Shoulder pain responds well to personalized, non-surgical care. At Highland Spine + Sport, Dr. Matthew Amos identifies the root cause of your pain and builds a tailored plan using chiropractic care, soft tissue therapy, and dry needling to restore your mobility and get you back to the activities you love.
If reaching for something on a high shelf makes you wince,or sleeping on your shoulder has become impossible, you're not dealing withsomething you should push through or wait out. Shoulder pain is one of the mostcommon musculoskeletal complaints among active adults, and it almost neverresolves on its own without the right care.
At Highland Spine + Sport on Brambleton Avenue SW inRoanoke, we work with active adults throughout the Roanoke Valley, includingneighbors from South Roanoke, Cave Spring, Salem, and beyond, who want clear,trustworthy answers about what's happening in their shoulder and a practicalpath back to full activity.
Here's what this page covers:
The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body, whichmakes it powerful and vulnerable at the same time. Pain can follow a singleinjury or build gradually through months of repetitive strain, poor posture, orunaddressed movement patterns.
The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and tendons thathold the shoulder joint together and control arm movement. According to the AmericanAcademy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, rotator cuff tears become significantlymore common in adults over 40, particularly in those who use their armsoverhead or lift regularly. You might notice a dull, deep ache, weakness whenlifting your arm, or pain that worsens at night. Rotator cuff treatment worksbest when it starts early, before inflammation and compensatory movement habitsmake the problem harder to resolve.
Frozen shoulder causes the capsule surrounding your shoulderjoint to thicken and tighten, progressively limiting range of motion andintensifying pain. It often develops after an injury, surgery, or a period ofimmobilization. Without care, frozen shoulder can persist for one to threeyears. Frozen shoulder treatment works best when it begins before the conditionprogresses into its most restrictive stage.
Shoulder impingement happens when the tendons of the rotatorcuff get pinched between the bones of the shoulder during arm movement. Theresult is a sharp, nagging pain, especially when lifting your arm overhead orreaching across your body. This pattern is particularly common among runnerstraining for events like the Blue Ridge Marathon, cyclists on local trails, andtennis or pickleball players throughout the Roanoke Valley. Shoulderimpingement treatment focuses on restoring proper joint mechanics so tendonsmove freely again without irritation.
Pain when lifting the arm is one of the most frequentcomplaints we hear from patients in their 40s and 50s. It's often the firstsign that something structural is happening, whether that's a rotator cuffstrain, early impingement, or a bursa that's become inflamed. Don't wait forthis to become a daily limitation. It's far easier to treat early than aftermonths of compensation.
Not all shoulder pain starts in the shoulder. Nerveirritation in the cervical spine can send pain signals into the shoulder, downthe arm, and between the shoulder blades. When the neck and upper back arerestricted or misaligned, the nerves that control shoulder function aredirectly affected. This is one of the most commonly missed contributors topersistent shoulder pain, and it's exactly why a thorough evaluation mustalways include the neck.
Some shoulder soreness fades with rest. These patterns are different.
Acute shoulder pain typically resolves within six weeks withappropriate care. Chronic shoulder pain lasting more than three months ofteninvolves deeper structural or movement-related factors that need professionalevaluation.
Seek prompt medical attention if you experience a suddeninability to raise your arm after an injury, significant swelling or bruising,a visible deformity, severe numbness or weakness in the arm, or fever alongsideshoulder pain. These may require imaging or specialist referral beyondconservative care.
Most mild hip soreness responds well to rest. But these signs tell you it's time to book an evaluation rather than hope it resolves onits own:
Seek immediate care if you experience severe pain following a fall, an inability to bear weight, visible deformity, or fever alongside joint pain. These can indicate a fracture or infection that requires urgent medical attention.
Most people researching hip pain online find pages that list causes or point toward imaging and surgery, and then stop. That leaves a gap: the practical, functional context that explains why your hip hurts and what non-surgical care can actually achieve for you day to day.
At Highland Spine + Sport, we focus on filling that gap. We help you understand how your movement patterns, lifestyle, and biomechanics contribute to your pain, and then we build a plan that addresses those patterns directly. The CDC's physical activity guidelines reinforce the long-term value of staying mobile and active, and that's exactly what we help you do.
Dr. Matthew Amos, a former collegiate athlete and the lead provider at our Roanoke clinic, brings deep expertise in chiropractic care, dry needling, soft-tissue methods, and progressive exercise to every evaluation. His background in sports medicine and movement science means he looks beyond where the pain is and asks why your body is struggling in the first place.
We follow three clear phases with every patient: Evaluate, Eliminate, and Elevate. We start by assessing your movement, joint mechanics, and medical history to pinpoint the root cause. We then apply targeted therapies to eliminate the barriers driving your pain. We close with education, personalized home exercises, and performance strategies that make results last.
