If you’ve been stretching, strengthening, maybe even tried injections for your shoulder pain but nothing seems to stick, you’re not alone. Shoulder pain is tricky because it doesn’t always come from the shoulder itself.
Surprising fact: nearly half of all shoulder pain actually comes from the spine. Yet most treatments only focus on the shoulder. That’s why so many people struggle with nagging pain or limited mobility even after months of “treatment.”
At mPower Physical Therapy, we see this all the time. And the good news? Once we uncover the real source of the problem, lasting relief becomes possible.
Why Shoulder Pain Isn’t Always a Shoulder Problem
Your shoulder is part of a bigger system. The neck, thoracic spine (mid-back), ribs, and surrounding muscles all work together to give you mobility and strength.
When one piece of that system isn’t moving well, your shoulder takes the hit. Here are some common hidden culprits:
- The Neck: Tightness or stiffness in the cervical spine can send pain signals straight into the shoulder. Limited neck mobility is often the first clue.
- The Ribs & Upper Back: If your ribs are stuck in poor positions (from slouching at a desk, looking down at your phone, or even a fall), your shoulder blade can’t glide the way it should. That restriction leads to pain and loss of motion.
- Muscle Imbalances: Sometimes the problem isn’t weakness—it’s that your body is protecting or compensating for poor mobility elsewhere.
A Real-Life Example
We recently had a client who fell while skiing. Her MRI showed a shoulder injury (a labral tear), so naturally every provider she saw zeroed in on her shoulder. She did tons of shoulder exercises, but nothing improved.
Here’s what everyone missed: she was also having neck pain and her ribs were stuck. When we treated her spine and ribs first, her pain melted away and her shoulder movement improved almost immediately.
If no one had looked beyond the shoulder, she may have ended up with unnecessary surgery—and still had pain afterward.
Signs Your Shoulder Pain Might Be Coming From Somewhere Else
Pay attention to these red flags that your shoulder isn’t the true culprit:
- You have neck stiffness or pain along with shoulder discomfort
- Turning your head feels limited, especially on the side of your shoulder pain
- You get pain while just sitting still (not even moving the shoulder)
- You can’t pinpoint an exact injury that started the pain
These are all strong indicators that the spine or ribs may be involved.
How Physical Therapy Finds the Root Cause
At mPower, we don’t stop at the shoulder. We rule out the spine and ribs first, then test how your shoulder responds. Sometimes even simple exercises—like gentle neck retraction or thoracic mobility work—can drastically improve shoulder range of motion.
If mobility improves with those movements, we know the problem is coming from the spine, not the shoulder. From there, targeted exercises, manual therapy, and mobility work help restore function so you can get back to moving pain-free.
Takeaway: Don’t Just Treat the Symptom
If you’ve been battling stubborn shoulder pain, don’t assume the problem lives in the shoulder itself. Addressing the bigger picture—your neck, ribs, and posture—can unlock the missing piece to your recovery.
And if you’ve already “tried everything” without relief, it’s time for a fresh perspective. At mPower Physical Therapy, we specialize in finding and fixing the root cause so you can avoid surgery, injections, and endless frustration.
Ready to uncover the real source of your pain? Schedule a discovery visit today.
