Golf Injury Treatment - Spokane, WA
Reviewed By: Stephen Byers, DC CSCS
SHOULDER PAIN FROM GOLF--AND WHAT ACTUALLY FIXES IT
Shoulder pain is one of the most common golf injuries we treat at the Movement Clinic. There is usually an explanation and a solution.
Does This Sound Familiar?
Pain that follows you on and off the course
"My ball striking suddenly became inconsistent."
"My warm-up swing feels fine...until the round starts."
"I've lost distance and I don't know why."
"I feel pain at the top of my backswing."
"The follow-through hurts more than the impact."
"My shoulder hurts even when I'm not playing."
Why It Happens
Two swing patterns we see in almost every golfer with shoulder pain
SWAYING AND SLIDING
Swaying happens in the backswing when a golfer can't turn around the trail hip well. Sliding happens in the downswing when a golfer can't turn around the lead hip well. These changes force the shoulder to move across the body (adduction). Repeated swinging from this position increases the likelihood for shoulder impingement.
CASTING
Casting is when the club is released too early in the down swing. This creates rapid acceleration of the clubhead early in the swing. When the club speeds up too early, the rotator cuff muscles of the shoulder must work much harder to slow down the club without help from the lower body.
What's Driving It
The physical reasons these patterns develop
Swing faults don't happen in isolation. They're usually the body's way of working around a physical limitation. When we evaluate golfers with shoulder pain, we commonly find one or more of these:
LIMITED HIP MOBILITY
The hips should be able to rotate. When they can't the players can "sway" or "slide" which typically causes the shoulder to move across the body and can lead to shoulder impingement issues.
LIMITED SHOULDER MOBILITY
Most golf instructors encourage their players to get the trail forearm vertical at the top of the backswing. When players don't have the freedom to move into this position, this creates compensatory problems that damage the shoulder.
INADEQUATE WARM-UP
Most golfers go from a desk or a car seat directly to the first tee. Cold, stiff tissue limits mobility and magnifies swing faults. A 5-10 minute targeted warm-up makes a measurable difference.
POOR GRIP STRENGTH
When players have poor grip strength this can lead to them "casting", or losing the wrist angle early in their swing. The muscles of the shoulder have to work overtime to try and slow down the club.
PUSHING OFF GROUND POORLY
When the legs aren't producing force efficiently, golfers can push side to side in their golf swing instead of rotating. This leads to swaying and sliding in the golf swing. Fixing this is often as important for the shoulder as mobility work on the hips.
POOR RECOVERY BETWEEN ROUNDS
Small irritations accumulate. Without consistent recovery work between rounds, stiff joints and tight muscles compound--turning a minor issue into persistent pain that follows you all season.
Our Approach
We use our Going Beyond Par Recovery Program to evaluate golf-related shoulder pain at the Movement Clinic
Most shoulder pain treatment starts with the symptom. We start with the movement--because that's where the answer usually is.
01
FULL MOVEMENT ASSESSMENT
We assess basic mobility, stability, and movement patterns across your whole body--not just your shoulder. This reveals any physical limitations which may be contributing to the problem, not just where it hurts.
02
GOLF-SPECIFIC BIOMECHANICAL TESTING
We assess your strength, power and swing mechanics to see how your physical limitations connect to your swing pattern. Understanding whether pain is coming from physical restrictions, swing mechanics, or both shapes everything that comes next.
03
SPORTS CHIROPRACTIC CARE
Targeted adjustments restore motion to stiff joints and reduce irritation to the affected areas of the body. Soft-tissue treatments help loosen muscles and reduce pain.
04
GOLF-SPECIFIC REHABILITATION
We use exercises to help you learn how to use the areas of your body that have been too locked up to work properly. We work to strengthen those muscles so you don't end up back where you started again.
05
RETURN TO PLAY PLANNING
We use our Going Beyond Par training guide to help you understand how to warm-up, train between rounds, and manage load so you can stay in the game--not just recover from it.
Learn more about our Going Beyond Par Recovery Care Program
Common Question
Should you stop playing golf if your shoulder hurts?
In most cases, no--and that's usually not what we recommend. Pain is a signal that something needs to change, not necessarily that golf needs to stop. With the right plan, most golfers are able to continue playing while they recover.
What we want to understand is why it's happening. Once that's clear, we can often modify how you're warming up, how you're managing load during a round, and what you're doing between rounds--and the pain starts to improve without giving up the game.
Pain lasting more than 1-2 weeks, recurring flare-ups, or shoulder pain that's affecting your distance or consistency are all signs that it's worth getting assessed sooner rather than later.
What to Expect
Realistic recovery timelines
Every golfer is different, but here's what we typically see based on the nature of the issue.
6-8 VISITS
Acute Flare-up
Recent onset, first-time issue. Fast response with the right treatment and activity modification
4-8 WEEKS
Persistent or Recurring Pain
Pain that has been present for weeks or months, or keeps coming back. Requires addressing the underlying movement dysfunctions.
8-16 WEEKS
Performance Rebuild
Full recovery requires building the necessary mobility, strength and swing mechanics needed to stay pain-free for the long term.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions golfers ask us about shoulder pain
Q: Can a chiropractor actually help with golf shoulder pain?
A: Yes--particularly when the care is movement-based rather than just adjustment-focused. Chiropractic care that combines adjustments with targeted mobility and strength work addresses both the pain and the underlying pattern driving it. Most golfers see meaningful improvement within a few weeks.
Q: Do I need imaging before coming in?
A: No. In most cases of golf-related shoulder pain, imaging isn't the first step. Our movement assessment gives us the information we need to get started. If imaging becomes relevant, we'll let you know and we can help order it.
Q: Is this just age--should I expect shoulder pain as a golfer?
A: This is one of the most common things we hear--and it's rarely true. Golf-related shoulder pain is almost always the result of a movement pattern, not age. We regularly work with golfers in their 50s, 60s, and 70s who resolve persistent shoulder pain once the underlying cause is identified.
Q: Should I rest completely, or can I keep playing?
A: Most of the time, complete rest isn't necessary. We'll assess your situation and give you specific guidance on what to modify during your recovery. Many golfers are able to continue playing with some adjustments to volume, warm-up and cool-down routine.
Q: How is this different from seeing a regular chiropractor or physical therapist?
A: Our team specializes in working with golfers and active adults. We assess movement patterns, understand swing mechanics, and build treatment plans that include targeted exercise and adjustments. We're focused on solving the problem and getting you back on the course.
Ready to stop guessing and find the actual cause?
If shoulder pain is affecting your game, schedule a movement assessment as part of our Going Beyond Par Recovery Care program. We'll identify what the problem is and what to do about it!