TL;DR – Quick Guide
Most shoulder problems stem from poor posture and spinal misalignment rather than weak muscles or overuse. Issues such as rotator cuff pain, frozen shoulder, bursitis, clicking, grinding, and weakness often originate from misalignment in the upper and mid-spine.
Common treatments like stretching, strengthening, foam rolling, and taping do not correct the root cause. Instead, resetting the first ribs and aligning the spine allows the shoulders to return to their natural position effortlessly.This method improves shoulder mobility, nerve function, and even breathing capacity, all without exercises, painful treatments, or surgery. Many clients experience immediate relief and long-term improvement in movement and strength.
Shoulder Problems – Causes
We help a lot of people who exercise; some are casual, and others are very serious about their training. In both cases, they want to be pain-free and able to get the most out of their bodies. In the next few blogs, we are going to talk about the common injuries and problems we see and how they are related to posture (which means they can all be fixed)!
Today we’re talking about shoulder problems – Pinching pain when lifting overhead, rotator cuff pain/tightness, sudden fatigue during lifting, frozen shoulder, bursitis, catching, clicking, grinding, asymmetry, pain or weakness down the arms, and many others.
The problem with all these issues stems from the rounding of the shoulders and the shape of the spine.
If the upper/mid part of your spine gets damaged and crooked (either twisted, too rounded, flat or even stuck in a reverse curve), the shoulders develop problems. This is because the neck, shoulder and upper spine work as a unit. (In fact, the whole of the skeleton works as a single-synchronised unit.)
Most people work on this issue by strengthening, stretching, massaging, foam rolling, taping, etc. This does not fix the problem. In fact, foam rolling on your spine makes it worse in the long run as it makes the spine more crooked!
Shoulder Problems – The Solution
The position of your shoulders is mostly linked to the position of your top two ribs. What we do is reset the first ribs and your shoulders immediately move back towards their neutral position. They stay there with no effort from you. We also correct any bones in the spine that are causing the crookedness. This ultimately improves your posture and massively improves shoulder motion and comfort – allowing you to relax and get a full range of motion without compensating elsewhere.
Another great benefit of this is that your nerves work better, increasing strength and feedback. It also reduces compression in the chest cavity (where your heart and lungs sit). This is because your head, arms and upper chest fall forwards onto the mid and lower chest less. Your active muscle involvement in breathing reduces; improving your cardiovascular ability. Pulling your shoulders back all the time (scapular setting) affects your breathing so our way means you no longer need to do that – your shoulders just sit properly without effort.
All this without any exercises, stretching, painful massage, taping, needles, surgery, and so on.
Remember that posture is passive so if you are having set your shoulders (i.e. actively pull them back), you are wasting energy, changing the normal movement pattern, reducing spinal mobility and not addressing the cause. When we start working with these clients, most will notice an immediate and significant difference in their shoulder position and mobility from the first correction.
As we continue through the programme, they can return very quickly to exercises they have been avoiding and make serious gains now that their body functions more like it should.
If you are suffering from shoulder problems and want a full examination and program of care to get you back to full function we are the chiropractor Birmingham alternative you have been looking for. Get in touch with us today to see how we could transform your life too.
Key Takeaways
- Shoulder pain is often a posture problem. Misalignments in the upper and mid-spine affect how the shoulders sit and move, leading to pain, pinching, and weakness.
- Conventional treatments don’t fix the root cause. Stretching, massage, foam rolling, and taping may provide temporary relief but do not correct misalignment, and some treatments (like foam rolling the spine) can make it worse.
- The position of the shoulders is controlled by the top ribs. Resetting the first two ribs and correcting spinal misalignments allows the shoulders to return to their proper position effortlessly.
- Proper alignment improves strength and breathing. When shoulders sit correctly, nerve function improves, strength increases, and breathing becomes more efficient because the chest cavity is less compressed.
- Immediate results are possible without exercises or surgery. Many clients notice instant improvements in movement and pain relief after their first correction and quickly return to pain-free exercise.
FAQs
1. What causes most shoulder pain?
Shoulder pain is usually caused by misalignments in the upper and mid-spine, which affect the shoulders’ natural movement. When posture is compromised, it leads to pinching, weakness, and discomfort.
2. Why don’t stretching and strengthening exercises fix shoulder problems?
While these methods can help temporarily, they do not address the root cause, which is often skeletal misalignment. If the shoulders and spine are not properly aligned, muscles will keep overcompensating, leading to ongoing pain.
3. How does resetting the ribs improve shoulder function?
The position of your shoulders is directly linked to your first two ribs. When these ribs are misaligned, the shoulders roll forward unnaturally. Resetting them brings the shoulders back into their natural position without forcing movement.
4. How quickly can I expect results?
Most people experience immediate improvement in their shoulder position, mobility, and pain levels after their first correction. Long-term relief continues as the body adjusts.
5. Do I need surgery to fix chronic shoulder issues?
No, surgery is rarely necessary for shoulder pain caused by misalignment. Correcting spinal posture and rib positioning allows the shoulders to function naturally again, often eliminating the need for invasive treatments.
