Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsShoulder ImpingementRotator Cuff InjuryShoulder Inflammation

Table of ContentsView All

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Table of Contents

Shoulder Impingement

Rotator Cuff Injury

Shoulder Inflammation

Causes ofshoulder painand weakness can vary in both younger and older people. You might experience minor “clicks” and aches or have persistent, debilitating pain and severe restriction of motion.

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While injury and arthritis are among the more common causes of shoulder weakness and pain, there are other conditions that can give rise to these symptoms. They include shoulder impingement, rotator cuff tears, and shoulder inflammation.

If left untreated, an impingement can lead to the gradual tearing of tendons around the rotator cuff as they begin to weaken and thin.

Painful Arc in the Shoulder

The rotator cuff is agroup of four musclesand tendons that surround the ball of the shoulder joint. These structures together help lift the arm and perform overhead tasks.

In others, symptoms can be more pronounced and include:

Treating Rotator Cuff Injuries

Over time, the lack of movement can lead to increased weakness and a loss of muscle mass, strength, and endurance.

While many of the symptoms of these conditions are similar, they have differences, as well.

Bursitis

Bursitisis the inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs (bursa) that help reduce friction in your shoulder space.

The appearance of symptoms tends to be gradual rather than immediate. The pain is localized around the outside of the shoulder. There may also be swelling, tenderness, and excessive warmth at the site.

There is generally little pain if you hold your arm to your side or lift it to a 90-degree angle.

Treating and Preventing Bursitis

Tendonitis

Shoulder clicking is common, often more so when you reach behind your head or back. Pain can be felt when raising your arm above your shoulder or sleeping on the shoulder itself. As tendonitis progresses, the pain can become more persistent and severe.

Persons with shoulder tendonitis may also experience weakness, swelling, tenderness, and loss of range of motion.

Treatment Options for Tendonitis

Brachial Neuritis

Brachial neuritis can cause inflammation in a group of nerves that service the shoulder and arm, which is called thebrachial plexus.

Parsonage-Turner Syndrome

8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mitchell C, Adebajo A, Hay E, Carr A.Shoulder pain: diagnosis and management in primary care.BMJ. 2005;331(7525):1124–1128. doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7525.1124Garving C, Jakob S, Bauer I, Nadjar R, Brunner UH.Impingement syndrome of the shoulder.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2017;114(45):765–776. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2017.0765MedlinePlus.Rotator cuff injuries.Sambandam SN, Khanna V, Gul A, Mounasamy V.Rotator cuff tears: An evidence based approach.World J Orthop. 2015;6(11):902–918. doi:10.5312/wjo.v6.i11.902Linaker CH, Walker-Bone K.Shoulder disorders and occupation.Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2015;29(3):405–423. doi:10.1016/j.berh.2015.04.001Johns Hopkins Medicine.Shoulder bursitis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Shoulder tendonitis.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Parsonage Turner syndrome.Additional ReadingAmerican Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. OrthoInfo.Shoulder pain and common shoulder problems.

8 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mitchell C, Adebajo A, Hay E, Carr A.Shoulder pain: diagnosis and management in primary care.BMJ. 2005;331(7525):1124–1128. doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7525.1124Garving C, Jakob S, Bauer I, Nadjar R, Brunner UH.Impingement syndrome of the shoulder.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2017;114(45):765–776. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2017.0765MedlinePlus.Rotator cuff injuries.Sambandam SN, Khanna V, Gul A, Mounasamy V.Rotator cuff tears: An evidence based approach.World J Orthop. 2015;6(11):902–918. doi:10.5312/wjo.v6.i11.902Linaker CH, Walker-Bone K.Shoulder disorders and occupation.Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2015;29(3):405–423. doi:10.1016/j.berh.2015.04.001Johns Hopkins Medicine.Shoulder bursitis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Shoulder tendonitis.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Parsonage Turner syndrome.Additional ReadingAmerican Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. OrthoInfo.Shoulder pain and common shoulder problems.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Mitchell C, Adebajo A, Hay E, Carr A.Shoulder pain: diagnosis and management in primary care.BMJ. 2005;331(7525):1124–1128. doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7525.1124Garving C, Jakob S, Bauer I, Nadjar R, Brunner UH.Impingement syndrome of the shoulder.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2017;114(45):765–776. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2017.0765MedlinePlus.Rotator cuff injuries.Sambandam SN, Khanna V, Gul A, Mounasamy V.Rotator cuff tears: An evidence based approach.World J Orthop. 2015;6(11):902–918. doi:10.5312/wjo.v6.i11.902Linaker CH, Walker-Bone K.Shoulder disorders and occupation.Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2015;29(3):405–423. doi:10.1016/j.berh.2015.04.001Johns Hopkins Medicine.Shoulder bursitis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Shoulder tendonitis.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Parsonage Turner syndrome.

Mitchell C, Adebajo A, Hay E, Carr A.Shoulder pain: diagnosis and management in primary care.BMJ. 2005;331(7525):1124–1128. doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7525.1124

Garving C, Jakob S, Bauer I, Nadjar R, Brunner UH.Impingement syndrome of the shoulder.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2017;114(45):765–776. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2017.0765

MedlinePlus.Rotator cuff injuries.

Sambandam SN, Khanna V, Gul A, Mounasamy V.Rotator cuff tears: An evidence based approach.World J Orthop. 2015;6(11):902–918. doi:10.5312/wjo.v6.i11.902

Linaker CH, Walker-Bone K.Shoulder disorders and occupation.Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2015;29(3):405–423. doi:10.1016/j.berh.2015.04.001

Johns Hopkins Medicine.Shoulder bursitis.

Johns Hopkins Medicine.Shoulder tendonitis.

National Organization for Rare Disorders.Parsonage Turner syndrome.

American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. OrthoInfo.Shoulder pain and common shoulder problems.

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