DO YOU HAVE SHOULDER PAIN AND YOUR NOT SURE WHY?

Shoulder pain in Fox Chapel can really affect the quality of your life. It can prevent you from being able to do everyday activities such as bringing in the groceries or lifting a child or it could make your life miserable but taking away the things that you love to do like playing a sport or working out. Regardless of how shoulder pain is affecting your life, when you have it you just want it to go away. One of the first steps to getting rid of shoulder pain is determining why you have it.

THE OBVIOUS FOR SHOULDER PAIN IN FOX CHAPEL

Usually the source of shoulder pain is fairly obvious. You will either have pain after performing a specific activity or after a traumatic event. If either of those two things happen or happened to you then it is easy to point to the cause of the pain. There are however, times when it is less obvious.

THE LESS OBVIOUS

The neck is a very common cause of shoulder pain that people often overlook. While anatomically the shoulders and the neck can be separated a lot of the time peoples subjective thoughts on where their neck ends and their shoulders begin vary. As such a lot of shoulder pain is actually neck pain. In addition neck pain can cause radiating or referred pain into he shoulders. This means that pain in the neck may cause a sharp pain that goes from the neck to the shoulders or just cause pain in the shoulders. When the pain either radiates or is referred into the shoulders it is a lot harder to determine what the cause of your pain may be. If you have shoulder pain but you are unsure why, it may very well become from your neck. Try to observe your pain and see if it is associated with your any strenuous or repetitive activities involving the neck. That may help you determine the cause of your shoulder pain. Call The Pittsburgh Chiropractor today to schedule an appointment.

CAN SHOCKWAVE THERAPY HELP SHOULDER PAIN?

Another treatment option that may be helpful for certain types of shoulder pain is shockwave therapy in Pittsburgh. Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive treatment that uses acoustic waves to stimulate healing in painful or damaged tissues. It is often discussed for chronic tendon related problems and other musculoskeletal conditions that have been slow to heal. In the shoulder, that can be especially relevant when pain is related to irritated tendons, chronic overuse, or areas of tissue that have become stubborn and difficult to calm down.

Many cases of shoulder pain are related to structures such as the rotator cuff tendons, biceps tendon, or other soft tissues around the shoulder joint. When these tissues become irritated, degenerative, or chronically inflamed, they may not respond as quickly as people want them to with simple rest alone. Shockwave therapy is thought to help by stimulating blood flow, encouraging cellular activity, and promoting healing responses in injured tissue. It may also help reduce pain by affecting how pain signals are processed in the area. For patients dealing with long standing shoulder pain, this can make it easier to tolerate rehabilitation and get back to exercise, sports, work, and daily activities.

That said, shockwave therapy is not for every cause of shoulder pain. If your shoulder pain is actually being referred from the neck, then treating only the shoulder may not solve the real problem. That is why a thorough history and examination are so important. At The Pittsburgh Chiropractor, determining whether your pain is coming from the shoulder itself, the neck, or a combination of both is the first step. Once the true source of the problem is identified, the right treatment plan can be selected. Sometimes that may include exercise therapy, manual therapy, activity modification, or other conservative treatments. In some cases, it may include shockwave therapy as part of a broader rehabilitation plan.

Shockwave therapy is often most useful when it is paired with a complete evidence-based treatment strategy rather than used in isolation. For example, if shoulder pain is related to tendon overload, poor movement mechanics, weakness, or stiffness, then simply trying to reduce pain may not be enough. The underlying contributing factors still need to be addressed. Combining shockwave therapy with targeted rehabilitation can help improve tissue tolerance, restore strength, improve mobility, and reduce the likelihood that the pain will keep coming back.

If you want to learn more about whether this treatment may be right for your condition, visit our page on shockwave therapy in Pittsburgh. It can be a valuable option for the right patient and the right diagnosis, especially when persistent shoulder pain has not fully improved with simpler measures alone.

About the Author

Medically reviewed by Dr. Alex Tauberg, DC, RN, CCSP®, PSP | Last reviewed: March 8, 2026

Reviewed for clinical accuracy using an evidence-based, conservative care framework.

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Dr. Alex Tauberg, DC, RN, CCSP®, PSP

Primary Spine Practitioner & Certified Chiropractic Sports Practitioner

Founder of The Pittsburgh Chiropractor LLC, Dr. Tauberg is a dual-credentialed healthcare provider (Doctor of Chiropractic and Registered Nurse). He specializes in evidence-based spine care and sports medicine, leveraging his advanced training in spine care, rehabilitation, and sports medicine to help active individuals and athletes recover from musculoskeletal injuries and return to the activities they enjoy.

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Education & training

• Doctor of Chiropractic: National University of Health Sciences
• Primary Spine Practitioner Certification: University of Pittsburgh
• Nursing Education: Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC); Capella University
• Graduate Nursing: William Paterson University (FNP program)
• Undergraduate: Eckerd College (Psychology)

Certifications Primary Spine Practitioner (PSP) Certified Chiropractic Sports Practitioner (CCSP®) Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) Emergency Medical Responder (EMR)

Professional Affiliation Pennsylvania Chiropractic Association

Direct Clinical Line (412) 517-8124

Content Standards Evidence-based guidance, reviewed and updated regularly

Pittsburgh: 55 Alpha Drive West Suite 6, Pittsburgh, PA 15238 | Gibsonia: 5332 William Flynn Hwy, Gibsonia, PA 15044 Clinical Content Last Verified: March 8, 2026

Educational disclaimer: This content is for general informational purposes and does not replace individualized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have severe symptoms, progressive weakness, fever, unexplained weight loss, recent trauma, or loss of bowel or bladder control, seek urgent evaluation.