Car accidents put enormous force on the body, often far more than we realize in the moment. Even at low speeds, the impact can jolt your upper body forward and backward, straining muscles, tendons, joints and irritating nerves in your neck-chest-shoulder blades-shoulders. If you’re experiencing shoulder pain after a car accident, it’s important to understand what’s happening beneath the surface and how to get lasting relief.
Common Types of Shoulder Pain From Car Accidents
The shoulder is a complex joint made up of muscles, ligaments, bones that pass through on the way to the arm-hand. They all work together to support the neck-chest-shoulder blades-shoulder and arms movement and smooth coordination. Its incredible flexibility allows your arms to move in countless directions, making everyday activities possible. But that same range of motion also makes the shoulder vulnerable to sudden injury and chronic wear and tear.
After a collision, it’s common to experience one or more of the following types of shoulder injuries:
Whiplash-Related Shoulder Pain
Contrary to common belief, whiplash doesn’t just affect the neck. It can also extend to the shoulders, causing stiffness, soreness, and limited range of motion. Untreated whiplash can disrupt shoulder mechanics, strain ligaments-mucsles-tendons and irritate nerves leading to lingering discomfort.
Rotator Cuff Injury
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that stabilize your shoulder. A sudden force from a seatbelt or airbag can cause tears, sprains, or inflammation in this area. You may notice difficulty lifting your arm, reaching overhead, or sleeping comfortably on the affected side.
Shoulder Sprain or Strain
Soft tissue injuries are among the most common results of car accidents. Overstretching or tearing the ligaments (sprain) or muscles (strain) can lead to sharp or aching pain. Without proper care, these soft tissue shoulder injuries can limit your mobility and contribute to long-term weakness or instability in the shoulder joint.
Dislocated Shoulder
A hard impact may cause the ball of the shoulder joint to move out of its socket, leading to immediate pain, weakness, or visible deformity. Even minor misalignments can cause chronic discomfort over time, requiring realignment and rehabilitation to restore strength, stability, and range of motion.
Referred Pain
Sometimes shoulder pain originates from the neck or upper back due to nerve compression or inflammation. This is why a comprehensive evaluation is key to finding the true source of pain. Referred pain may feel dull, achy, or radiating, and it often worsens with certain movements or postures.
Why Can Shoulder Pain Take Days to Manifest After a Car Accident?
After an auto collision, your body releases adrenaline and other stress hormones that can mask discomfort in the moment. Once that rush fades, inflammation begins to build as your soft tissues react to injury – and that’s when pain and stiffness often set in.
As swelling increases, muscles tighten to protect the area, which can lead to limited mobility, tingling, or sharp pain that wasn’t noticeable at first. Left untreated, these injuries can turn into long-term issues that interfere with daily life, from simple movements to sleep quality.
At Levi Chiropractic, we specialize in treating auto collision-related injuries with a focus on helping you recover quickly, restore mobility, and prevent chronic pain. Getting the right treatment early makes all the difference.
How Chiropractic Care Can Help Heal Your Shoulder Pain
At Levi Chiropractic, our goal is to relieve pain, restore normal joint, nerve and muscle function, and strengthen weak or deconditioned areas to prevent future injury. Dr. Levi personally supervises every phase of treatment, ensuring each patient receives individualized care in a clean, professional, and compassionate environment.
Chiropractic care following a shoulder injury can:
Reduce Inflammation and Restore Alignment
Gentle adjustments help realign the spine and shoulder joint, reducing pressure on surrounding nerves and improving overall mobility.
Improve Range of Motion
When muscles tighten and joints become restricted after a collision, chiropractic techniques help restore normal movement patterns safely and effectively.
Support Soft Tissue Healing
We often combine chiropractic adjustments with physiotherapy modalities, stretching, and targeted exercises to encourage faster healing and restore proper joint and muscle function – all without the use of drugs or surgery.
Prevent Long-Term Damage
Left untreated, shoulder injuries can lead to chronic pain, stiffness, or even early arthritis. Regular chiropractic care helps the body heal correctly and minimizes future complications.
Shoulder Pain Treatment in Gaithersburg and Takoma Park, Maryland
If you’re struggling with shoulder pain after a car accident, don’t wait for it to go away on its own. The sooner you begin treatment, the better your chances of full recovery. Schedule an appointment to start your recovery today!