By some estimates, shoulder complaints affect nearly half of the adult population in a year, driving many to chiropractic offices looking for a conservative, non-surgical solution. While back pain and neck pain are the primary reasons patients seek chiropractic care, at least one study found that 12% of chiropractic visits in a week may involve shoulder issues. How would a chiropractor manage a shoulder complaint?

The shoulder complex itself is made up of four separate articulations—the glenohumeral joint, the acromioclavicular joint, the sternoclavicular joint, and the scapulothoracic joint—that work together to support the wide range of motion available to the arm. These joints, along with the tendons, ligaments, muscles, and other soft tissues involved in upper extremity movement, are all at risk of injury. When assessing treatment, the first step would be to conduct a thorough examination to properly diagnose which components of the shoulder are contributing to the patient’s chief complaints.

Because examination findings will vary, the specific treatment approach for a given patient will be unique. However, in a general sense, multiple therapies are typically combined with the goal of restoring normal movement to the affected joint(s). This may include manual therapies (manipulation, mobilization, and soft tissue techniques), stabilization exercises, stretches, physiotherapy modalities, and anti-inflammatory measures such as ice. Activities at the extreme ranges of motion may be limited in the short term, with a gradual return to normal activities within pain tolerances.

The shoulder does not exist in isolation, and several studies suggest that dysfunction in the thoracic spine can affect movement of the scapula, which in turn can limit motion in other aspects of the shoulder. In particular, a February 2024 study found that including mid-back chiropractic adjustments in a treatment plan for adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) improved outcomes with respect to shoulder pain, disability, and function, and a January 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis that included ten clinical trials found that thoracic spinal manipulative therapy also improved outcomes for patients with subacromial impingement syndrome.

Chiropractic care has been demonstrated to benefit patients with various shoulder complaints, and the treatments used are well supported in clinical guidelines as first-line approaches. However, it should be noted that these conditions can have a difficult recovery process, even if the patient undergoes surgery, and it can take months or even a year to restore normal function to the affected joints.