Shoulder pain is the discomfort and aching in the shoulder joint or the surrounding tendons, ligaments, and muscles.
The shoulder joint or glenohumeral joint is a ball and socket joint, and it connects the upper limb to the body. Besides muscles, tendons, and ligaments, your shoulder consists of three bones:
- The collarbone
- The shoulder blade
- Upper arm bone
It is a very flexible joint and also the most movable and unstable joint, thereby making it prone to many different musculoskeletal problems (related to muscles and bones) and injuries.
The nature of shoulder pain and its intensity varies from dull to sharp. The pain and its characteristics depend on the underlying cause.
Causes of Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain can result from any of the following:
- Tendon inflammation (bursitis or tendinitis)
- Instability
- Frozen shoulder
- Shoulder Arthritis
- Dislocated shoulder
- Rotator cuff
- Fracture
- Tumors
- Infections
- Nerve-related disorders
Symptoms of Shoulder Pain
If you are experiencing any of the following signs and symptoms, your doctor may suspect issues related to your shoulder joint:
- Pain while lifting your arm overhead: indicates damage in the tendons or bones around your rotator cuff.
- Lack of strength and weakness in the shoulder
- Problems with lifting things
- Clicking and popping sound while moving the arm
- Pain while doing everyday things like combing your hair or wearing a shirt.
Dr. Garima Singh
Physiotherapist
BPT and DPTR.