This information is not a definitive list but only a guide to possible causes of your pain which can be helped by your physiotherapist. There are a wide range of medical conditions that can cause your pain. An assessment by one of our physiotherapists will allow them to take a detailed history and perform a thorough examination to give a diagnosis. They can then treat you effectively or recommend a medical referral if it is required.

Impingement

The acromion is a piece of bone protruding off the front of your shoulder blade over the shoulder. Below the acromion there is a space called the sub-acromial space. The tendons of the rotator cuff muscles that surround and support the shoulder joint pass through this space. There is also a fluid filled sac called the bursa that lies between the tendons and the acromion. Impingement is when the acromion rubs against the tendons or bursa when you lift your arm and this can give rise to pain on the front or the outside of the shoulder when doing activities which involve rising the arm above your head. Your physiotherapist will be able to perform specialized tests to help determine whether impingement is the cause of your shoulder pain.

"Internal impingement" is a term used to describe a constellation of symptoms which result from the greater tuberosity of the humerus and the articular surface of the rotator cuff abutting the postero superior glenoid when the shoulder is in an abducted and externally rotated position.

Osteoarthritis of the shoulder is a gradual wearing of the articular cartilage that leads to pain and stiffness. As the joint surface degenerates, the subchondral bone remodels, losing its sphericity and congruity. The joint capsule also becomes thickened, leading to further loss of shoulder rotation

When your shoulder joint becomes loose and leaves the socket, it's called shoulder dislocation, or shoulder instability. The more frequently your shoulder fully or partially dislocates, the more unstable it becomes. Shoulder instability can also be caused by prior shoulder injuries, overuse or genetic conditions.

A labrum tear, also called a SLAP tear, is a tear to the ring of cartilage surrounding your shoulder's socket. This injury is common among athletes participating in sports that involve repetitive throwing or overhead motions, such as baseball and volleyball, as well as football.

Rotator cuff tendinopathy is when a tendon in your shoulder has tiny tears in it or is inflamed and hurts. It's usually caused by overuse or general wear and tear. Sometimes called tendinosis or tendinitis, this type of shoulder pain is more common in people over age 30.

Rotator cuff strains or tears are caused by overuse or acute injury. The tendons that connect muscles to bones can overstretch (strain) or tear, partially or completely. The rotator cuff can also strain or tear after a fall, a car accident, or another sudden injury.

Calcific tendinopathy is a disorder of the shoulder of unknown etiology. It is characterized by the formation of deposits of calcium crystals in one or several of the rotator cuff tendons, leading to pain and dysfunction. Many cases resolve spontaneously or with conservative management.

Biceps tendinopathy describes pain and tenderness in the region of the biceps tendon. The biceps musculotendinous junction is particularly susceptible to overuse injuries, especially in individuals performing repetitive lifting activities.26 Feb 2021

Includes Diseases: Shoulder impingement syndrome

Symptoms: Tenderness (medicine)

Frozen shoulder, also called adhesive capsulitis, is a painful condition in which the movement of the shoulder becomes limited. Frozen shoulder occurs when the strong connective tissue surrounding the shoulder joint (called the shoulder joint capsule) become thick, stiff, and inflamed.

A broken collarbone, or fractured clavicle, is a common injury. It usually happens after a fall or a blow to the shoulder. It takes about 6 to 8 weeks to heal in adults, and 3 to 6 weeks in children. The collarbone is a long, slender bone that runs from the breastbone to each shoulder.

An AC joint injury describes an injury to the top of the shoulder. It occurs where the front of the shoulder blade (acromion) attaches to the collarbone (clavicle). Most often, trauma, such as a fall directly on the outside of the shoulder, causes an AC joint injury.

This type of injury occurs over time due to repeated and too much stress on the joint. Cartilage at the end of the acromion and clavicle bones protects the joint from daily wear and tear. Over time, the demand placed on this cartilage may be more than it can endure.

The first sensation felt when the pectoralis major muscle is torn is sudden pain. This pain is usually felt at the front of the armpit and is sometimes felt across the chest. At the same time you may also feel something 'tearing' in your chest. In minor tears you may be able to continue participating with slight pain.

The most common symptom of a subscapularis tear is shoulder pain, especially in the front of the shoulder. You might also hear or feel “clicking” in your shoulder when you rotate your arm. Some symptoms of a subscapularis tear are very similar to symptoms of other rotator cuff tears.

Scapular spine stress fractures are rare, but can occur in patients with a combination of massive rotator cuff tear with arthropathy and poor bone quality. Fracture union either by conservative or operative route is associated with a good functional outcome and is supported by our literature review.

Physiotherapy is required to maintain shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand strength as is possible and then once the fracture is healed to restore full arm movement, strength and function. If the radial nerve is affected specific exercises for the nerve can be set.

Thoracic outlet syndrome is a group of disorders that occur when blood vessels or nerves in the space between your collarbone and your first rib (thoracic outlet) are compressed. This can cause pain in your shoulders and neck and numbness in your fingers.

It is referred to as ‘effort’ as frequently related to activities that require vigorous activity. The compression of the vein can take place in 4 different areas and leads to a dull aching pain and numbness or tightness. The arm or shoulder can feel heavy and often tired after doing activities involving the arm. Coldness and swelling of the arm can happen. Rest and anticoagulation medication is required. If your physiotherapist suspects this is the cause of your symptoms they will recommend you have a review with your doctor.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that can cause joint pain and damage throughout your body. The joint damage that RA causes usually happens on both sides of the body. So, if a joint is affected in one of your arms or legs, the same joint in the other arm or leg will probably be affected, too.

Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way your brain and spinal cord process painful and non painful signals.

Chronic pain is pain that is ongoing and usually lasts longer than six months. This type of pain can continue even after the injury or illness that caused it has healed or gone away. Pain signals remain active in the nervous system for weeks, months or years

These possible causes included down as: