Understanding Shoulder Pain: Common Causes and Effective Treatments
- mafarza
- Sep 12
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 13
Shoulder pain has a way of sneaking into every part of life. From reaching into a cabinet 🥫 to putting on your coat in the morning, or even just trying to sleep comfortably 😴—what seems small at first can quickly become exhausting. If you’re in NYC, especially the Upper West Side or Morningside Heights, and you’ve been putting up with shoulder pain for weeks or months, you don’t have to keep suffering.
At Hands On Physical Therapy & Acupuncture, we combine the best of modern physical therapy and traditional acupuncture to get to the root of your pain, restore your movement, and get you back to living without limits.
How Does Shoulder Pain Feel?
Shoulder pain doesn’t look the same for everyone—it can feel like:
🤕 Impingement syndrome: a pinch or ache when lifting your arm between 60° and 120°
🌙 Rotator cuff tears: a dull, toothache-like ache that worsens at night
❄️ Frozen shoulder: increasing stiffness that limits almost every direction of movement
⚡ Instability: the shoulder feels like it’s “coming out of joint” or the arm “goes dead”
🔥 Tendinitis: a sharp, hot, burning pain
Daily tasks like lawn mowing, carrying groceries, or even brushing your hair can suddenly feel impossible.
Why Does My Shoulder Hurt? Common Causes to Consider
Shoulder pain often develops because of how we move—or don’t move—throughout daily life.
Wear and tear: Age and activity levels naturally affect the shoulder joint.
Impingement: The tendons in your shoulder can get pinched when lifting your arm if posture or mechanics are off. 🧍
Rotator cuff issues: These muscles stabilize the shoulder. Strains = minor pulls, while tears cause night pain and weakness.
Frozen shoulder: The joint capsule thickens and tightens, restricting movement.
Instability: Poor muscle coordination or cartilage damage lets the joint move abnormally.
Posture plays a big role. A forward head position and rounded shoulders make the shoulder “tunnel” narrower, increasing the risk of impingement.
Effective Shoulder Pain Treatment Options: Physical Therapy and Acupuncture
Physical Therapy
Comprehensive assessment: We don’t just treat symptoms—we uncover root causes.
Restoring movement & strength: Focused on the rotator cuff and stabilizing muscles. 💪
Correcting biomechanics: Teaching efficient, pain-free movement patterns.
Acupuncture
Targeted pain relief: Local and distal points calm pain and restore energy balance.
Reducing stiffness: Heat-based techniques (like moxa) improve circulation and mobility.
Balancing Qi & Blood: Moves stagnation, a core cause of pain in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Relaxing muscles: Relieves tension and spasm common in shoulder pain.
👉 Ready to learn more about how PT and acupuncture work together? Keep reading—or reach out today for a consultation.
Actionable Advice: What You Can Do at Home
Here are simple steps you can try right now:
🧘 Mindful posture: Keep neck and shoulders relaxed; avoid slumping at your desk.
🔄 Gentle rotations: Move the shoulder within a pain-free range—or ask someone to assist.
🔥❄️ Heat vs. ice: Heat for stiffness, ice for sharp or inflamed pain.
🤲 Massage “Ah Shi” points: Find tender spots around the shoulder and gently press.
⏸️ Modify aggravating activities: Avoid overhead reaching or heavy carrying until pain eases.
When to Seek Professional Help 🚨
Certain symptoms mean it’s time to stop self-treating and get evaluated:
Severe, sudden, or constant night pain 🌙
Numbness, tingling, or weakness in your arm or hand ✋
Fever, unexplained weight loss, or infection signs 🌡️
Chest or jaw pain with dizziness or fatigue ❤️
Shoulder pain after major trauma or a fall 🤕
Did You Know?
👉 Imaging often shows “abnormalities” that aren’t actually the cause of pain. The best diagnosis comes from combining scans with a skilled physical exam to get effective shoulder pain treatment.
Debunking Common Myths
❌ Myth: “Shoulder pain is always just a strain.”
✅ Reality: Persistent night pain can be a rotator cuff tear—or, rarely, something serious.
❌ Myth: “Overhead pulleys are great for rehab."
✅ Reality: They can worsen impingement if scapular movement is restricted.
❌ Myth: “Pain in the shoulder always means the problem is in the shoulder.”
✅ Reality: Sometimes pain is referred from the neck, chest, or even internal organs.
Your Next Step
Shoulder pain doesn’t go away by ignoring it—and the longer you wait, the stiffer or weaker it can become. But with the right approach, recovery is possible.
👉 Don’t let shoulder pain control your life. Book your consultation with Hands On in NYC today—available at our Midtown Manhattan & Chelsea office or through convenient home visits in the Upper West Side and Morningside Heights.
About Hands On
At Hands On Physical Therapy & Acupuncture, our mission is simple: help you move without pain. We blend physical therapy expertise with acupuncture’s time-tested techniques for lasting relief. Whether you prefer visiting us in Midtown Manhattan & Chelsea or scheduling home visits in the UWS or Morningside Heights, you’ll receive personalized, one-on-one care tailored to your needs.
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