Shoulder pain lifting the arm is often caused by rotator cuff problems, impingement, or bursitis. See a doctor if it persists.
Common causes
- Rotator cuff tendinitis or tear.
- Shoulder impingement.
- Bursitis.
- Frozen shoulder.
- Arthritis.
- Neck problems.
Home care
Rest, ice and gentle stretches. NSAIDs help.
See a doctor
If you can’t lift your arm, pain lasts over a few weeks, or follows an injury.
Emergency
Shoulder pain with chest pain or shortness of breath may be a heart attack. Call 911.
Common structures involved
Pain on lifting the arm is often related to the rotator cuff, a group of four muscles (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, subscapularis) that stabilize the shoulder. Subacromial impingement causes a “painful arc” between about 60 and 120 degrees of elevation. Rotator cuff tears are present in roughly 20 percent of people in the general population, with higher rates after age 60, many without symptoms.
- Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) affects about 2 to 5 percent of people, more in those with diabetes, and limits movement in all directions.
- Calcific tendinitis, bursitis and AC joint arthritis also produce pain on overhead movement.
- Neck problems can refer pain to the shoulder.
Care
Relative rest, ice or heat, over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs if safe, and gentle range-of-motion work help many cases. Physical therapy is first-line for impingement and partial tears. Corticosteroid injections can ease pain for weeks to months. Sudden shoulder pain with chest pressure, shortness of breath or sweating can be a heart attack and needs emergency care.
Structures
Pain when lifting the arm is often rotator cuff tendinitis or impingement, bursitis, a tear, arthritis or a pinched nerve in the neck. Rotator cuff problems account for roughly 2 million doctor visits yearly in the US, per the AAOS.
Care
Rest from overhead activity, ice, physical therapy and anti inflammatory medicine as directed. See a doctor if pain follows a fall, comes with weakness, night pain or chest pain with arm pain, which can signal a heart problem.
Rotator cuff anatomy
The rotator cuff is four muscles (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor and subscapularis) that stabilize the shoulder. Pain on raising the arm between 60 and 120 degrees is a painful arc, typical of impingement. Rotator cuff tears are present in about 20 percent of people over 60, and many have no symptoms.
Treatment path
Most cases improve with 6 to 12 weeks of physical therapy, anti inflammatory medicine and activity changes. Corticosteroid injections give short term relief. Surgery is considered for full thickness tears in active patients or when conservative care fails. Sudden pain with arm weakness after injury needs prompt evaluation.
Based on data from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
