Shoulder pain
Shoulder pain is one of the most common joint problems in adults, with community point-prevalence estimates typically in the 7–26% range. It’s also among the top three musculoskeletal reasons for consulting primary care or physiotherapy.
The shoulder is a shallow, highly mobile joint that depends on good control from the scapula (shoulder blade), neck, rib cage, diaphragm, and core. When these areas are stiff, weak, or poorly coordinated, the rotator cuff and surrounding tissues can become overloaded and painful.
At Roots Health Clinic in Prague, we use physiotherapy-led shoulder rehabilitation, supported by chiropractic care and manual therapy, to restore strength, control, and pain-free movement.
Shoulder pain & rotator cuff problems
Shoulder pain can show up in many ways:
a sharp pinch when you lift your arm
a dull ache at rest or at night
stiffness reaching behind your back or fastening a seatbelt
a weak, “dead” feeling when working or training overhead
It’s especially common in:
desk workers and laptop users
trades and jobs with repetitive or overhead tasks
throwing, racket, and overhead athletes
We don’t just ask, “What structure is sore?”
At Roots Health Clinic, we ask, “Why is this shoulder system struggling?”
What's going on in the shoulder complex?
The “shoulder” is really a team of joints:
Glenohumeral joint – the ball-and-socket between the upper arm and shoulder blade
Scapulothoracic articulation – how the shoulder blade slides over the rib cage
AC and SC joints – the links between shoulder blade, collarbone, and sternum
Because the ball-and-socket is shallow, the shoulder relies heavily on active control:
the rotator cuff (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, subscapularis) centres the ball in the socket
scapular stabilisers (traps, serratus anterior, rhomboids, etc.) position the shoulder blade
the neck, rib cage, diaphragm, core, and pelvis provide a stable base for the arm to move from
When this system loses balance, you may develop:
rotator cuff–related shoulder pain
subacromial bursitis / “impingement”
long head of biceps tendon irritation
stiff joint capsule (frozen shoulder)
neck and upper-back tension that refers pain into the shoulder
Why you might be feeling shoulder pain
Most shoulder problems don’t start with one dramatic event. They build up over time from how you sit, work, train, and recover.
Common contributors we see:
Desk work & posture
Long hours at a computer with rounded shoulders and a stiff upper back limit scapular movement and overload the cuff.
Repetitive or overhead work/sport
Trades, manual jobs, and overhead sports place high, repeated demands on the shoulder complex and are well-known risk factors for shoulder pain.
Weak scapular and core control
If the trunk and shoulder blade don’t provide a solid base, the small shoulder muscles end up doing too much.
Neck, rib cage, or thoracic stiffness
Limited motion above or below the shoulder forces extra movement into the glenohumeral joint.
Previous injuries or surgery
Past shoulder, neck, chest, or upper-back problems can change muscle balance and movement patterns.
Stress and poor sleep
A sensitised nervous system and reduced recovery make pain more persistent and easily triggered.
Your pain is usually a combination of local tissue overload and whole-system control issues, not just “one torn tendon.”
How we can help at Roots
Your shoulder plan at Roots Health Clinic is individual, but often includes:
Physiotherapy & targeted exercise
scapular stability and control
rotator cuff and shoulder strength
integrating core and rib cage into arm movements
Chiropractic care & joint mobilisation
neck and upper-back mechanics
rib cage and thoracic mobility
gentle work at the shoulder when appropriate
Manual therapy & soft-tissue work
release of overactive neck, chest, and shoulder muscles
easing protective tension to allow better movement
Posture & ergonomic coaching
workstation adjustments (screen, chair, mouse, keyboard)
advice for driving, phone use, and sleep positions
Movement & load retraining
how to lift, carry, push, pull, and train without constantly aggravating the shoulder
The aim is simple: a shoulder that feels strong, coordinated, and trustworthy again.
Shoulder pain holding you back? Get integrated care in Prague
You don’t have to choose between “just living with it” and stopping everything you enjoy.
At Roots Health Clinic in Prague, our physiotherapists and chiropractors look at your shoulder, neck, rib cage, and core as one system and build a plan that fits your work, sport, and life.
We’ll help you:
understand what’s really driving your shoulder pain
reduce pain and stiffness
rebuild strength, control, and confidence in your shoulder
Why physiotherapy leads the way
For most non-traumatic shoulder problems, research supports physiotherapy and active rehabilitation as first-line care.
Physiotherapy focuses on:
restoring scapular control and timing
strengthening the rotator cuff and shoulder girdle
improving neck, thoracic, and rib cage mobility
retraining movement patterns for work, gym, and sport
progressing load sensibly so tissues adapt instead of flaring
Hands-on treatment (joint mobilisation, soft-tissue work, dry needling, etc.) can help calm things down, but active rehab is what drives long-term change.
When you should seek emergency care
Most shoulder pain is not an emergency.
However, you should seek urgent medical care if you notice:
sudden injury with obvious deformity or complete loss of movement in the arm (possible dislocation or fracture)
shoulder pain with chest pain, shortness of breath, or jaw/left arm pain (to rule out cardiac causes)
a hot, red, swollen shoulder with fever or feeling very unwell (possible infection or inflammatory condition)
rapidly worsening weakness or significant neurological changes in the arm
Gradual-onset shoulder pain without these signs is usually safe to manage conservatively.
What people often notice after care
With consistent rehab and sensible load management, people often report:
less pain at rest and during movement
easier reaching overhead and behind the back
stronger, more stable shoulder in work and sport
fewer night-time wakings from shoulder pain
reduced neck and upper-back tension
more confidence using the arm without guarding or fear
How the neck, rib cage & core affect the shoulder
The shoulder hangs off the trunk, so what happens in the spine and torso matters:
Neck (cervical spine)
Tight or stiff joints and muscles can refer pain into the shoulder and down the arm; neck position also affects shoulder blade posture.
Rib cage & thoracic spine
If the upper back is rigid or rounded, the scapula can’t rotate and glide freely, so the ball-and-socket joint gets pinched.
Diaphragm & breathing
Shallow, chest-only breathing can keep the upper ribs elevated and tense, which alters scapular mechanics.
Pelvis & core
Poor pelvic and core control changes trunk alignment and makes the shoulder “reach” from a shaky base.
When we improve the neck–rib cage–core connection, the shoulder often becomes more comfortable and easier to strengthen.