Shoulder and Hip Pain Chiropractor in Surprise, AZ

The shoulder and the hip are the two most mobile joints in your body, and that mobility is exactly what makes them vulnerable. A joint that moves in every direction depends on the muscles around it to hold it centered, and when those muscles stop doing their job the joint grinds where it should glide. At Legg Chiropractic and Acupuncture in Surprise, Dr. Derek M. Legg, D.C., M.P.H. finds whether the problem is the joint itself, the muscles and tendons around it, or a low back or pelvis referring pain into the hip, and treats it with chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture and dry needling in one focused visit. New self pay patients start at $49 for a first visit that includes the consultation, exam, X-rays if clinically necessary, and first treatment. Walk ins are welcome Monday through Thursday.

Why shoulder and hip pain keeps coming back

Rest quiets an angry joint but does not re-center it. If a rotator cuff tendon is frayed, or the joint capsule has tightened down, or the sacroiliac joint is the real source, nothing changes while you wait. The pain settles for a week and returns the first time you reach overhead, roll onto that side at night, or climb a flight of stairs. Treating the place where the pain is felt, instead of the reason it is there, is why so much shoulder and hip care stalls, and it is why the examination comes before any treatment plan here.

The two causes we treat together

Shoulder and hip pain usually comes from two directions at once: the joint losing its normal motion, and the muscles and tendons around it guarding, inflaming and pulling it off center. The adjustment restores motion to the joint. Acupuncture and dry needling release the tissue that keeps holding it wrong. Doing only one is why most treatment fails. Here all three happen in the same visit with the same doctor, and Dr. Legg is Certified in Acupuncture and performs every treatment himself.

Types of shoulder pain we see

Rotator cuff injuries, where the four muscles that hold the shoulder centered are frayed, torn or inflamed, and the tell is pain lifting the arm with weakness that does not match the pain level. Shoulder impingement, where the tendons are pinched in the narrow space under the tip of the shoulder blade every time you raise your arm, painful in an arc overhead and fine below shoulder height. Frozen shoulder, where the joint capsule thickens and tightens until the shoulder simply will not go where you tell it; it comes on slowly and responds best when treatment starts early. Shoulder pain that started with a crash, often from the seatbelt or from bracing on the wheel, belongs on the auto accident injuries page, and a shoulder hurt on the job on the work injuries page.

Types of hip pain we see

Hip bursitis, where the fluid sac cushioning the outside of the hip becomes inflamed, with pain lying on that side at night and tenderness right on the bony point. Hip labral tears and joint pain, where the cartilage ring sealing the socket tears or wears, felt as deep groin pain, catching or clicking, and trouble getting in and out of a car. Sacroiliac joint dysfunction, where the joint between the pelvis and the spine locks up or moves too much and refers pain into the buttock and outer hip; it is very often mistaken for a hip problem. Pain that runs from the hip down the leg is covered on the sciatica and radiating pain page.

What happens at the examination

Range of motion in the shoulder or hip and in the spine above it, the joints that are not moving, the muscles that are guarding, strength and nerve tests that tell us whether the joint or the spine is the driver, and a history that asks when it started and what makes it worse. Digital X-rays are taken when the history or the examination calls for them, not as a routine. If you want to know what a film actually shows before you see one, the guide to understanding your X-rays walks through it in plain words. Existing imaging is welcome, and we also offer an MRI review. Read more about your first visit.

How the treatment plan works

The adjustment restores motion at the shoulder, the hip, and the spinal and pelvic joints that feed them. Acupuncture and dry needling release the rotator cuff, glute and hip muscles that keep pulling the joint off center. Corrective exercise teaches the shoulder blade and the hips to hold the change, and a posture evaluation deals with the desk, the phone or the driving that keeps reloading the joint. Chiropractic here is not only spinal; the shoulder and hip are examined and adjusted themselves. All of it happens in the same visit with the same doctor, and long standing cases are handled on the chronic conditions page.

Can a chiropractor help shoulder and hip pain?

Yes. Dr. Legg examines and adjusts the shoulder and hip themselves, treats the surrounding muscles with acupuncture and dry needling, and checks whether the pain is actually referred from your spine or pelvis. If chiropractic is not the right fit for your case, he tells you on day one and points you to who should see you. Individual results vary.

Is my hip pain actually coming from my hip?

Often it is not. Pain felt in the hip and buttock is frequently referred from the low back or the sacroiliac joint, which is why hip treatment alone fails for so many people. The examination sorts out which it is, and the answer changes the whole treatment plan. Low back pain on its own is covered on the back pain page.

How many visits before my shoulder improves?

Many patients notice a change within the first few visits, though a frozen shoulder or a long standing rotator cuff problem takes longer than an impingement that started last month. Your examination and X-rays guide a realistic plan rather than an open-ended one, and you see the same doctor at every visit. What to do between visits is on the after your adjustment page.

Does insurance or Medicare cover shoulder and hip care?

We accept most major plans and verify your benefits before your first visit. Medicare covers medically necessary chiropractic spinal adjustments only. Acupuncture, dry needling and adjustments of the shoulder or hip performed by a chiropractor are not covered by Medicare and are billed as self-pay. The $49 first visit is for new self-pay patients and does not apply to Medicare, auto accident, personal injury or workers' compensation cases. See insurance accepted and Medicare for details.

When is shoulder or hip pain not a case for this office?

A shoulder or hip that is visibly deformed after a fall, a hip that will not bear weight, a joint that is hot, red and swollen with a fever, or left shoulder or arm pain that comes with chest pressure or shortness of breath belongs in urgent or emergency care first, not here. That is not a diagnosis, it is the line where you should be seen somewhere else before you see us. If anything in your history points that way, we will tell you at the examination.

Visit us

Legg Chiropractic and Acupuncture, 13757 W Bell Rd #101, Surprise, AZ 85374, inside Sheitelman Physical Medicine on West Bell Road. Call (623) 214-7600 or book online. Monday to Thursday, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, Arizona time. Dr. Derek M. Legg, D.C., M.P.H. earned his Doctor of Chiropractic at Logan University and a Master of Public Health, and you see the same doctor at every visit. Learn more about Dr. Legg, see every condition we treat, or read about neck pain and care for athletes. Individual results vary. Reviewed by Dr. Derek M. Legg, D.C., M.P.H. Last reviewed September 2026.