“I have had sich a great experience seeing Dr. Bergin. When other offices have told me I just had muscle damage or the only thing they could do for me was give shots, he said he had others ways to manage my pain and numbness, along with improving mobility. And he was right! I feel so much better! With such friendly staff and welcoming office environment, it makes for an amazing experience. I'll definitely continue seeing him!”
Condition
Shoulder Pain Treatment
in Lakeland and The Villages, FL
Reaching overhead, sleeping on that side, fastening a seatbelt. When those get difficult, the shoulder has been compensating for a while. We find out for what.
- 22 years in practice
- Omniwave shockwave on site
- No cortisone, no surgery
- $47 new-patient exam
Medically reviewed by Dr. Justin Bergin, DC Updated September 18, 2026
Quick summary
Shoulder pain most often comes from the rotator cuff tendons, the bursa, the joint capsule, or the neck referring pain into the shoulder. Sorting out which is the job of the examination. Dr. Justin Bergin, DC pairs hands-on care with Omniwave shockwave therapy for stubborn tendon pain, at Lakeland and at Lady Lake for The Villages.
Understanding shoulder pain
Shoulder pain can come from the ball and socket joint, the rotator cuff tendons, the bursa, the joint capsule, or the shoulder blade behind it. Any one of those can be the source of your symptoms, and they do not all get treated the same way.
The shoulder trades stability for range. It moves further than any other joint in the body.
When the shoulder blade stops gliding on the rib cage, the overhead space narrows and the tendons and bursa are compressed on every repetition.
That is why shoulder problems so often start in the upper back and neck, and why treating only the sore spot gives short lived relief.
How it works
Soft tissue does the holding
The socket is shallow, so the soft tissue around the joint does most of the work of holding it in place.
The cuff centers the ball
Four rotator cuff muscles center the ball in that socket every time you lift the arm.
The bursa keeps the surfaces apart
A bursa sits between the tendons and the bone above them so the two do not grind.
Why does nobody seem to agree what is wrong with it?
Shoulders get diagnosed casually. Somebody calls it a rotator cuff, somebody else calls it bursitis, and both are guesses until the shoulder is properly tested.
Meanwhile you stop reaching for the top shelf, you stop sleeping on that side, and the arm quietly gets weaker.
What does the examination separate?
The examination at ChiroMed Wellness Centers separates the possibilities. A tendon that hurts when it is loaded behaves differently from a capsule that has tightened.
Both behave differently from a shoulder that hurts because the neck is sending pain into it.
Who is doing the examining?
Dr. Justin Bergin, DC has 22 years in practice. This is a spine practice as well as a joint practice, so the neck gets examined as part of the shoulder rather than afterwards.
What does the care itself involve?
Care is non-surgical and involves no injections. Omniwave shockwave for tendon pain that will not settle.
Soft tissue work around the cuff and shoulder blade. Adjusting where the neck and upper back are feeding the problem. Same lineup at both offices.
Independent background: Shoulder injuries and disorders, MedlinePlus.
Symptoms
Most people recognize their own version somewhere in this list. Each one maps to a specific finding the examination checks for.
- Pain reaching overhead
- Pain lying on that side at night
- Weakness lifting the arm out
- A catch or pinch at a certain angle
- Difficulty reaching behind the back
- Clicking or grinding on rotation
- Aching into the outer upper arm
- Stiffness that has slowly worsened
Common causes
Rotator cuff tendinopathy
Repeated loading degrades the cuff tendons faster than the body rebuilds them, producing pain on lifting and a dull night ache. It is the most common shoulder source we see.
Shoulder impingement
When the shoulder blade does not glide properly, the space above the cuff narrows. The tendon and bursa then get pinched on overhead movement, usually through one part of the arc.
Subacromial bursitis
The bursa cushioning the cuff becomes inflamed and thickened, which makes the shoulder painful at rest as well as on movement, particularly at night.
Adhesive capsulitis
The joint capsule thickens and contracts, so range is lost in every direction, including when someone else moves the arm for you. It needs a different plan from tendon pain.
Acromioclavicular joint wear
The small joint where the collarbone meets the shoulder blade gives pinpoint pain on top, worse on reaching across the body.
Referred pain from the neck
Irritation at a cervical segment or nerve root can present as shoulder pain with a shoulder that tests normally. It is missed often, and it is why a spine examination is part of every shoulder assessment here.
How we treat shoulder pain in Lakeland and The Villages
Shoulder care here targets the tissue the examination implicates and the mechanics that overloaded it. That usually means Omniwave shockwave therapy for a worn tendon and hands-on release work for the cuff and shoulder blade. Adjusting is added when the neck and upper back are involved.
