Shoulder Pain | Dr. Hamza Beghdadi, Chiropractor in Montreal

Relieve shoulder pain through a postural and spinal evaluation

Shoulder pain that wakes you at night, morning stiffness that keeps you from raising your arm, or pain that travels down the arm: these symptoms always have a specific cause. The purpose of a chiropractic evaluation is to find that cause before proposing lasting relief.

Dr. Hamza Beghdadi, chiropractor, trained in the CBP (Chiropractic BioPhysics) technique, has practised for more than ten years in Montreal an approach centred on posture correction, grounded in precise measurements rather than a simple impression.

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A personalized evaluation helps you understand where your pain comes from. The care plan is explained before any treatment begins, with no commitment on your part.

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Why consult Dr. Hamza Beghdadi, chiropractor, for your shoulder pain

Many chiropractors in Montreal address shoulder pain. Here is what sets Dr. Beghdadi, chiropractor, apart:

Training in the CBP technique, an approach that measures your posture with precise tools rather than by eye. This is necessary to determine the postural origin of pain in the upper limb. Doctor of Chiropractic from UQTR in 2013, more than ten years of practice, preceded by a bachelor's degree in biochemistry from the Université de Montréal.
Complete evaluation at the first visit: a discussion of your history, shoulder and nervous-system tests, postural examination, and X-ray if needed.
Care plan explained and confirmed before care begins.
A focus on prevention and on the habits to change so the problem does not return.
Two clinics in Montreal: Roxboro (West Island) and Villeray.
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To better understand the approach, see the reasons to consult a chiropractor.

The CBP technique and spinal alignment in the service of your shoulder pain

The CBP technique is a posture-correction approach built on precise measurements of your spine. The chiropractor measures your posture and the natural curves of your back, keeps those figures on file, and compares your progress from one visit to the next. This logic is central to postural correction in Montreal as practised at the clinic.

Plan a consultation with a chiropractor trained in CBP in Montreal

A consultation with a chiropractor trained in CBP begins with a complete evaluation. The measurements taken guide a concrete care plan to correct your spine and posture and help you reach your health goals.

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What we evaluate in your shoulder pain

The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body, and also one of the most fragile. Pain can come from the shoulder, the neck, the upper back, or an imbalance in your overall posture. The evaluation aims to determine where the pain truly originates before proposing an accurate diagnosis and a care plan.

Anatomy of the shoulder and its link to the cervical spine

The shoulder combines three joints that work together to give you your full range of motion. Its mobility relies on the rotator cuff (four small muscles that stabilize the joint), the deltoid, the biceps, and the muscles that hold the shoulder blade in place.

The close link between the shoulder and the neck is often overlooked. The nerves that control the muscles of your arm originate in the vertebrae of the neck, known as the cervical spine. Neck tension, a rounded back, or a forward head posture can change the mechanics of the shoulder and sustain pain that cannot be explained by the shoulder alone.

Shoulder pain that radiates down the arm: referred pain of cervical or musculoskeletal origin

Shoulder pain that radiates down the arm is a frequent reason for consultation. It can take several forms: diffuse pain toward the elbow, burning along the arm, numbness or tingling in the hand, an electric-shock sensation triggered by certain neck movements, and even weakness in the arm.

There are two possible causes. Either the pain comes from the shoulder itself (tendons, joint capsule, or the small fluid-filled sac called the bursa) and spreads along the arm without nerve involvement: this is what is called referred pain. Or it comes from an irritation in the neck, for example a disc problem at the cervical level, and then follows a more precise path with typical signs.

Symptoms of shoulder pain and signs worth documenting

Documenting your symptoms before the consultation speeds up the evaluation. Pain intensity does not always reflect severity: moderate pain that lingers can reveal a larger imbalance than an acute flare-up.

Typical symptoms of shoulder pain — right shoulder, left shoulder, night pain

Whether the pain is in the right shoulder or the left shoulder, patients often describe the same things:

Pain on the top, side, or front of the shoulder.
Night pain that wakes you, especially when lying on the painful side.
Morning stiffness and difficulty raising the arm.
Weakness when raising the arm overhead.
Crackling or clicking with certain movements.
Pain that worsens with repeated movements or positions held for a long time.

The affected side helps reveal the link with your dominant arm and the gestures you make often.

Shoulder and neck pain: a frequent postural signal

Shoulder pain accompanied by neck stiffness is a classic signal, especially in people who work at a computer. The muscles of the upper back stay contracted continuously, the head moves forward toward the screen, and the shoulders roll inward. This is the type of presentation where an approach centred on posture makes the difference.

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A chiropractic evaluation helps clarify what is happening. Finding the precise cause is the first step toward lasting relief.

Causes and risk factors of shoulder pain

Shoulder pain almost never arises from a single thing. Several factors add up over time, and finding the common thread opens the way to improving your state of health.

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Established poor posture: forward head, rounded shoulders, rounded back. This profile changes the position of the shoulder blade and reduces the space through which the tendons pass, irritating them over time. See the importance of good posture in daily life.
Prolonged screen and remote work, especially among office workers with an unsuitable workstation.
Sedentary lifestyle and weakness of the muscles that hold the shoulder blade in place.
Repeated overhead movements in athletes (swimming, throwing, racket sports) and in physical occupations.
History of injury: fall, accident, sudden movement. The role of past trauma is often underestimated.
Aging and wear of the tendons and the joint capsule, more pronounced after age 50. Neck tension transmitted to the shoulder, a mechanism also seen with sciatica between the lower back and the leg.

