Shoulder pain and frozen shoulder: acupuncture in Mississauga

If reaching for the top shelf or doing up a seatbelt has become a negotiation with your shoulder, you're not alone. Shoulder pain can make it hard to put on a coat, carry groceries, work at a desk or sleep on one side. We work alongside your family doctor and physiotherapist.

Why does the shoulder get hurt so easily?

The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body. That freedom comes at a cost: it relies heavily on muscles and tendons, not bone, for stability. The rotator cuff, a group of four muscles around the shoulder blade and upper arm, keeps the ball of the joint centred as you move. When one of those muscles is strained, overloaded or irritated, the rest of the shoulder has to work around it, and pain and stiffness follow.

What causes shoulder pain?

• Rotator cuff strain and tendon irritation. Often from repetitive overhead work, sport or lifting.
• Impingement. Tendons pinched under the bony arch of the shoulder, usually painful when lifting the arm out to the side.
• Frozen shoulder. The joint capsule tightens and movement becomes very limited, sometimes over many months.
• Bursitis. Inflammation of the small fluid sac that cushions the tendons.
• Arthritis. Wear in the shoulder joint or the small joint at the collarbone.
• Referred pain from the neck. Some shoulder pain actually starts in the neck. See acupuncture for neck pain.

Tendon problems in the shoulder behave much like those in the elbow. Our article on tendonitis, golfer's elbow and tennis elbow explains how we approach them.

What does the assessment look at?

Finding which structure is involved matters, because it changes where and how we treat. Dalibor asks how the pain started, which movements hurt, whether it wakes you at night, and what you do at work and in sport. He then checks how far and how smoothly you can lift and rotate the arm, compares both sides, and feels for tender or tight muscles around the shoulder blade, chest and neck.

As part of the Traditional Chinese Medicine assessment, Dalibor also takes your pulse. This helps us understand the wider picture, such as sleep, stress and general energy. If the assessment suggests a tear or another problem that needs imaging, we will recommend you see your doctor first.

How does acupuncture for shoulder pain work?

Acupuncture uses very thin, sterile, single-use needles. For the shoulder, points are usually chosen around the joint and shoulder blade, in the upper back and neck, and at distance points on the arm or leg. Needling is thought to increase local blood flow and change nerve signalling, which may help with pain, muscle guarding and inflammation. Research on acupuncture for shoulder pain is growing, and people respond differently.

Needles typically stay in for 20 to 30 minutes while you rest in a comfortable position. If lying on your side or front is difficult, we adjust the position.

How many acupuncture treatments will I need?

There's no fixed number. It depends on your condition and how your body responds. We start with an initial series of three treatments. This shows us how quickly your body responds and helps us set the right treatment frequency for you.

Acupuncture works cumulatively, with each session building on the last. For musculoskeletal concerns, most of our patients follow a one-month care plan:

• Weeks 1–2: 2–3 treatments per week
• Weeks 3–4: 2 treatments per week

That's typically 8–10 visits in the first month. After that, we reassess your progress and adjust your plan.

What can I do between visits?

• Keep the shoulder moving gently within a comfortable range. Holding it still for long periods tends to increase stiffness.
• Scale back, rather than stop, activities that provoke pain, especially overhead lifting and reaching behind you.
• Sleep on the other side, or on your back with a pillow under the sore arm.
• Set up your desk so your elbows rest close to your body and your mouse is within easy reach.
• Keep up any strengthening exercises your physiotherapist has given you.

When should I see a doctor instead?

Call 911 if shoulder or arm pain comes with chest pressure, shortness of breath, sweating or nausea, since these can be signs of a heart problem. See your doctor or go to an emergency department after a fall or accident with sudden weakness, deformity or inability to lift the arm. See your doctor too if the shoulder is hot, red and swollen, if you have a fever, or if the pain is steadily getting worse.

Is it safe?

Acupuncture with sterile single-use needles is generally low-risk in the hands of a registered practitioner. Minor bruising or brief soreness at a needle site can happen. Please tell us about any medications, especially blood thinners, and whether you are or might be pregnant.

What does it cost, and is it covered?

Your first visit is an initial examination ($110, about 60 minutes) followed by your first acupuncture treatment ($120), about 1 hour 15 minutes in total. Many extended health plans cover a Registered TCM Practitioner; check your plan for limits. See fees and insurance. We are at Unit 229, 1550 Enterprise Road in Mississauga, with free parking, about 20 minutes from Etobicoke via the 427 and 401.

If your shoulder has been holding you back, you can book a first visit online or call 647-342-2281.

Common questions

Can acupuncture help a frozen shoulder?

Frozen shoulder usually runs its course over many months. The aim of acupuncture is to help with pain and stiffness and to support the stretching and movement work you do with your doctor or physiotherapist. It does not shorten the condition in a predictable way, so expect a course of treatment, not a one-off.

Can acupuncture help a rotator cuff injury?

People with rotator cuff strain and tendon irritation often come in for acupuncture to help with pain and muscle tension while they rebuild strength. If you suspect a tear (sudden weakness after a fall or a lift), get it checked by your doctor first, who may refer you for imaging or surgery.

Why does my shoulder hurt more at night?

Night pain is common with rotator cuff and tendon problems. Lying on the sore side squeezes the irritated tissue, and fewer distractions make the pain more noticeable. Dalibor will show you sleeping positions that take the pressure off. If night pain is severe, constant or comes with fever or weight loss, see your doctor.

Can I keep going to the gym during treatment?

Usually yes, with changes. Dalibor will suggest which movements to pause or scale back, often overhead pressing and heavy pulling, while the shoulder settles.

This page is general information, not medical advice. Acupuncture works alongside the care you get from your family doctor. If your symptoms are new, severe or getting worse, see your doctor first.