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Shoulder pain

Shoulder pain is fairly common common, affecting about three in 10 adults at any one time

It can be caused through injury, repetitive activities or can often start without a specific cause. Some of the reasons are included below.
  • Poor posture
  • A frozen shoulder – a painful condition that reduces normal movement in the joint and can sometimes prevent movement in the shoulder (see our leaflet for more information)
  • Rotator cuff disorders – the rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint and help to keep it stable
  • Shoulder instability – where the shoulder is unstable and has an unusually large range of movement (hypermobility)
  • Acromioclavicular joint disorders – conditions that affect the acromioclavicular joint, the joint at the top of the shoulder
  • Osteoarthritis in the shoulder joints
  • A broken (fractured) bone, such as a fracture of the humerus (upper arm bone) or broken collarbone
Although shoulder pain can restrict your daily activities, there are things you can do at home to treat shoulder pain including using painkillers and ice to reduce inflammation.

Please see our advice leaflets for more information.

If you feel you need further help, please contact us directly or you ask your GP to refer you to our physiotherapy service.
Last updated04 Aug 2016
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