Shoulder Pain

The shoulder joint (the glenohumeral joint) is a ball and socket joint between the scapula (shoulder blade) and the humerus (upper arm bone). It is the most mobile joint in the body, and therefore most prone to overuse injuries. Shoulder injuries can result in joint pain, stiffness, instability, and weakness.

The upper extremity or limb includes the joints from the shoulder to the hand. Injury to or dysfunction of the arm can cause many debilitating symptoms and cause everyday activities to be a struggle. One or more of the muscles, nerves, joints, ligaments, and lymph vessels can be implicated.

The upper extremity is innervated by the nerves of the lower cervical spine and first thoracic spinal nerve from C5-T1. Dysfunction originating from the neck can also be referred down into the arm causing involvement of one or more of the joints. Typically symptoms reported include pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, and/or loss of sensation.