Shoulder Blade and Shoulder Girdle Pain Treatment in Mineola, NY

MULLIGAN CONCEPT

Shoulder Blade and Shoulder Girdle Pain

Pain around or under the shoulder blade can come from the neck, the upper back and ribs, or from how the shoulder blade moves on the rib cage. At Enhanced Physical Therapy in Mineola, we find the source and use Mulligan shoulder blade mobilization, upper back SNAGs and neck techniques, together with strengthening for the muscles that control the shoulder blade.

Certified Mulligan Practitioner Over 10 Years of Experience

Our clinics director is a Certified Mulligan Practitioner (CMP) with over a decade
of experience using this evidence-based approach. Each treatment is customized to
your specific diagnosis and movement limitations to achieve optimal outcomes.

Common signs of shoulder blade and shoulder girdle pain

Aching around or under the shoulder blade
Pain that builds with desk work or carrying bags
Clicking or grinding as the shoulder blade moves
A shoulder blade that sticks out or moves unevenly
Neck or shoulder pain at the same time

What causes it

Pain here is often referred from the lower neck, or comes from stiff upper back joints and ribs. Weak or tired shoulder blade muscles, long desk hours and overhead sports also contribute.

How we examine it

Before any hands-on treatment, we ask about your health and screen for anything that needs a doctor first. We check the neck, upper back, ribs and shoulder, and watch how the shoulder blade moves as you lift your arm. We test which glide eases the pain during the visit.

Mulligan techniques we use

Scapular MWM. A guided glide of the shoulder blade while you lift or reach.
Thoracic SNAGs and Reverse NAGs. Glides on the upper back and neck junction.
Cervical SNAGs. If the neck is referring pain to the shoulder blade.
Taping. Tape to support shoulder blade position during activity.

What the research says

A 2021 randomized trial found scapulothoracic mobilization helped people with neck pain and shoulder blade movement problems. Thoracic SNAG trials are small, so we pair manual therapy with shoulder blade strengthening.

What else is in your treatment plan

Your plan includes manual therapy, shoulder blade and upper back strengthening, posture and workstation changes and a return to sport or lifting.

How long recovery takes

Many people improve over 3 to 8 weeks.

When to see a doctor first

Call your doctor, or get urgent care, if you have any of the following:

Pain under the shoulder blade with chest pain, shortness of breath or sweating: call 911
Right shoulder blade pain after fatty meals (possible gallbladder): see your doctor
Sudden winging of the shoulder blade with weakness
Numbness or weakness down the arm
Unexplained weight loss or a history of cancer

Shoulder blade and shoulder girdle pain treatment near Mineola

Enhanced Physical Therapy is at 137 Willis Ave, Suite 100, Mineola, NY 11501, a short walk from NYU Langone Hospital-Long Island. We see patients from Mineola, Garden City, Williston Park, New Hyde Park, Carle Place, Westbury, Albertson and Manhasset, and across central Nassau County.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my shoulder blade hurt?

Often the neck or upper back is referring pain, or the muscles controlling the shoulder blade are tired or weak.

What is shoulder blade winging?

When the shoulder blade lifts away from the rib cage as you move. Most cases relate to muscle control; sudden winging with weakness needs a doctor.

Can my neck cause shoulder blade pain?

Yes. The lower neck often refers pain to the inner edge of the shoulder blade.

Can shoulder blade pain be from an organ?

Occasionally, from the heart, lungs or gallbladder. We screen for these.

Written and clinically reviewed by Jacob Kurian, PT, MSPT, CMP, DPT, Certified Mulligan Practitioner, Enhanced Physical Therapy, Mineola NY. Last updated October 14, 2026.

Move Better, Feel Better

If this is limiting your work, sleep or activity, call Enhanced Physical Therapy at (516) 833-5880 to book an evaluation with Jacob Kurian, Certified Mulligan Practitioner. Mulligan treatment may help reduce pain and improve movement, and we will tell you honestly what to expect.