Why Shoulder Pain Keeps Coming Back

You rest it.
You ice it.
You stretch it.
You even did rehab — maybe twice.

But your shoulder still hurts.
Overhead lifts feel sketchy. Bench press leaves a lingering ache. Sleeping on your side is uncomfortable.
And no matter how many rotator cuff exercises you do, it keeps coming back.

So what’s really going on?

Most Shoulder Rehab Misses the Bigger Pattern

Here’s what I see over and over:
The shoulder is rarely the real problem.
It’s just the site of symptoms — not the source of dysfunction.

Most rehab strategies focus locally:

• Stretch the pec

• Strengthen the rotator cuff

• Ice the joint

• Do banded external rotations

These aren’t wrong — they’re just incomplete.

If you don’t fix the deeper pattern behind the pain, it always returns.

3 Common Causes of Recurring Shoulder Pain (That Most Miss)

1. Poor Scapular Control

Your shoulder blade is the foundation of your arm.
If it’s unstable, every lift becomes a guessing game.

What I often see:

• Scapulae winging or tipping forward

• Overuse of the upper traps

• Underuse of serratus, obliques, and deep core

That’s not a shoulder problem — it’s a neuromuscular coordination issue.

2. Postural Distortion: Rib Flare + Pelvic Tilt

You’ve probably seen it in the mirror:

• Ribs flared forward

• Hips tilted down

• Spine hyperextended

This “open scissors” posture throws off shoulder position, core engagement, and overhead mechanics. It’s not a cosmetic issue — it’s a structural adaptation to poor stability.

3. Chronic Tension from a Low Energy Strategy

If your traps are always tight, it’s not just “bad posture.”
It’s a sign your body is working too hard to hold itself together.
Instead of dynamic control, your system defaults to rigid tension.

That’s a metabolic issue — not a mobility one.

How I Treat Shoulder Pain Differently

At Westminster Sports Chiropractic, I don’t chase symptoms.
I assess:

• Breath

• Posture

• Movement patterns

• Joint integrity

• Nervous system tone

Then I treat:

• Dry needling to reset overactive muscles

• Manual therapy to free restricted tissue

• DNS-based rehab to restore stability at the core level

• Movement re-education that actually holds up under stress

You don’t need a script or referral.
You just need a smarter framework.

Ready to Stop Spinning in Circles?

If you’re tired of managing shoulder pain that always comes back, it’s time to fix the real issue — not just calm the symptoms.

I work with athletes, active adults, and lifters across Westminster who want answers that make sense — and results that last.