Shoulder Pain
Shoulder Pain.
The body's only 360-degree joint — which makes it more complex, and more prone to problems. Here's a full guide to symptoms, causes, tests, treatment, and rehab.
What Is Shoulder Pain?
Shoulder pain occurs when a problem develops in the muscles, ligaments, bursa, or nerves around the shoulder joint. It is usually caused by a joint disorder or rotator cuff tendon damage.
The shoulder is the only joint in the body capable of 360-degree rotation, which makes it structurally complex — and just as prone to problems.
Key Symptoms
Limited Range of Motion
Sharp pain when raising the arm overhead or reaching behind the back; a catching sensation at certain angles
Night Pain
Pain that worsens at night while lying down, more than during waking hours, disrupting sleep
Radiating Pain
Pain that extends beyond the shoulder, causing tingling down to the elbow or fingertips
Main Causes of Shoulder Pain
Frozen Shoulder
A condition in which the joint capsule and ligaments around the shoulder become stiff due to inflammation and fibrosis.
- Shoulder pain begins gradually
- Difficulty changing clothes or reaching into a back pocket
- In severe cases, the arm can no longer be raised
- Often believed to resolve on its own, but pain can persist for about two years
Shoulder Impingement Syndrome
An umbrella term covering conditions such as rotator cuff tears, calcific tendinitis, and bursitis.
- The rotator cuff consists of four tendons surrounding the shoulder joint
- Connects the shoulder blade and upper arm bone, providing stability and movement
- Pain results from full or partial tendon tears
- Inflammation and calcification lead to impingement against the acromion, causing bursitis
Common Diagnostic Tests
Medical History
Covers 18 possible causes of pain, plus when it started, any injury, night pain, and range of arm motion
Physical Examination
Checks for impingement with specific movements, and palpates for tender points and muscle atrophy
X-ray
Checks bone structure and calcium deposits
Ultrasound
Provides a detailed diagnosis of rotator cuff tear severity and bursa inflammation
Common Treatment Methods
Nerve Block
Prolotherapy
Adhesiolysis
Collagen Injection
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT)
Exercise Therapy · Rehabilitation
Rehabilitative exercise therapy
Treatment that analyzes the root cause of frozen shoulder and shoulder impingement syndrome to correct movement patterns and posture. Essential not only for acute pain relief but also for preventing recurrence and rehabilitation.
Pectoralis Major · Minor
Serratus Anterior
Rhomboids · Trapezius
