What most people call the shoulder is really several joints that combine with ligaments, tendons and muscles to allow a wide range of motion in the arm, from scratching your back to pulling the curtains.

Mobility has its price, however, as it may lead to increasing problems with instability or impingement of the soft tissue or bony structures in your shoulder, resulting in pain. You may feel it only when you move your shoulder, or all of the time. It all depends on which parts of the joint are affected... if indeed the shoulder is the primary problem after all.

So, how is it possible to have shoulder pain when there is nothing wrong with the shoulder? Look no further than the neck! The neck has complete control over the shoulder: it tells the shoulder when to move and it lets the brain know when the shoulder is hurting.

To put it simply if you cut the nerves that leave the neck and supply the shoulder you wouldn’t be able to move your shoulder and arm. Neither would your brain be able to receive any messages from the arm and shoulder regarding pain, temperature and touch.