aetiology of intrinsic shoulder pain

Last reviewed 01/2018

The most common intrinsic causes of shoulder pain are:

  • adhesive capsulitis / frozen shoulder
  • rotator cuff impingement syndrome
  • subacromial bursitis

Other causes include:

  • bicipital tendinitis is commoner in younger people who have been involved in vigorous activity
  • osteoarthritis in the glenohumeral joint is relatively uncommon, and usually there is a history of previous trauma
  • joint inflammation:
    • rheumatoid arthritis
    • septic athritis
    • tuberculosis
  • recurrent glenohumeral subluxation
  • previous injury of the spinal accessory or suprascapular nerve
  • polymyalgia rheumatica
  • prolonged immobilisation ie following a stroke