09/02/2026
The nerves that supply the shoulder come from the neck, which means neck joints, muscles, and nerve irritation can all refer pain into the shoulder and arm.
That’s why when I assess a shoulder, I always assess the neck. By treating the neck first and then reassessing the shoulder, we can work out how much the neck is contributing and whether the shoulder itself is truly the main source of pain.
This approach gives us clarity. It helps us avoid guessing, avoid chasing symptoms, and instead target the real driver of your pain.
In my experience, you can’t properly treat shoulder pain without understanding and addressing the neck. That level of reasoning and assessment is how we get better, longer-lasting results.
At Evolve we are experts in musculoskeletal pain 😊