Omniwave Shockwave for Stubborn Tendon Pain
Acoustic pressure waves are delivered into the tendon through the skin, with no needle and no anesthetic. They support the body's own repair response in tissue that has stopped answering to rest.
We use the Omniwave system. Sessions are short and most people go straight back to their day. Cash pay protocol, quoted before it starts.
Hands-On Work for the Cuff and Shoulder Blade
Active Release Technique and Graston work address the cuff, the muscles that control the shoulder blade, and the tissue that thickens around a guarded shoulder. Restoring shoulder blade movement is usually what reopens the overhead space.
Chiropractic Care Where the Neck Is Feeding It
If the cervical spine or upper back is referring pain or restricting shoulder blade motion, adjusting those segments changes what the shoulder has to tolerate. This is the insurance billed portion, verified for you in advance.
Available at our 2 locations
Treatment at our Lakeland office, and also at:
What recovery usually looks like
Getting the night pain down The opening phase
Sleep usually changes first, and it is the change patients notice most. Reaching overhead lags behind, because tissue tolerates load before it tolerates range.
Loading the tendon again Through the active plan
A tendon painful for months needs gradual loading, not indefinite rest. The home program becomes the center of the plan and the in-office work supports it.
Back to full reach Later in the plan
The goal is a shoulder doing what you need without planning around it, measured against the movement and strength findings from your first visit.
When it is not responding The honest checkpoint
A shoulder that has not improved by the agreed review may have a structural tear or a capsule problem needing imaging or a surgical opinion. That gets said plainly.
When to seek care sooner
What to try at home first: for a shoulder sore a couple of weeks with no weakness and no injury behind it, stop the one movement that hurts most and keep the rest.
Total rest is a mistake, because tendons weaken and capsules tighten when a shoulder stops moving.
Sleep with a pillow supporting the arm instead of lying on it. Work through gentle range daily, staying below the painful arc. Drop overhead pressing and heavy reaching for two weeks.
If reaching, sleeping and dressing are still restricted after three weeks, get it examined.
Book a medical appointment rather than ours if weakness followed a pop or a tearing sensation. Same if the shoulder hurts alongside weight loss you cannot explain.
Some shoulder symptoms need a doctor the same day. If you cannot lift the arm at all after a fall, get medical care first.
Same for a joint that is hot and swollen with a fever, or an arm that turns numb, cold or pale. Shoulder pain with chest tightness, sweating or breathlessness means calling 911.
Cost, insurance and financing
Shoulder care is quoted from the findings, not from a menu. You will know what your plan involves and what it costs at the report of findings, in writing, before anything is booked.
The one published price
Consultation, Exam, X-Rays (If Needed) & Report of Findings: Only $47
What affects the cost
- Which tissue the examination implicates
- Whether an Omniwave shockwave protocol is included
- Whether the neck and upper back need treating too
- How much range has already been lost
What a course includes
- The consultation, examination and report of findings
- Imaging where it changes the plan
- A home loading program written for your shoulder
Payment:
The chiropractic and hands-on portion of shoulder care bills insurance, with benefits verified before the first visit.
Omniwave shockwave therapy is a cash pay protocol, priced in writing before the course starts.
Payment plans are available for self-pay care. Ask the front desk which plan fits your course of care.
Who you would be seeing
What does he check that most shoulder assessments skip?
Dr. Justin Bergin, DC examines the shoulder and the neck together, which is the part most shoulder assessments skip.
Twenty two years in practice have made him quick to spot the shoulder that is not really a shoulder problem. He is equally quick to say when a shoulder needs a surgeon.
Why are the appointments longer here?
He built this practice around unrushed appointments for exactly that reason. You cannot separate a cuff problem from a referred one in seven minutes.
Dr. Justin Bergin, DC, 22 years in practice, performs the examination personally and explains the findings before any program starts. Lakeland: 6595 Florida Ave S, Suite 13, Lakeland. The Villages market office: 929 US-441 #404, Lady Lake. Both offices run the same program.
Getting to us
Where does the Lakeland office sit?
The Lakeland office at 6595 Florida Ave S, Suite 13 sits at the Southgate Shopping Center end of South Florida Avenue.
Shoulders come in from Highland City, Scott Lake, Dixieland and Christina, with the Polk Parkway making it a short run from eastern Polk County. Many are trade shoulders: overhead work, repetitive lifting, years of it.
What about patients driving from The Villages?
