Why are more people affected by shoulder pain?
The increased incidence of shoulder pain is associated with a number of factors, including increased life expectancy, the popularity of particular sports activities, the societal trend toward a more sedentary lifestyle, and insufficient physical conditioning prior to playing sports and engaging in other physical activities.
It is often possible to identify the muscle tendon that is directly involved in a shoulder disorder by determining the types of movement that either elicit or amplify pain.
- Shoulder pain while raising your arm from your side indicates an injury to the supraspinatus muscle.
- Shoulder pain while turning the upper arm outward from your side with your elbow flexed 90° indicates an injury to the infraspinatus muscle.
- Shoulder pain while turning the upper arm inward with your elbow flexed 90° indicates an injury to the subscapularis muscle.
- Front shoulder pain while raising your arm above your head indicates an injury to the biceps tendon.
The most common diagnoses include:
- Impingement syndrome
- Tendon tear/torn rotator cuff
- Calcific tendonitis
- Shoulder osteoarthritis
- Inflammatory diseases such as polymyalgia rheumatica
Treatment for Shoulder Pain
No matter what the particular diagnosis, shoulder pain usually responds well to non-surgical treatment involving physical therapy. This may include cryotherapy for intense pain and pain that has just developed and thermotherapy or electrotherapy for less intense pain and pain that has been around longer.
Focused and effective therapy for shoulder pain depends on a precise and reliable diagnosis.
Arriving at a Precise Diagnosis
A shoulder specialist can determine the cause of a shoulder disorder by interviewing the patient, conducting a physical examination, and carrying out one or more imaging procedures, including ultrasound, x-rays and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
When might it be necessary to perform shoulder surgery?
Assuming that a precise diagnosis has been made and physical therapy has proven ineffective at improving the condition, it may be advisable to consider surgical options.
More information about shoulder surgery


Shoulder Pain