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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffShoulder pain includes any pain that arises in or around your shoulder. Shoulder pain may originate in the joint itself, or from any of the many surrounding muscles, ligaments or tendons. Shoulder pain usually worsens with activities or movement of your arm or shoulder.
Certain diseases and conditions affecting structures in your chest or abdomen, such as heart disease or gallbladder disease, also may cause shoulder pain. Shoulder pain that arises from some other structure is called "referred pain." Referred shoulder pain usually doesn't worsen when you move your shoulder.
References
- Ferri FF. Shoulder pain. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2011. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/linkTo?type=bookPage&isbn=978-0-323-05610-6&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..00054-8--s0170. Accessed Aug. 3, 2010.
- Shoulder pain. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00065. Accessed Aug. 3, 2010.
- Martin SD, et al. Shoulder pain. In: Firestein GS, et al. Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/212819723-4/0/1807/279.html?tocnode=55731671&fromURL=279.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3285-4..10040-3_1134. Accessed Aug. 3, 2010.
- Burbank KM, et al. Chronic shoulder pain: Part I. Evaluation and diagnosis. American Family Physician. 2008;77:453.
- Anderson BC, et al. Evaluation of the patient with shoulder complaints. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 3, 2010.
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