Shoulder pain
Shoulder problems are common. Sometimes shoulder pain is also a recurrent injury. Possible causes of shoulder pain are heavy physical work or sports. The complaints are often triggered by moving the arm upwards. There may be radiation towards the upper arm or towards the shoulder blades. Sleeping on the injured shoulder is often difficult. Especially in the first period after the onset of shoulder pain, it is difficult to carry out your daily activities. Grocery shopping, heavy lifting or sports where you use your arms a lot is often difficult and painful.

Cause
We can divide shoulder pain into 3 types:
- Under the roof of the shoulder blade, certain anatomical structures can become irritated. You usually feel this when you move the arm sideways upwards. You should think here of bursitis or tendonitis of one of the shoulder muscles. But also complaints resulting from a fall or ageing tendon tissue.
- Complaints related to structures between the head and socket of the shoulder. One of the most well-known complaints here is, for example, a frozen shoulder or osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint.
- Shoulder pain may also be a result of neck pain. It may be that symptoms you feel in the shoulder have a different cause. In that case, usually a nerve of the neck is responsible for this pain. Other small joints around the shoulder can also be the cause of shoulder pain. The joint with the collarbone or the joint with sternum may be responsible for shoulder pain.
Common Shoulder pain

Biceps tendon rupture
Tearing of the biceps tendon usually happens while the biceps is applying too much sudden force...


Subacrominial pain syndrome (SAPS)
Complaints occur when lifting or turning the arm inward/outward and the...

Shoulder luxation (dislocation)
A shoulder luxation is usually caused by a hard fall and is often accompanied by pain ...

Rotator cuff rupture
A rotator cuff rupture is a tear in one of the tendons that support the shoulder joint....

Frozen shoulder
Frozen shoulder, also known as frozen shoulder or adhesive capsulitis, is a condition of the...

Deltoid tendinopathy
A deltoid tendinopathy occurs due to reduction in quality of tendon tissue.
Risk factors
Risk factors
Gradations of muscle injury
Gradations of muscle injury
The different type x injuries
The different type x injuries
Anatomy and function of the shoulder
The shoulder joint consists of the humerus(upper arm bone), scapula(shoulder blade) and clavicle(collarbone). The joint between the upper arm and shoulder blade is called the glenohumeral joint. The clavicle with the shoulder blade is the acromioclavicular joint. Another joint of the shoulder region is the scapulothoracic joint. This is the joint between the shoulder blade and the ribs. These joints allow the shoulder to move in many different directions. The shoulder contains many different muscles and tendons. The function of these muscles is to move and stabilise the shoulder during various daily movements. There are smaller muscles that are closer to the joint but also larger muscles that have a more powerful function. Anatomically, a distinction is made between a local muscle system and a global muscle system. Functionally, however, they largely have the same function. In a non-restricted shoulder, the glenohumeral capsule, the capsule around the glenohumeral joint is stretchable, long and does not restrict the shoulder's normal range of motion. The function of this capsule is to provide strength in the shoulder. In frozen shoulder, the capsule of the glenohumeral joint tightens due to an inflammatory reaction. This limits the range of motion of the shoulder. There may also be a decrease in synovial fluid in the joint. This synovial fluid, also known as joint fluid, allows joint surfaces to move smoothly in relation to each other by minimising friction.
Physiotherapy for shoulder pain
During the examination, we will look at the possible cause of your shoulder pain. Based on the examination, a clear treatment plan will be drawn up. Keep moving with shoulder complaints is very important to maintain the mobility in the shoulder. Besides specific advice, treatment can include: restoring mobility through manual therapy, dry needling, various muscle techniques and training the muscles of the upper back and shoulder through exercise therapy.
The different type x injuries
The different type x injuries
Physical testing
Physical testing
Making an appointment at FysioFitaal
We work from multiple locations in Tilburg, always close by for professional and accessible physiotherapy. Fill in the contact form and we will contact you soon. Together, we will work on your recovery!