At 929 US-441 #404 in Lady Lake, just north of CR 466, the shoulders come from The Villages, Summerfield, Oxford, Wildwood, Fruitland Park and Leesburg.
Most are racquet, golf and pickleball shoulders, or shoulders that gave way after a fall.
Browse every condition on the conditions we treat index.
Shoulder Pain in recent research
These sources are independent of this practice and none of them endorses it. They are listed so the reasoning behind the care can be checked rather than taken on trust.
- Shock wave therapy for rotator cuff disease with or without calcification
Reviews shockwave therapy for rotator cuff problems and finds the evidence uncertain outside calcific cases, which is how we frame it here.
- Manual therapy and exercise for rotator cuff disease
The Cochrane review of hands-on care combined with exercise for rotator cuff problems, reporting results similar to injection or surgery in many cases.
Options compared, honestly
This is treated very differently depending on who you walk in to see. Here is the full set, including the options this practice does not provide.
| Option | What it is | Typically considered when | Invasive? | Offered at ChiroMed? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omniwave shockwave therapy Our approach | Acoustic pressure waves delivered through the skin into a degenerated tendon | Tendon pain has lasted months and rest has stopped changing it | No | Yes. Cash pay protocol, quoted before it begins |
| Soft tissue therapy | Manual and instrument work on the cuff and shoulder blade muscles | Tissue is adhered and range returns only briefly | No | Yes. Part of the hands-on plan |
| Chiropractic care for the neck and upper back | Restoring movement at segments that load the shoulder | The shoulder tests clean but the neck reproduces symptoms | No | Yes. Billed to insurance |
| Cortisone injection | A steroid injected into the bursa or around the tendon | Pain is severe enough to stop rehabilitation starting | Minimally | Not performed here. Reasonable for short term control when pain blocks rehabilitation |
| Platelet or orthobiologic injection | An injection prepared from blood or other biological material | Non-surgical care has failed and a specialist recommends it | Minimally | Not performed here. We make no claim about it and do not deliver it |
| Rotator cuff or decompression surgery | An operation to repair the cuff or make more room above it | A full thickness tear, a locked shoulder, or non-surgical care that has genuinely failed | Yes | Not performed here. A true structural tear needs a surgical opinion |
Three of these options are things we do not do. Shoulders that need them get told so, because a year of the wrong care costs more than an honest first visit.
What to expect
From evaluation to a plan for your shoulder pain
A course, not a single visit. The examination decides the length and the cost, and both are written down first.
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01Evaluation
Orthopedic and neurological testing, with imaging on site where it changes the plan.
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02Findings, in plain language
What the examination actually found, and honestly whether this is a case conservative care can help at all.
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03A written program
Which disciplines, how many visits, over what period, and what it costs. Decided before anything begins.
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04Reassessment as it runs
Function is re-measured through the course. If the response says the plan should change, it changes.
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Find out what is actually driving it before choosing a program.
“Dr. Bergin was instrumental in relieving my back pain which I had for many years. The techniques he used on relieving my back pain were impressive. I been going to chiropractors for years and Dr. Bergin is the best. Thank You Dr. Bergin :)”
“Took a good amount of time going over my preliminary results and going over potential care plan. Great adjustment and doesn’t sugarcoat when discussing. Would recommend”
“The environment is incredible at this office with the staff and also both doctors are extremely friendly and great at what they do”
“Amazing, Super friendly and talented Staff and Doctors! My back was a hot mess after a semi hit my car on my first day moving to Florida. But after going through the treatment program I was able to get my neck, my back and my life in alignment. It was a total transformation. Thank You New City Chiropractic!”
“Hands down the best chiropractic office out there! They are super friendly and make me feel comfortable to tell then what’s wrong. They always ensure the best treatment for their patients!”
“I absolutely love this place , it is like going to visit family. They are always so pleasant , happy , and professional. I always enjoy seeing the ladies , they always put a smile on my face and even if I am having a bad day. The doctors are always so friendly and concerned with my well being. I actually look forward to going there and miss them on the days that I don't go.”
“I only wish it was closer. You are welcome it's definitely a compliment and I have read the great comments people made about the facility and staff! Amen Open one in Auburndale please!!”
“HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend coming here if you have any pains in your back or neck!! These guys are AMAZING at what they do!! Just a few months into coming here, I feel a change in the way I walk, the way my head sits on my shoulders, and I just feel GREAT; ALL THE TIME!! Crazy what some little adjustments did for me!!”
