Shoulder pain can be as minimal as a quick intermittent pain that is often described as a ‘sharp catch’, but can progress to a more constant dull ache down the arm. Commonly, shoulder pain can result in aching that disrupts sleeping postures and results in restless sleeps and increased pain at night.
Problems in the shoulder can occur with everyday wear and tear, overuse or an isolated injury. While there are many causes of shoulder pain, it is important to have an accurate diagnosis so that the appropriate treatment is implemented.
Common medical diagnoses for shoulder pain include:
- rotator cuff tendonitis
- rotator cuff tear
- impingement syndrome
- frozen shoulder
- shoulder dislocations and shoulder separations
- shoulder bursitis
Common causes of shoulder pain:
- weakness of the rotator cuff and shoulder muscles
- weakness of the shoulder blade muscles
- a stiff shoulder joint
- imbalances between shoulder muscle groups that results in poor arm and shoulder blade movement
- poor posture, such as an increased rounding of the shoulder blades
- trauma, such as a fall, involving the arm
- shoulder surgery
