What causes pain in the shoulder blade area?

Our shoulders are robust joints that have the important responsibility of connecting the arm to the trunk and powering your arm for a wide range of activities. When one or more parts of your shoulder are in pain, it can affect the use of your entire arm, limiting what you are able to do.

Pain affects the shoulder in a variety of ways. One area of the shoulder where you might be experiencing pain is the shoulder blade. There are a number of reasons you might have pain in this area. Take a moment to learn more about why you might have shoulder blade pain so you can get an idea of what your treatment path will look like. 

Possible reasons you have pain in the shoulder blade area

• Poor posture — Poor posture when sitting and standing can exert pressure on your upper back, affecting your spine and the shoulder blade area. An example of poor posture that affects these areas is sitting with your head hunched forward for an extended period of time.
• Overexertion — Overuse or overexertion of the shoulder in physical activities, such as lifting heavy objects or painting a ceiling, can cause pain in the shoulder blade area. Certain sports activities can also overexert the shoulder, such as throwing a baseball or football over and over.
• Injury — The shoulder consists of several interconnected muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones that all work in coordination with one another to operate the shoulder. When one or more of these parts are injured in a fall or from an impact, you may feel pain in the shoulder blade area.
• Chronic condition — Certain chronic conditions in the shoulder and also in the spine can be felt in the shoulder blade area. Examples of such conditions can include:
  • Frozen shoulder
  • Herniated disc in the cervical or thoracic spine
  • Degenerative disc disease (DDD) in the cervical or thoracic spine
  • Arthritis
  • Fibromyalgia

Visit Advent Physical Therapy for shoulder blade pain treatment

Is shoulder pain limiting the use of your arm and keeping you from enjoying your favorite activities? Our physical therapists at Advent would love to join you in your recovery journey to help you reduce your pain and improve your range of motion. Contact our team today for more information about treating pain in the shoulder blade area or to schedule an initial appointment.