We’ve all experienced a little shoulder blade pain here and there. However, sustained or frequent shoulder blade pain symptoms are not normal and may be a sign of underlying referred pain from the neck joints, shoulder muscles or chest muscles. The shoulder is the most movable joint in the human body. A group of four muscles and their tendons called the rotator cuff give the shoulder its wide range of motion. Any swelling, damage, or bone changes around the rotator cuff can cause shoulder pain.
We have created this infographic to help educate you on the top causes of this type of pain, so you are better able to prevent or seek treatment for it. Let us have a look at 7 likely causes for pain under your shoulder blade:
- Rotator cuff tendinopathy– Rotator cuff tendinopathy occurs when there is a sudden overload of the shoulder joint. It could be that there is a sudden increase in physical activity that will cause the onset of such pains. .
- Referred pain from the cervical spine – Interestingly, unbeknown by many, shoulder blade pain can be referred from the joints of the neck. This is because there are many shared nerves that go between the neck and shoulder pain. You would usually experience pain in your shoulder pain when you turn your head and sometimes you might feel a concomitant headache. There are many factors that could lead to a stiff neck and some of the more common reasons are weak neck and shoulder muscles or tight chest muscles.
- Poor Posture – If you sit in a prolong posture for a long time, it may cause some stiffness in your upper back, which may in turn cause shoulder blade pain. Sitting in a slouched position causes our upper back to move forward, changing the position of our shoulder blades. This ultimately alters the way our shoulder blades move. Proper shoulder blade movement is critical to shoulder motion, strength, and function. This is one of the primary and often overlooked reasons of pain under your shoulder blade.
- Trauma – Any injury to the shoulder blade or surrounding areas due to a fall or accident can cause trauma. This can cause pain and inflammation under your shoulder blade. The degree of pain depends on the extent of injury. For instance, in case of a car accident, a neck injury can occur when the head suddenly moves backwards and then forward. This can cause trauma to the rotator cuff muscles which in turn leads to pain under the shoulder blade.
- Cardiac Issues – Shoulder blade pain is sometimes a symptom of heart attack, especially among women. Other signs, such as chest pain and shortness of breath, may also be present. If you have sudden pressure or crushing pain in your shoulder, especially if the pain runs from your chest to the left jaw, arm or neck, or occurs with shortness of breath, dizziness, or sweating, seek emergency medical treatment.
- Pulmonary tuberculosis – Pulmonary tuberculosis is also a well-recognized cause of pain in the shoulder. The tenderness and pain may be either superficial or deep. Signs that the infection has spread outside your lungs may include frozen shoulder and severe pain under your shoulder blade.
- Cancer – Sometimes, shoulder blade pain is caused by cancer itself. When cancer spreads from your breast to your bones, liver, or other body parts, one of the symptoms of that metastasis is shoulder pain. This pain can be near your shoulder blade or in your shoulder joint or upper back. People who have shoulder pain from lung cancer often describe it as a radiating pain from the shoulder down their arms to their hands. There may also be numbness or tingling. At other times, it can feel like a deep ache. If you experience anything like this, seek immediate medical attention.
Unsure of what to do? Contact us to speak to our PHYSIOTHERAPIST who will be able to ascertain the source of pain and have it addressed early!
DISCLAIMER: These advice should not replace the need for a consultation with a PHYSIOTHERAPIST especially if your condition doesn’t improve. Therapeutic exercise should be carefully selected to suit your condition.
