Shoulder pain describes any discomfort felt in one or both shoulders, is one of the most common musculoskeletal complaints worldwide. The shoulder is made up of interleaved and overlapping muscles, multiple joints, and nerves travelling through the region of the joint, and so consequently the assessment of shoulder pain can be complex. Approximately one third of men and one quarter of women will experience shoulder pain at some point in their lives (Lucas et. al., 2022). People working in manual or overhead occupations face an even higher risk, with some studies estimating prevalence rates above 40% in these groups (Bartheleme et. al., 2021).
Shoulder pain may be felt not only in the shoulder itself but also in the mid‑back, the upper neck, or down the arm. Because nerves travel from the neck through the shoulder and into the hand, irritation in one area can present as or give rise to symptoms elsewhere. In this way, the development of symptoms in different regions of the upper limb may reflect a broader pattern of strain due to movement and loading. Additionally, many muscles in the shoulder also attach to the neck, and irritation of shoulder and postural muscles may give rise to headache and jaw pain symptoms.
There are many different potential causes of shoulder pain. Irritation, inflammation, or gradual wear of shoulder structures are common contributors, and rotator cuff irritation alone accounts for nearly 70% of shoulder‑related presentations in primary care (Naunton et, al., 2020). The specific cause of Shoulder Pain depends on assessing the interplay between structures, movements, painful positions, and activities that cause pain. Shoulder Pain can arise due to muscular, bony, joint, ligamentous, or neurological causes.
Management of Shoulder Pain depends on the nature of the pain, how it behaves throughout the day, what aggravates or eases it, and how long symptoms have been present. These details are explored thoroughly during your initial assessment, forming the foundation for a targeted and effective treatment plan. Your care is personalised to reduce pain, restore comfortable movement, and build strategies that reduce the likelihood of future flare‑ups. As many as 80% of people with shoulder pain improve significantly with structured physiotherapy and exercise‑based management (Green et. al., 2003), reinforcing the value of early, guided intervention.
At Atlas Physio, we support you with clear education, structured management, and consistent monitoring of your progress both in the clinic and at home. We make care easy to access by opening seven days a week, offering evening appointments, providing bulk billing for eligible clients, and ensuring no‑gap fees for WorkCover or TAC clients. Get in touch today to take the first step toward feeling more comfortable, moving with confidence, and receiving care that is practical, dependable, and designed to deliver lasting results.
REFERENCES
Barthelme, J., Sauter, M., Mueller, C., & Liebers, F. (2021). Association between working in awkward postures, in particular overhead work, and pain in the shoulder region in the context of the 2018 BIBB/BAuA Employment Survey. BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 22(1), 624.
Green, S., Buchbinder, R., & Hetrick, S. (2003). Physiotherapy interventions for shoulder pain. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2003(2), CD004258.
Lucas, J., van Doorn, P., Hegedus, E., Lewis, J., & van der Windt, D. (2022). A systematic review of the global prevalence and incidence of shoulder pain. BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 23(1), 1073.
Naunton, J., Harrison, C., Britt, H., Haines, T., & Malliaras, P. (2020). General practice management of rotator cuff related shoulder pain: A reliance on ultrasound and injection guided care. PloS one, 15(1), e0227688.