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You’ve done the stretches. You’ve iced it. Maybe even Googled “rotator cuff tear at 2AM.”
And yet… your shoulder still hurts when you reach overhead, push yourself up, or throw a ball.
Here’s what most people (and honestly, even a lot of professionals) miss:
The real issue might not be where you feel the pain. It might be coming from a muscle you’ve never even heard of — your subscapularis.
Yeah, it’s a mouthful. But if you’re dealing with nagging pain in the front of your shoulder, this hidden muscle could be the missing piece.
Let’s break it down in real talk
What Is Anterior Shoulder Pain?
Anterior just means front.
So if your shoulder pain is sitting in the front part of your shoulder — maybe a dull ache, a sharp stab, or a “can’t lift my arm” kind of situation — you’ve got anterior shoulder pain.
Common reasons people in Springfield feel this type of pain:
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Strained or overworked bicep tendon
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Rotator cuff irritation
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Inflamed bursa (aka little fluid pillows that reduce friction)
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AC joint pain (where your collarbone meets your shoulder)
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Or a classic post-gym “what did I even do?” mystery tweak — especially after a session at Genesis Health Clubs or a long day skiing on Table Rock Lake
But here’s the catch…
Everyone focuses on the obvious stuff — like the deltoid or the bicep — and forgets to look at the real driver underneath it all: your subscapularis.
Meet the Subscapularis: The Silent Killer of Shoulder Function
This muscle sits deep in the front of your shoulder blade. You can’t see it. You’ve probably never heard of it.
But it’s a major player in helping you rotate your arm, stabilize your shoulder, and do basically anything athletic or overhead — whether you're swinging a bat at a Springfield Cardinals game or just trying to shampoo your hair.
And when it’s angry?
You might feel stiff, weak, or like your arm is stuck in molasses.
Quick facts:
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It’s the biggest muscle in your rotator cuff
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It helps you rotate your arm inward (like reaching behind your back)
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It can get strained from overuse, poor lifting technique, or weird positions during sports (think jiu-jitsu at 417 Jiu Jitsu, gymnastics, baseball, or CrossFit)
Sometimes it gets so irritated it mimics frozen shoulder. Yep — that “I can’t even lift my arm” vibe.
What Causes Subscapularis Pain?
It usually boils down to this:
- You moved your arm in a weird or extreme way
- You repeated the same motion over and over (like throwing or pressing)
- Your posture sucks and your body’s compensating
- You're over 40 and... well, life happens
Most of the time, it's not from a dramatic injury. It builds up over time — slowly, silently — until one day you're like:
“Why does shampooing my hair feel like a CrossFit workout?”
So How Do We Fix It?
Two words: Smart treatment.
(Not just YouTube stretches and a couple ibuprofen.)
At 417 Performance Chiropractic and Sports Rehab right here in Springfield, we combine passive treatments (stuff we do to you) with active work (stuff you do with us).
Passive Treatment:
This is how we get the pain to chill out fast so you can actually start moving again.
Soft tissue work
Manual therapy
Dry needling (basically resets the muscle like a Ctrl+Alt+Del for your body)
“Needles?! Wait—what?”
Relax. It’s not acupuncture. Dry needling hits deep, stubborn muscles and can reduce pain crazy fast. That said, if needles aren’t your thing, we’ve got other tools too.
Active Rehab:
This is where you build control, strength, and confidence — so the pain stays gone.
We’ll walk you through a step-by-step program:
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Pain Relief Phase – calm things down
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Strength Phase – wake up sleepy muscles
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Conditioning Phase – build real-world function
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Return to Life Phase – where you’re not even thinking about your shoulder anymore
And no, we don’t just throw random exercises at you.
We use specific movements (like DNS positions, isometrics, etc.) that re-train your body to move how it was designed to move — not how it’s been compensating for months.
Here’s the Truth Most People in Springfield Won’t Tell You:
If you’ve got shoulder pain that keeps coming back…
It’s not because you’re getting old.
It’s not because your body’s broken.
And it’s definitely not something you just “have to live with.”
It’s because something deeper hasn’t been addressed yet.
And chances are, that something is your subscapularis.
You’ve read this far because you’re looking for real answers.
The next step? Let’s fix it — right here in Springfield.
Schedule Your Free Discovery Call at 417 Performance in Springfield, MO
Whether you’re dealing with shoulder pain from work, sports, or just life in general — we’ve got your back (and shoulder).
417 Performance Chiropractic and Sports Rehab is located at:
4728 South Campbell Ave. Suite 132, Springfield, MO 65810
Appointments available now — no referral needed!
Click below to book your free discovery call with our team. We’ll help you understand what’s going on, what’s not working, and how to finally get back to moving without pain.
Schedule Your Free Discovery Call Now
Shoulder Pain FAQs
Q: Where are you located in Springfield, MO?
You’ll find us at 4728 South Campbell Ave. Suite 132 — just south of James River Freeway, near Twin Oaks Country Club.
Q: What makes 417 Performance different from other clinics?
We blend hands-on therapy with active rehab, helping Springfield patients fix the real root cause of pain — not just mask it.
Q: Do you work with athletes?
Absolutely. We help golfers, lifters, weekend warriors, and active adults of all lifestyles stay healthy and in the game.
Q: Is dry needling available at your clinic?
Yes! Dry needling is one of the tools we use to reset stubborn muscles like the subscapularis and reduce pain fast.
Q: Can I come in even if I’ve had shoulder pain for months (or years)?
Definitely. Many of our Springfield patients come to us after they've tried everything else. It’s never too late to get answers and real relief.
