Get Back to Lifting, Competing, and Living Without Shoulder Pain.

Your shoulder pain isn't something you have to "just live with." Whether you're dealing with a nagging rotator cuff issue, shoulder impingement, or pain that flares up every time you reach overhead — Dr. Kauffman at The Athlete Spot™ in Ozark, MO can help you fix it for good.

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Why Your Shoulder Still Hurts

If you've been dealing with shoulder pain for weeks or months, you've probably already tried the standard advice: rest it, ice it, take ibuprofen. Maybe you got a cortisone shot that helped for a few weeks before the pain came back. Maybe you've been stretching religiously but nothing changes.

Here's what nobody told you: rest makes weak muscles weaker. Your shoulder is designed for movement — and it relies on the surrounding muscles (your rotator cuff, scapular stabilizers, and upper back) to keep it stable. When those muscles are weak or not firing properly, your shoulder compensates — and that's where the pain comes from.

The solution isn't to stop moving. It's to start loading your shoulder correctly so it can handle what you need it to do.

How We Treat Shoulder Pain at The Athlete Spot™

At The Athlete Spot in Ozark, Missouri, Dr. Thomas Kauffman takes a fundamentally different approach to shoulder rehabilitation. Instead of rest-based protocols that leave you weaker, we use the AntiFragile Athlete Framework™ — a progressive loading approach that builds your shoulder's capacity to handle stress.

What that looks like in practice:

Step 1: Find the Root Cause We don't just poke where it hurts. We assess your entire movement chain — shoulder, thoracic spine, shoulder mechanics, and even your core — to identify exactly why your shoulder is breaking down.

Step 2: Reduce Pain & Restore Motion Through hands-on chiropractic adjustments, dry needling, and targeted soft tissue work, we reduce your pain and restore your range of motion so you can start moving again.

Step 3: Rebuild Strength & Stability This is where most clinics stop, but it's where we really get to work. We build a personalized corrective exercise program that progressively loads your shoulder so it becomes stronger than it was before the injury.

Step 4: Return to Performance Our goal isn't just "pain-free." It's getting you back to pressing overhead, competing in your sport, and trusting your shoulder again, with confidence that it can handle the demands of your life.

Shoulder Conditions We Treat

  • Rotator cuff injuries and tears — including partial tears that can heal with proper loading

  • Shoulder impingement — pain when reaching overhead or behind your back

  • Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) — progressive loss of range of motion

  • Labral injuries — including SLAP tears in overhead athletes

  • AC joint pain — common in weightlifters and contact sport athletes

  • Post-surgical shoulder rehabilitation — recovery after rotator cuff repair, labral repair, or shoulder replacement

  • Chronic shoulder instability — recurring subluxations or dislocations

  • Tendinopathy — irritation and degeneration of shoulder tendons from overuse

  • Shoulder pain from CrossFit, Olympic lifting, or overhead sports

Who We Help With Shoulder Pain

The Athlete Spot™ works with athletes and active adults across Ozark, Springfield, Nixa, and the greater Ozarks region who refuse to accept "just stop doing that" as a treatment plan. Our shoulder rehabilitation patients include:

  • CrossFit athletes and Olympic lifters who need to press overhead without pain

  • Wrestlers and cheerleaders with repetitive shoulder injuries

  • Weekend warriors and gym enthusiasts who want to get back to training

  • Former athletes in their 30s-50s dealing with old injuries that never healed right

  • Construction workers and manual laborers who need their shoulders for work

  • Runners experiencing shoulder/neck tension from poor posture

  • Youth athletes recovering from sports injuries

Ready to Fix Your Shoulder for Good?

Stop waiting for shoulder pain to go away on its own. Dr. Kauffman has helped hundreds of athletes and active adults in Ozark, Springfield, and Nixa get back to the activities they love — stronger and more confident than before.

The Athlete Spot™ | 5349 N 22nd St, STE 5, Ozark, MO 65721 | (636) 224-8587

Book Your Shoulder Evaluation

Frequently Asked Questions

  • No. Dr. Kauffman will perform a thorough assessment and let you know if imaging is needed. In many cases, imaging isn't necessary to begin treatment.

  • Most shoulder patients see significant improvement within 6-8 visits. Chronic or post-surgical cases may take longer. Dr. Kauffman will give you a clear plan at your first visit.

  • Many shoulder conditions that are recommended for surgery — including partial rotator cuff tears — respond well to conservative rehabilitation with progressive loading. It's worth exploring non-surgical options first.

  • The Athlete Spot is a cash-based practice. This means longer sessions, no referral needed, and a treatment plan that's 100% focused on your recovery — not what insurance approves.

  • The Athlete Spot™ is located at 5349 N 22nd St, STE 5, Ozark, MO 65721. We serve patients from Springfield, Nixa, Republic, Rogersville, and the greater Southwest Missouri area.