What causes shoulder pain?

The shoulder carries an increased risk of acute injuries and overuse injuries/conditions due to its ability to move and perform in a wide range of movement. Therefore, pain can arise from various sources. Though fractures can occur, soft tissue injuries are more common. Significant injuries, such as shoulder dislocations or falling on the shoulder, may result in damage to the rotator cuff, the labrum, or ligaments which causes severe pain and loss of function. Overuse conditions can also involve the rotator cuff as well as other tendons and bursa within the shoulder girdle. These overuse conditions can progress slowly but often causes persistent pain, weakness in the shoulder, and an overall loss of ability to perform daily activities. The shoulder is also susceptible to a condition called frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) which causes a significant decrease in range of motion and pain. In some instances, there can be pain and dysfunction felt in the shoulder that is referred from the cervical spine (neck). A thorough medical evaluation is needed to determine the cause of pain, weakness, and loss of function. Individualized treatment plans are detrimental to the treatment of the various shoulder conditions.