Dr. Kwang Lee Wellness Center · Glendale, CA
Shoulder Pain Treatment in Glendale, CA: Chiropractic & Acupuncture
A painful shoulder makes dressing, reaching and sleeping hard. Dr. Kwang Lee, D.C., L.Ac., looks at the whole chain, from the neck and upper back to the shoulder blade, and combines joint work, acupuncture and targeted exercise to get your arm moving again.
Problems we see every week
- Frozen shoulder: stiffness that keeps getting worse
- Rotator cuff pain when lifting or reaching behind
- Pinching pain at the top of the shoulder (impingement)
- Shoulder pain that wakes you at night
- Pain after repetitive overhead work or sport
- Stiffness and clicking in the shoulder joint
What treatment involves
- Examination of the shoulder, shoulder blade, upper back and neck, since shoulder pain often starts elsewhere
- Joint mobilization to restore range of motion
- Acupuncture for pain and muscle guarding
- A short, progressive exercise program for the rotator cuff and shoulder blade
- Referral for imaging or an orthopedic opinion when a tear or other structural problem is suspected
Treatments we use for this problem
- Shockwave Therapy (incl. SoftWave)Tennis elbow, jumper's knee and shoulder tendinopathy · Plantar fasciitis and heel pain · Soft-tissue pain, tightness and restricted mobility
- Manual Therapy & Sports MedicineMuscle strains and sports injuries · Scar tissue and adhesions after injury · Tight, overworked muscles and fascia
- Acupuncture, Electro-Acupuncture & CuppingBack, neck, joint, nerve and myofascial pain · Headache and migraine frequency · Stress, tension and poor sleep
- Class 4 Cold Laser (Photobiomodulation)Ligament sprains and muscle strains · Tendonitis and bursitis, including tennis elbow · Neck, lower back and knee pain
- Human TECAR TherapyStubborn chronic muscle, tendon and joint problems · Chronic muscle tightness and limited flexibility · Post-injury swelling and inflammation
- Chiropractic AdjustmentAcute and chronic back pain, neck pain and sciatica · Tension and neck-related headaches · Radiating pain into the arms or legs
See a doctor or emergency room first if you have
- Sudden inability to lift the arm after an injury
- Obvious deformity or a shoulder that looks "out of place"
- Shoulder pain with chest pressure, shortness of breath or sweating (call 911)
- Redness, warmth and fever around the joint
Questions patients ask
How long does frozen shoulder take to improve?
Frozen shoulder goes through stages over months. Treatment aims to reduce pain and keep motion during the stiff phase so recovery is shorter and function is better at the end.
Do I need an MRI?
Not usually at first. If examination suggests a significant rotator cuff tear or the shoulder is not responding, Dr. Lee will recommend imaging and refer you.
Will I have to do exercises?
Yes. A few minutes a day of the right exercises is a large part of shoulder recovery. You will be shown exactly what to do.
Can I be treated in Korean?
Yes. Dr. Lee sees patients in Korean and English.