“This is an awesome chiropractic!! They are all nice and kind! Ever Since I have been adjusting my back, I don't need to take medicine before I go to bed. Also, I have been sleeping without waking up in the middle of the night because of the pain!! I really recommend the chiropractic 😊”
“Dr. Bergin at Chiromed Wellness Centers is the best chiropractor in town. I no longer have to take pain meds. If you still have pain, you’re not seeing to best chiropractor.”
“Love this place!! Cynthia and Angie are amazing! So nice and helpful!! The chiropractor’s are also amazing!! Just a great place overall! I highly recommended it!!”
“Look them up I waited so long to see a chiropractor and I found this place and am so happy that I did . Love the Drs they are so helpful and make feel like family.”
“The staff is super friendly and they walked me through the whole process. I’ve been going for a few weeks now and I’m already feeling results! The treatment the offer is very hands on and informative. I’ve never had manual adjustments until coming to this office and the staff makes you feel comfortable and takes care of your needs. Highly recommend !”
“The best Chiropractic center in South lakeland! love it here the Doctors are very urged to help with any of your needs, the beautiful assistants are nice and helpful they really make you feel welcomed. Most highly recommended Chiropractic Center. :)”
“Muy profesional la atención es formidable todos los empleados son muy amigables.Y muy efectiva sus terapias..Los recomiendo 100x100%”
“My pain has decreased dramatically, I’m no longer stretching and moving my neck in every angle trying to find relief. Every part of my body I can feel is finally getting closer to symmetry! All I can say is you should give new city a try!”
“I love this place!! They're very caring for their patients and strive to help you feel better. I strongly recommend giving them a try. I promise you won't regret it”
“The staff is very knowledgeable and organized, they get to know you and are flexible about fitting your treatment in to your life. They use proven methods to treat the root of your issues and the results are incredible. I was in a lot of pain after a car crash and within a few weeks I was able to go back to my normal routine with no discomfort.”
“I have seen and feel the change in my body since I started, I use to have major pain in my knees and neck ache. I'm an athlete and constantly need more adjustments, and every time I come I always without a doubt feel welcomed and important.”
Get in touch
Schedule your shoulder pain evaluation
Tell us what you are feeling and which office is closer. The front desk answers during office hours; leave a message after hours and they call back the next open day.
- 1
Send the form
Two minutes. Tell us what hurts and which office is closer.
- 2
We call you back
A real person, during office hours, to find a time that works.
- 3
Exam and answers
History, orthopedic and neurological testing, imaging on site when it changes the plan.
- $47 consultation, exam, X-rays if needed and report of findings
- Payment plans available on the self-pay programs
- 4.8 out of 5 from 225 Google reviews
- Choose Lakeland or The Villages on the form
Shoulder Pain questions
Tap a message for the honest answer. Call Lakeland (863) 940-3444
How much does a session of shockwave therapy cost?
It varies by clinic, by body part and by how many sessions a course runs to, so a single published number would mislead you.
Here it is a cash pay protocol and the full course price goes in writing at your report of findings before anything is booked. The only figure we advertise is the $47 new patient visit.
Is there any downside to shockwave therapy?
The usual downsides are mild and short lived: tenderness at the treated area for a day or two, occasionally some redness.
It is not appropriate over an active infection, over a tumour, in pregnancy, or for people on blood thinners without medical clearance. The biggest real risk is being treated for the wrong diagnosis.
Will insurance pay for shockwave therapy?
Coverage varies by carrier, and some services may only qualify as cash-pay.
We run it as a cash pay protocol and tell you the price up front rather than billing hopefully and leaving you with a surprise. The chiropractic and hands-on portion of your shoulder plan does bill insurance, with benefits verified in advance.
Is shockwave therapy worth the money?
It is worth considering when a tendon has hurt for months, rest has stopped helping, and the next option is an injection or an operation.
It is not worth it for a shoulder sore ten days, or one whose real problem is in the neck. Candidacy is decided at the examination.
Why does my shoulder hurt more at night?
Lying down removes the support the arm gets during the day and lets the joint settle into a position that squeezes the cuff and bursa. An irritated tendon becomes more noticeable.
Night pain that stops you sleeping is one of the more reliable signs a shoulder needs examining rather than more waiting.
Can neck problems cause shoulder pain?
Yes, commonly enough that we examine the neck in every shoulder assessment. Irritation at a cervical segment or nerve root can produce pain felt in the shoulder and upper arm while the shoulder itself tests normally.
Treating that shoulder locally will not work, which is why the distinction is made before care starts.
Same-week appointments
Start with an examination, not a package.
Find out what is actually driving it before choosing a program.
- 4.8 out of 5 on Google
Consultation, Exam, X-Rays (If Needed) & Report of Findings: Only $47