Shoulder care

Shoulder pain and loss of motion

SymptomsFunctionNext step

Direct answer

The shoulder trades stability for a wide range of motion. Pain may come from the rotator cuff, labrum, bursa, joint cartilage, capsule, or an injury that changes how the joint moves. The pattern of pain, weakness, stiffness, and instability helps narrow the possibilities.

Questions that help define the problem

Notice the pattern, not just the pain score.

01
Is the shoulder painful overhead or when reaching behind your back?
02
Do weakness or night pain make normal tasks or sleep harder?
03
Did the shoulder pop out, shift, or feel unstable after an injury?
04
Is stiffness—not just pain—the main limit?

Common discussion areas

What may be part of the conversation.

These summaries are educational, not a diagnosis. Similar symptoms can come from different structures and require different care.

Rotator cuff tear

The rotator cuff is a group of tendons and muscles that help lift and rotate the arm. Tears can occur suddenly or develop over time. Pain, weakness, and difficulty lifting away from the body are common reasons for evaluation.

Rotator cuff tendinitis or impingement

Irritated cuff tendons and nearby tissue may hurt with overhead activity, repetitive work, sports, or lifting. Symptoms can also begin without one obvious event.

Frozen shoulder

Frozen shoulder typically progresses through painful, stiff, and then gradually improving phases. A careful exam helps distinguish true capsular stiffness from pain-limited movement or another shoulder problem.

Shoulder arthritis

Wear in the ball-and-socket or acromioclavicular joint can cause pain, stiffness, grinding, and reduced motion. The location and severity of symptoms guide the conversation.

Labral tear or dislocation

The labrum deepens the shoulder socket. Trauma or repetitive motion can injure it, and a dislocation can stretch supporting tissue. Popping, instability, pain in certain positions, or a history of the shoulder coming out of place are important clues.

SLAP tear

A SLAP tear affects the upper part of the labrum where the biceps tendon attaches. Symptoms may include catching, pain with overhead motion, loss of strength, or a sense that the shoulder is not moving normally.

Shoulder arthroscopy

Arthroscopy uses a small camera and instruments to evaluate and treat selected problems inside the joint. Whether it is appropriate depends on the diagnosis, functional limits, and response to non-surgical care.

Shoulder replacement

Replacement can be discussed for severe arthritis, selected fractures, or other advanced joint problems when symptoms and function remain unacceptable after appropriate treatment.

Orthopedic context

Why shoulder symptoms vary

The shoulder includes the upper-arm bone, shoulder blade, collarbone, rotator cuff, labrum, cartilage, and capsule. These structures work together across a large arc of motion.

Pain felt in the shoulder can occasionally relate to the neck or another condition, so the evaluation is broader than the joint alone when the history points elsewhere.

Your first visit

What to expect at your visit.

We start by listening to your concerns and understanding what matters to you. Then we work through the details that help shape your care.

Plan your visit

A focused look at your shoulder concerns

How pain, stiffness, weakness, or instability began
Comparison of active and passive range of motion
Strength and targeted shoulder tests
X-rays, ultrasound, or MRI when the result would change care

Before you leave, we’ll discuss the findings, answer your questions, and explain the next steps.

Treatment categories

Options depend on the diagnosis, goals, and tradeoffs.

The plan depends on the structure involved, symptom duration, activity demands, and goals. Options may include:

Explore our in-house services and meet the providers who can discuss your options.

Rehabilitation

Physical therapy can target motion, mechanics, posture, and rotator-cuff or shoulder-blade strength.

Symptom management

Activity changes, medication, or an injection may be considered after reviewing risks, alternatives, and the specific diagnosis.

Repair or stabilization

Selected rotator-cuff, labral, instability, or traumatic injuries may lead to arthroscopic or open surgical options.

Joint reconstruction

For advanced joint damage, a replacement discussion may include implant approach, expectations, risks, and rehabilitation.

Ready for a clearer next step?

Discuss your shoulder concerns with the office.

Share what is limiting you, what you have tried, and what you want to get back to. The office can help determine the appropriate appointment path.

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