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Shoulder Pain

shoulder pain

The shoulder joint is the most mobile joint in the body. The humerus (long arm bone), the clavicle (collarbone), and the scapula (shoulder blade) together form a ball and socket joint covered by a layer of cartilage. Due to its highly mobile nature, the shoulder joint is also prone to becoming injured through manual labour, playing sports, and repetitive movements. When the shoulder is injured, it can hinder your ability to perform a range of motions in your arm and can cause a great deal of discomfort. Diseases that are related to the cervical spine, liver, heart, and gallbladder can often trigger shoulder pain as well.

People aged over 60 are more likely to suffer from shoulder pain due to the degeneration of soft tissues surrounding the shoulder.

tl;dr

  • Shoulder pain can be caused by external or internal factors.
  • External factors:
    • Cold and Dampness.
    • Repetitive Strain.
    • Traumatic Injuries.
  • Internal factors:
    • Damp Heat in the Small Intestine or Gallbladder channels.
    • Large Intestine channel problems.
    • Cold invasion
    • Qi stagnation
    • Blood stasis
  • Studies show acupuncture decreases pain and improves mobility.
  • No severe side effects and long-lasting benefits.
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Symptoms of Shoulder Pain

Symptoms will vary depending on the causes, hence you may experience a dull ache that comes on gradually over time or a sharp or burning pain.

Other associated symptoms are:

  • Change in your range of movement in your shoulder or pain triggered by movement
  • Inflammation, redness, swelling, and heat around the shoulder joint
  • Popping, clicking, or grinding sounds occurring with movement of the shoulder joint
  • Weakness in the shoulder
  • Pain in your arm, neck, or back

Shoulder Pain Diagnosis and Treatment

Minor pain in the shoulder caused by sports or trauma can heal on their own or recover with home treatment. However, severe cases that involve bone fracture or torn ligament, or are caused by liver, heart, or gallbladder conditions may require professional medical interventions.

A thorough examination of the location of the pain, how the pain started, and the specific symptoms associated with your pain can help form an accurate diagnosis. Timely and proper treatment may reduce the time needed for recovery and prevent the reoccurrence of pain in the shoulder in the future.

shoulder pain

Traditional Chinese Medicine Perspective

To understand shoulder pain, we must first have a good understanding of what meridians travel through this area. Meridians are the routes which Qi (energy) and blood travels throughout the body. There are altogether 6 meridians on our arm that travel through the shoulder region. Three of these are on the yang side (external surface) of the arm, and three are on the yin side (internal surface) of the arm. The meridians on the yang side include the Large Intestine, Triple Warmer, and Small Intestine meridians. On the yin side are the Lung, Pericardium, and Heart meridians. Obstruction in any one of these meridians will result in pain and discomfort.

Causes of pain in the shoulder can be external or internal.

External Causes:

  1. Cold and Dampness – The invasion of cold in the shoulder region can lead to stagnation of Qi causing pain and stiffness in the joint and surrounding tissues.
  2. Repetitive Strain – This is caused by excessive use of the shoulder joint by repeating a particular movement. This type of pain is commonly seen in sports or through work. Over time, excessive use of the shoulder joint will result in Qi stagnation and blood stasis in the local area, causing pain.
  3. Traumatic Injuries – Minor traumatic injuries can result in Qi stagnation, and severe traumatic injuries can cause blood stasis as well. Injuries that have not been treated properly can linger on in the body and give opportunities for cold to invade the body, which further exacerbates the symptoms.

Internal Causes:

Shoulder pain may also be a manifestation of internal organ issues, such as damp heat in the Small Intestine or Gallbladder channel (both channels travel through the shoulder region) or problems in the Large Intestine channel. Aching and dull pain in the shoulder region is usually caused by cold invasion or Qi stagnation. Blood stasis usually causes sharp or stabbing pain.

Traditional Chinese Medicine addresses these underlying causes and treats symptoms using holistic methods such as acupuncture and Chinese Herbal medicine.

Research on Acupuncture for Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain can be as limiting as it is common, prompting many to seek out alternatives to conventional medicine. In this light, acupuncture emerges as a fascinating topic. But what does research say about its effectiveness? Let’s dive into the studies that have put acupuncture to the test.

Overview of Relevant Studies

A variety of research initiatives have explored the impact of acupuncture on shoulder pain. A 2020 meta-analysis on the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating frozen shoulder found that acupuncture provided a notable pain decrease and improved function. The “German Randomized Acupuncture Trial for chronic shoulder pain (GRASP)” found that patients receiving acupuncture experienced not only decreased pain levels but also an improvement in shoulder mobility. A systematic review and meta-analysis found that acupuncture combined with rehabilitation training is more effective than rehabilitation training alone for post-stroke shoulder pain.

Why Choose Acupuncture?

The absence of severe side effects in acupuncture presents it as an attractive option for those unable to tolerate certain medications. Acupuncture’s benefits have also been observed to last longer, suggesting a potential for sustained improvement without the need for continuous treatment.

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References

CloudTCM. (2022). https://cloudtcm.com/disease/tcm/267. https://cloudtcm.com/disease/tcm/267

Dong, W., Goost, H., Lin, X.-B., Burger, C., Paul, C., Wang, Z.-L., Zhang, T.-Y., Jiang, Z.-C., Welle, K., &Kabir, K. (2015). Treatments for Shoulder Impingement Syndrome: A PRISMA Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis. Medicine, 94(10). https://journals.lww.com/md-journal/Fulltext/2015/03020/Treatments_for_Shoulder_Impingement_Syndrome__A.1.aspx

Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre. (2022). Shoulder Pain/Shoulder Impingement Syndrome (SIS)- A Chinese Medicine Perspective.

Centre of Balance: Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. (2022). Treatments. https://balancetcm.co.nz/treatments/

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Monica

I am originally from Hebei province in China. I hold a NZ bachelor’s degree of health and science with a major in acupuncture. I am honoured to be an acupuncturist at Centre of Balance. Helping patients to alleviate their pain brings me the greatest joy. Chinese medicine emphasises the unity of human beings and nature. During the treatment, I hope to not only relieve your pain but also help you to understand the principles behind acupuncture’s effectiveness, as well as the significant impact of diet, emotions, lifestyle habits, and living environments on disease recovery. Self-healing is an ability that our bodies are naturally endowed with.

I studied acupuncture in New Zealand and completed one and a half years of supervised clinical internship before graduating. In the early stage of my training, I mainly worked with patients experiencing neck, shoulder, and lower back pain. Under the guidance of senior clinical tutors, I gradually developed hands-on experience and confidence in treating musculoskeletal pain conditions.
As my clinical exposure expanded, I began treating a wider range of internal conditions. Alongside traditional acupuncture, I was introduced to Umbilical Acupuncture and Tungs-acupuncture Points. What interested me most about these approaches is that they often do not require needling directly at the painful area, yet can still achieve very effective results.
I was especially inspired by observing my supervisor use Umbilical Acupuncture to treat common conditions such as insomnia, menstrual irregularities, and even rheumatoid arthritis, with very positive outcomes. Another supervisor was highly skilled in Tungs-acupuncture Points and achieved excellent results in treating pain, infertility, menstrual disorders, and a variety of women’s health conditions. After completing my studies and entering clinical practice, once I observed Dr. Szenan Phua using Tungs-acupuncture points to help cancer patients relieve pain, which further strengthened my trust in this treatment method.
I later completed training in Dr. Tan Balance Acupuncture, which had a strong influence on the way I approach treatment. One of the most noticeable features of this method is how quickly patients often feel improvement, especially with pain conditions. Dr. Szenan Phua’s New Balance Acupuncture combines meridian regulation with structural adjustment and internal organ balancing, including techniques such as pulse balancing and spinal adjustment.
From my clinical experience, pain is rarely just a local issue. It often involves underlying organ weakness or structural imbalance. When these aspects are addressed together, treatment can be more thorough and longer-lasting. I also apply this approach to internal conditions, particularly in fertility and women’s health. This includes supporting natural conception, IVF preparation and embryo transfer, pregnancy support, early-pregnancy nausea, and late-pregnancy labour induction. I combine these treatments with concepts learned from a few additional fertility training, which has given me a broader and more flexible clinical perspective. This has reinforced my belief that acupuncture should be adapted to each individual rather than applied through fixed formulas.
Two other areas of study that have been very helpful in my clinical work are Tongue Diagnosis and Dr. Zhu’s Scalp Acupuncture. Although tongue diagnosis is taught in my standard Chinese medicine training, further study allowed me to deepen and refine my diagnostic skills.
My first formal training was in Li’s Tongue Diagnosis, which looks not only at organ patterns, but also at how different areas of the tongue reflect the body’s structure. This system also explores personality traits and changes during pregnancy, making it both clinically useful and engaging. I later attended online lectures on Yin’s Tongue Diagnosis and studied the related materials independently. this learning has helped me make clearer and more accurate pattern differentiation, allowing my acupuncture treatments to be more targeted. It covers a wide range of conditions, including skin disorders, oncology-related presentations, mental health patterns, and joint or limb problems. In practice, tongue observation often provides valuable insight even before a patient begins describing their symptoms.
In addition to the methods above, I regularly use local bloodletting techniques, which can be very effective for improving circulation, reducing swelling, and relieving pain. I also incorporate auricular (ear) acupressure and stimulation, which I commonly use for allergies, insomnia, headaches, stress management, and various internal conditions.
In my clinical work, I value taking the time to listen carefully to each patient and to understand their overall health, lifestyle, and concerns. Based on each individual’s condition, I also provide personalised dietary guidance and lifestyle or wellness advice to support overall health and long-term wellbeing. I commonly support patients with musculoskeletal pain, such as neck, shoulder, knee, and back pain, as well as stress-related conditions, sleep issues, migraines, digestive concerns, and women’s health and fertility-related conditions.