - it can come from the neck. Disc issue, pinched nerves, or arthritis in the neck can send pain down into the shoulder and arm. This is more likely the case when neck movements aggravate the shoulder, pain travels from the neck to the arm, or you experience numbness, tingling, or weakness in the arm.
Bursitis (Inflamed Bursa Sac): Bursa are small fluid-filled sacs within joints that help reduce friction during movement. Repetitive movements or pressure on the shoulder can cause inflammation (bursitis), leading to sharp pain. Pain is usually worse when lifting the arm, lying on the shoulder, or pressing on the area.
How Osteopathy Helps Alleviate Shoulder Pain
Our osteopathic approach at Osteopathy London focuses on gentle yet effective methods for shoulder pain relief.
We may use techniques such as soft tissue massage to release muscle tension around the shoulder and neck, alongside joint mobilisation or manipulations to restore proper movement.
All our osteopaths are trained to use Medical / Western Acupuncture as part of a personalised package of care for shoulder pain and other issues.
Your Path to Lasting Relief: Osteopathy London's 3-Part Shoulder Pain Programme
1. Your New Patient Appointment. What can I expect during an osteopathy consultation for shoulder pain?
Case History:
Every New Patient Appointment for shoulder pain begins with a thorough case history, from which we get to understand in detail the pain and other difficulties you face as a result of your shoulder issue, as well as your medical history, so that we can assess if your general health impacts upon your condition.
Physical Examination:
A comprehensive physical examination includes: an assessment of your posture and mobility, and tests that clarify the cause of your shoulder pain.
Your diagnosis & treatment plan:
Your diagnosis is clearly explained to you. This includes an understanding of the cause of your pain and a personalised treatment plan designed to bring you rapid and long-term relief.
2. Hands-on treatment for shoulder pain.
At your New Patient Appointment and further visits, you'll receive hands-on treatment designed to bring rapid pain relief, tailored for you & your condition.
Osteopathy uses a combination of skills, including soft tissue massage, joint mobilisation and stretching. Where appropriate osteopaths may use techniques that create a "pop" from a quick opening of the joint. This can relax the muscles around the joint and improve mobility.
As well as osteopathy, all of our osteopaths are trained in the use of medical acupuncture in the treatment of shoulder pain and other issues. This can form part of treatment if you wish.
Gentle cranial osteopathy, can be used used by John & Gervais to complement your treatment.
3. Breaking the shoulder pain cycle.
Advice and exercises both at your new patient appointment and follow-up visits help reduce your pain, and prevent its return.
To break the cycle you can expect:
- Postural and ergonomic advice.
- Depending on your need both stretching & strengthening exercises, as a way to enhance the effects of treatment, and ensure your remain strong and mobile.
- An appreciation of the impact of stress, sleep and other lifestyle factors on your shoulder pain or other issues, and practical advice on how to make improvements.
By combining these steps, we’ll work to build long-term resilience and reduce the likelihood of future shoulder pain episodes.
Success Stories: Shoulder Pain Relief
"I saw Cerys twice for pain in my and shoulder. She took the time to figure out what was wrong, offered different treatments and gave me stretches to do at home, and has truly worked wonders."
"I have been treated by john for more than 5 years now for neck and shoulder pain . John has been patient and brilliant - a safe and reassuring pair of hands."
- "I came here after 2 years of constant pain in my shoulders and neck from stress and posture working from home. Gervais listened to my symptoms and gave me really effective treatment and exercises to do from the very first session. I have zero pain now and have all the tools needed if any problems arise in future."
"I have received treatments from Gervais over the last three weeks for a long standing shoulder problem. I have been so impressed by his warm, kind, professional and expert approach and the suffering that I have sat with for nearly 6 months already seems so distant. I cannot recommend him highly enough."
- "Cerys, was fantastic at helping with rehabbing my rotator cuff. Would 100% recommend."
- "I have been treated by john for more than 5 years now for neck and shoulder pain . John has been patient and brilliant - a safe and reassuring pair of hands."
How Many Osteopathy Treatments Will I Need for Shoulder Pain Relief?
The shoulder pain treatment duration can vary significantly from person to person, as it depends on the specific cause, severity, and how long you've been experiencing the pain.
While some individuals may experience significant relief after just a few osteopathy sessions for shoulder pain, more complex or chronic conditions might require a longer course of treatment.
Our customised osteopathic treatment plans are designed to not only provide immediate shoulder pain relief but also to foster long-term shoulder comfort and prevent recurrence.
We will continuously assess your progress and adjust your treatment plan accordingly to ensure the most effective and efficient path to your shoulder pain recovery.
Ready for Relief? Book Your Appointment
Click below to book your first step towards relief from shoulder pain online or by phone.
If you are unsure that osteopathy is right for you, you can arrange a free 15min chat with John.
Osteopathy London's Osteopaths with expertise in shoulder pain treatment
John (Clinic Director)
John provides Osteopathy, Cranial & Baby Osteopathy, and Medical Acupuncture
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Gervais (Osteopath)
Gervais provides Osteopathy, Cranial Osteopathy, and Medical Acupuncture.
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Osteopathy London, 31 Roman Road, Bethnal Green, East London E2 0HU
© John Mallinder