Our chiropractic care services restore proper alignment to the hip joint, pelvis, and lumbar spine. When these structures are misaligned, the hip compensates in ways that accelerate wear, increase inflammation, and limit motion. Targeted adjustments reduce mechanical stress on the hip joint, improve your range of motion, and relieve pain associated with conditions like osteoarthritis, hip impingement, and sacroiliac dysfunction.
Soft tissue therapy, including massage-based manual techniques and targeted stretching, addresses the tight muscles and fascial restrictions that develop around an overloaded or injured hip. Hip flexor strain, hip bursitis, and labral irritation all produce muscle guarding that, if left untreated, becomes its own source of pain. We break that cycle by releasing tension, improving circulation, and restoring the natural length and elasticity of the tissue surrounding your hip joint. According to National Institutes of Health, soft tissue care is a core component of recovery for muscle strains, and it's equally important for the hip structures that support every step you take.
Dry needling targets trigger points in the deep hip muscles, including the piriformis, glute medius, and hip flexors, that refer pain into the hip joint and down the leg. By inserting a thin filiform needle directly into these contracted bands of tissue, we interrupt the pain-spasm cycle, restore blood flow, and help the muscle return to normal function. It's one of the most effective tools we have for stubborn hip pain that hasn't responded to other approaches, particularly when the sciatic nerve is involved.
For runners, hikers, gym-goers, and pickleball players who want to get back to full performance, our sports rehabilitation program builds the strength, stability, and movement patterns that protect the hip joint long-term. We also provide at-home progressions you can follow between sessions so your recovery doesn't stall when you leave the clinic.
Whether you're a runner sidelined by outer hip pain, a hiker dealing with stiffness that won't quit, or a desk worker who's noticed their hip tightening up through the day, we can help. Highland Spine + Sport serves the active Roanoke community, from Grandin Village to Cave Spring to Salem and every neighborhood in between.
Not sure yet whether your pain is coming from your hip, your back, or something else entirely? That's exactly what your first visit is for. Dr. Amos will walk you through a thorough movement assessment, explain what he finds in plain language, and outline a clear plan built around your goals. You'll leave with answers, not just a follow-up appointment.
Explore the full list of conditions we treat or learn more about Dr. Amos and our team before your visit. When you're ready, call us at (540) 339-7911 or book an appointment online. Our clinic at 2705 Brambleton Ave SW, Roanoke, VA 24015 is ready to beyour partner in moving better and feeling better.
Hip pain in adults most commonly comes from hip bursitis, hip flexor strain, labral tears, osteoarthritis, or sciatic nerve irritation. Muscle imbalances and poor movement mechanics often contribute by placing excess stress on the hip joint over time. A professional evaluation helps identify which factor, or combination of factors, is driving your specific pain.
Yes. A chiropractor evaluates the hip joint, pelvis, and lumbar spine to identify mechanical dysfunction that contributes to pain and limited motion. Chiropractic adjustments reduce joint stress, improve alignment, and restore range of motion. Combined with soft tissue therapy and dry needling, chiropractic care addresses the root cause of hip pain rather than just the symptoms.
Hip bursitis typically causes sharp or aching pain on the outer hip, often worsening when you lie on the affected side, climb stairs, or engage in prolonged activity. The pain can radiate down the outer thigh and is commonly mistaken for IT band syndrome. It tends to ease with rest early on, but without treatment, it often becomes persistent.
It could be. Sciatic nerve irritation originating in the lumbar spine often refers pain through the hip and into the leg, closely mimicking a hip joint problem. If your pain travels below the hip, comes with tingling or numbness, or worsens with prolonged sitting, sciatic nerve involvement is worth investigating. Our evaluation process assesses both possibilities.
Hip flexor strain responds well to soft tissue therapy, including massage-based manual techniques to release tightness, chiropractic care to address any related pelvic or lumbar alignment issues, and progressive exercise to restore strength and flexibility. Dry needling can accelerate recovery when trigger points are involved. Following a structured return-to-movement plan makes a meaningful difference.
Seek emergency care if you have severe pain after a fall or trauma, an inability to bear weight, visible deformity, or fever with joint pain. For persistent pain lasting more than two to three weeks, recurring hip pain that limits your activity, pain that radiates into your leg, or a clicking or locking sensation in the hip joint, schedule a professional evaluation rather than waiting it out.
Dr. Amos will ask you detailed questions about your symptoms, activity level, and health history. He'll then assess your posture, gait, and joint movement to identify the mechanical cause of your pain. He'll explain his findings clearly, outline a treatment plan designed around your goals, and may provide initial hands-on care or at-home exercises the same day. The goal of your first visit is to give you answers and a path forward.
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