Common Causes of Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain is a common complaint that I see in my clinical practise. There are many causes of pain over the shoulder area. Most of the causes are not due to the shoulder joint itself, but due to structures surrounding the shoulder joint.

Adhesive Capsulitis is a condition in which the capsule of the shoulder joint becomes tight. This causes inability to move the shoulder in different directions. This condition is also known as Frozen Shoulder. Simple tasks like combing hair and wearing clothes become difficult.

It is common in middle aged people. Find out more about the diagnosis and treatment at the Adhesive Capsulitis page.

The biceps muscle has two tendons of origin. One is called the long head and the other short head (funny names but quite practical). Now this long head passes through a slot in the humerus bone called the bicipital groove. Sometimes the tendon becomes irritated and inflamed as it passes through this groove. This condition is called Bicipital Tendinitis. Know more about the causes, investigations and treatment options of this condition in the Bicipital Tendinitis page.

Another important cause of pain over the shoulder is subacromial bursitis. In this condition the subacromial bursa becomes swollen. Bursa are structures located close to joints that lubricate the movement of tendons and bones near the joints. More on subacromial bursitis including causes, diagnosis and treatment in the Subacromial Bursitis page.

Four muscles around the shoulder joint blend together to form a strong covering that strengthens the capsule of the shoulder joint. This structure is called the rotator cuff. With age this cuff may become weak and may cause shoulder pain. This condition is called rotator cuff tendinitis. Diagnosis and treatment options are dealt with in the Rotator Cuff Tendinitis page.

The shoulder joint is a very mobile joint. This mobility comes at the expense of stability. Hence the shoulder joint is also the most common joint to dislocate and re-dislocate! More on shoulder dislocation including symptoms, diagnosis, methods to re-locate and rehabilitation in the Shoulder Dislocation page. See also the Recurrent Shoulder Dislocation page if you have dislocated your shoulder more than once.

Fractures of the shoulder are more common in middle age and old age because of osteoporosis. Diagnosis and treatment options can be seen in the Shoulder Fracture page.

Cervical spondylitis and Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gall bladder) can produce pain in the shoulder area.

You really want to get a good understanding about these conditions? Then make sure you read the Shoulder Anatomy page before clicking the links above or below.

I hope the information provided was helpful. If you have any query you can ask me at the contact me page.

This page was last updated on 1st April 2009.

Causes of shoulder pain...

Adhesive Capsulitis or Frozen Shoulder

Bicipital Tendinitis

Subacromial Bursitis

Rotator Cuff Tendinitis

Shoulder Fracture

Shoulder Dislocation

Recurrent Shoulder Dislocation

Shoulder Anatomy

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