Posture occupies a central place. When your posture is imbalanced, your tendons and joints work in a disadvantaged position, and pain eventually sets in. The flow within the nerves and the spinal cord is affected, and in most cases this eventually causes pain. This is precisely the mechanism targeted by the posture-correction approach used at the clinic.

The shoulder conditions most frequently evaluated at the clinic

Several conditions can explain shoulder pain. Here are the ones that come up most often at evaluation, all of which have a link to posture:

Rotator cuff tendinitis: irritation of the tendons that stabilize the shoulder, often associated with subacromial impingement (impingement syndrome). The pain is felt on the side of the shoulder, worsens when raising the arm, and disrupts sleep.
Subacromial bursitis: inflammation of the small sac that cushions the joint, often associated with tendinitis. A forward head and a rounded back reduce the space where the tendons pass.
Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder): the joint capsule becomes inflamed then contracts, making the shoulder increasingly stiff. It develops over several months.
Osteoarthritis of the shoulder, especially between the shoulder blade and the collarbone: more frequent after age fifty. A dull pain that worsens with movement, sometimes with cracking.

In every case, the postural evaluation guides a care plan that is not limited to the painful point.

Our postural chiropractic approach for shoulder pain

The conservative approach (without surgery or medication) is the first line of care for shoulder pain. What sets Dr. Beghdadi, chiropractor, apart is the attention given to the real cause of your condition — that is, the most suitable biomechanical analysis possible, based on posture and the alignment of your spine.

Chiropractic evaluation and postural analysis from the first visit

The first chiropractic visit begins with a discussion: history, how the pain presents, aggravating gestures, work context.

This is followed by clinical shoulder tests, tests of arm strength, sensation and reflexes, a postural examination, neurological and orthopedic tests, chiropractic palpation, and X-rays if needed. The diagnosis and care options are then explained to you clearly.

The CBP technique: restoring spinal alignment and addressing scapular dyskinesis

The CBP technique aims to restore the natural curves of your spine based on precise measurements. For the shoulder, this means working on the alignment of the neck and upper back, since these zones determine the position of the shoulder blade and of all the muscles and nerves that reach the shoulder.

Scapular dyskinesis (an abnormal movement of the shoulder blade) often sustains chronic pain. Care combines targeted adjustments, posture exercises at home, and spinal traction when indicated.

Chiropractic care, corrective exercises, and a four-step care plan

The plan unfolds in four steps: evaluation, a personalized plan at the second visit, closely spaced care, then follow-up. Care combines adjustments, mobilizations, muscle work, rehabilitation exercises, and postural advice.

The number of sessions varies according to the condition and your response to the first treatments. "How chiropractic care can help" details the approach.

Discuss your shoulder pain at a first evaluation

A thorough evaluation precedes any recommendation. Your questions, your history, and your daily routine are all part of it.

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Prevention and postural habits to reduce shoulder pain

Prevention — and above all keeping the pain from returning — depends largely on your daily habits. The most effective changes, to integrate little by little:

Keep good posture while sitting, standing, and moving, especially in front of a screen.
Set up your workstation (screen height, armrests, lower-back support).
Strengthen the muscles that hold the shoulder blade in place with targeted exercises.
Engage in regular physical activity suited to your condition.
Take an active break every 45 to 60 minutes at work.

For simple actions to try this week, "5 simple ways to improve your posture" offers concrete ideas. These measures add to a care plan, without replacing it.

Go beyond generic advice with a personalized plan

General advice helps, but a personalized plan targets your specific imbalance. The evaluation reveals what no list of tips can guess.

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Frequently asked questions about shoulder pain

What can I do for shoulder pain at home?

Avoid the movements that trigger the pain, without completely immobilizing your shoulder. Applying ice for 15 minutes, two to three times a day, can help calm inflammation. If the pain lasts more than a few days or comes with numbness, a chiropractic evaluation helps identify the cause and guide a targeted care plan. It is better to consult at the first signs and symptoms. The longer you wait to consult, the more the nerves remain inflamed and the more the situation becomes chronic.

How many sessions are needed to relieve shoulder pain?

The number of sessions depends on the condition, how long it has been present, your overall posture, and your response to the first treatments. A personalized plan is presented at the second visit, with an estimate of the number of sessions and their frequency. Chiropractic care is generally covered by private supplementary insurance.

Is chiropractic safe for shoulder pain that radiates down the arm?

Chiropractic care is very safe for shoulder care. This care can contribute substantially to relieving pain that radiates down the arm and shoulder when the origin is neuromusculoskeletal. The chiropractor is trained to identify the signs that call for a medical referral. The initial evaluation serves to confirm that the care is right for you.

When should you consult a chiropractor for shoulder pain?

Consult if the pain lasts more than a few days despite rest, if it recurs regularly, disrupts your sleep, or limits your activities. Consulting early prevents acute pain from becoming chronic. If the evaluation warrants it, complementary imaging (X-ray, ultrasound, or MRI) may be recommended.