Shoulder & Arm Pain Treatment in San Diego
Care for rotator cuff, frozen shoulder, impingement, and nerve-related arm pain. Walk-ins welcome.
What We Treat
Six common shoulder and arm presentations Dr. Yossi Stein sees in the practice every week.
Rotator Cuff Pain
Pain with reaching overhead, sleeping on that side, or behind the back. Common in lifters, swimmers, and anyone over forty. Care addresses the rotator cuff and the joints above and below it. Especially common in CrossFit and gym athletes doing repeated overhead work.
Frozen Shoulder
Stiffness that builds over months, then locks the joint. Reaching, dressing, and sleep all narrow down. Care focuses on the shoulder, the upper back, and the joints that should be sharing motion. Read more on how chiropractic care restores motion in frozen shoulder cases.
Shoulder Impingement
A sharp catch when you lift the arm to a certain angle, often with weakness afterward. Joint mechanics and scapular motion are usually the drivers. Both are addressed in the same visit.
Biceps & Front Shoulder Pain
Aching at the front of the shoulder that flares with curls, pushing, or carrying. Usually traces to the biceps tendon and the joint it sits in. Both are addressed in the same visit.
Tennis & Golfer's Elbow
Persistent elbow pain from gripping, typing, lifting, or repetitive swings. The driver is often higher up the chain than the elbow. We assess the shoulder, elbow, and wrist together to find it.
Nerve-Related Arm Pain
Numbness, tingling, or burning that runs down the arm or into the hand. The source is usually higher than the symptoms. Care evaluates the neck, shoulder, and elbow as one pathway.
Trusted Shoulder Care Since 1991
At twenty-two, Dr. Yossi Stein suffered a serious injury that put him on the other side of the table. He knows what it is like to be the one in pain, frustrated, worn down, hoping this time will be different. That experience shapes every shoulder he assesses.
Shoulder cases are among the most layered the practice sees. The joint hardly ever fails alone. The neck, upper back, and scapula are usually involved, and the assessment has to include all of them. We treat the chain, not the spot.
Every patient sees Dr. Stein. The continuity matters most with shoulder cases, where the picture changes from week to week and small details guide the next adjustment.
How We Treat Shoulder & Arm Pain
Three techniques, matched to what the assessment finds. Never a fixed protocol applied the same way to every patient.
Chiropractic Adjustments
Precise adjustments to the shoulder, scapula, clavicle, cervical spine, and thoracic spine. Most chronic shoulder pain involves restrictions above and below the joint. Adjustments address the whole chain in one visit.
Joint Mobilization
Lower-force, controlled motion through the shoulder, elbow, and wrist. Used when a joint needs to move better but is not ready for a full adjustment. Common after injury, with frozen shoulder, and for older patients.
Active Release Technique (ART)
Specific manual technique that addresses what is restricted in the rotator cuff, biceps, deltoid, and forearm. Effective for overuse cases and for athletes returning from sports injuries where motion still feels caught.
Clinical Reference
Where It Hurts, What It Usually Means
The shoulder is the body's most mobile joint, and exactly where the pain sits is one of the clearest clues to what is driving it. Here is what each location typically points to in the assessment.
- 1 Top of the shoulder Pain that catches when you lift the arm to a certain angle. Often points to impingement and scapular mechanics.
- 2 Front of the shoulder Aching that worsens with pushing, curls, or carrying. Usually traces to the biceps tendon and the front of the rotator cuff.
- 3 Outer or deep shoulder Pain when reaching overhead, behind the back, or sleeping on that side. The classic rotator cuff pattern.
- 4 Down the arm or into the hand Numbness, tingling, or burning that travels. The driver is usually in the neck or the path the nerve takes through the shoulder.
Understanding Shoulder & Arm Pain
The shoulder moves further in more directions than any other joint in the body, and that mobility is the reason it gives so many people trouble. Rotator cuff pain, impingement, frozen shoulder, biceps pain, and arm pain that travels from the neck often overlap in the same patient.
The goal of chiropractic care for shoulder pain is better motion and better mechanics. Restoring how the shoulder, scapula, and upper back work together. Many cases respond to conservative care; full tendon tears and fractures are routed appropriately. For arm pain that travels into numbness or tingling, see our guide to numbness and tingling.
What to Expect
A first visit begins with a thorough assessment of the shoulder, neck, and upper back. Dr. Stein identifies what is restricted, what is compensating, and what care will address first. Most patients receive treatment the same visit and walk out with a clear picture of the case.
Real Patients. Real Relief.
Three patients in their own words. Read more on our Google reviews page.
This guy has helped my 250-lb body so many times. I've had back pain, a shoulder injury, and even a few calf injuries — and Dr. Stein fixed every single one of them.
I had an amazing experience with Dr. Stein. Dr. Stein was knowledgeable and took time explaining the treatments and what causes my discomfort. The adjustment I got over time were very helpful and it helped with my shoulder and back over time. Now I come in to maintenance every few weeks. I recommend Dr. Stein to anyone!
Just before Thanksgiving, even though his office was closed and I had never seen him before, Dr. Stein came into the office and opened it just to help me. I have a lower-back issue that many chiropractors struggle to address, but Dr. Stein is able to adjust it effectively every time. He has also helped me tremendously with a frozen shoulder.
Walk In When You're Ready
If you have been working around the shoulder for weeks or months, you have done enough on your own. Walk in and let's take a look at it.
Or call us: 858.587.7000