Acupuncture for shoulder pain in Brighton

What causes shoulder pain?

The shoulder is a highly mobile joint made up of muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones working together. This complexity makes it particularly vulnerable to strain and injury.

Common Diagnoses

Rotator cuff disorders – Tears or inflammation in the muscles that stabilise the shoulder
Frozen shoulder – Stiffness and restricted movement over time
Shoulder impingement – Tendons rubbing against bone during movement
Tendinitis and bursitis – Inflammation of tendons or fluid-filled sacs
Referred pain – Pain originating from the neck or upper back
Acupuncture can be tailored to each of these conditions, focusing on both local pain and underlying imbalances.
 
How does acupuncture help with shoulder pain?

Acupuncture aims to address both the symptoms and the root cause of pain. Here’s how it may help:

Reduces Pain: Acupuncture stimulates the release of endorphins and other natural painkillers, helping to reduce discomfort.
Relieves Muscle Tension: Tight muscles are a major contributor to shoulder pain. Acupuncture helps relax these muscles and improve flexibility.
Improves Circulation: Better blood flow promotes healing by delivering oxygen and nutrients to affected tissues.
Decreases Inflammation: By influencing the body’s inflammatory response, acupuncture may reduce swelling and irritation.
Enhances Range of Motion: Many patients experience improved mobility and less stiffness after a series of treatments.

Adjunct therapies for shoulder pain at Brighton Acupuncture

Combining acupuncture with adjunct therapies such as gua sha and photobiomodulation can enhance treatment outcomes for shoulder pain by addressing multiple aspects of tissue healing and pain relief. Gua sha, a technique that involves gentle scraping of the skin, helps improve microcirculation, release muscle tightness, and reduce fascial restrictions around the shoulder. Photobiomodulation (low-level light therapy or red light therapy) uses specific wavelengths of light to stimulate cellular repair, decrease inflammation, and accelerate recovery in injured tissues. When used alongside acupuncture, these therapies can work synergistically—acupuncture modulates pain and restores systemic balance, while gua sha and light therapy target local tissue dysfunction—leading to faster relief, improved mobility, and more sustained results.