Shoulder Pain Chiropractor in Ann Arbor, MI

Shoulder pain has a way of making even simple things difficult. Reaching overhead, sleeping on your side, throwing a ball, or just putting on a jacket can go from effortless to uncomfortable in a hurry. Whether your pain came on gradually or showed up after a specific injury, it's worth finding out what's actually going on rather than waiting and hoping it resolves on its own.

At Paradise Chiropractic, Dr. Kadri takes a thorough approach to shoulder pain that goes beyond the shoulder itself. Because the shoulder is one of the most complex and mobile joints in the body, understanding what's driving the pain requires looking at the joint, the surrounding soft tissue, the cervical spine, and how everything moves together.

What's Causing Your Shoulder Pain?

Shoulder pain can stem from a wide range of underlying conditions, and the right treatment depends on identifying which one is at play.

Some of the most common causes Dr. Kadri sees include:

Rotator cuff strains, tears, and tendinopathy from overuse, repetitive stress, or acute injury
Shoulder impingement syndrome, where tendons in the rotator cuff become compressed during overhead movement
Biceps tendinopathy causing pain at the front of the shoulder
AC joint sprains from falls or direct contact, common in athletes and active patients
Frozen shoulder, characterized by progressive stiffness and pain that limits range of motion in all directions
Bursitis causing inflammation in the fluid-filled sac that cushions the shoulder joint
Cervical spine dysfunction referring pain into the shoulder from a compressed nerve root in the neck
Postural imbalances that alter shoulder mechanics and place excessive stress on the joint over time

One of the more commonly missed causes of shoulder pain is actually the cervical spine. Nerve roots that exit the neck can refer pain directly into the shoulder, making it feel like a shoulder problem when the real issue is in the neck. Dr. Kadri's evaluation is designed to identify this distinction so you're not treating the wrong thing.

How Dr. Kadri Treats Shoulder Pain

Every shoulder pain patient at Paradise Chiropractic starts with a comprehensive evaluation that includes a detailed health history, orthopedic testing, range of motion assessment, and a review of how the shoulder, neck, and upper back are working together.

From there, Dr. Kadri builds a personalized treatment plan that may include:

Chiropractic adjustments to the shoulder, cervical spine, and thoracic spine to restore proper joint mechanics
Manual therapy and Graston Technique to break down scar tissue, release soft tissue restrictions, and improve tissue quality in the rotator cuff and surrounding muscles
Cupping therapy to decompress restricted fascia and promote circulation in chronically tight shoulder tissue
Shockwave therapy for chronic rotator cuff tendinopathy, calcific deposits, or stubborn soft tissue conditions that haven't responded to other treatment
Therapeutic exercise and rehabilitation to restore rotator cuff strength, scapular stability, and proper shoulder mechanics

Shoulder Pain and Athletes

The shoulder takes a significant beating in throwing sports, swimming, weightlifting, CrossFit, and contact sports. Overuse injuries like rotator cuff tendinopathy and shoulder impingement are particularly common in athletes who train consistently without adequate recovery or who have developed movement imbalances over time.

Dr. Kadri's background in Exercise Science gives him a strong foundation for assessing shoulder mechanics under load and building rehabilitation programs that address not just the painful structure but the movement patterns and strength deficits that contributed to the injury in the first place. The goal is always to get you back to full performance, not just pain-free range of motion.

When to Get Your Shoulder Evaluated

Some shoulder pain resolves with rest. But if your pain has been present for more than a few weeks, is getting worse, is limiting your ability to work or train, or keeps coming back after short periods of relief, it's worth getting a proper evaluation. Rotator cuff problems in particular tend to worsen over time when left unaddressed, and early intervention typically produces faster and more complete recovery.