Front Shoulder Pain

Written By: Chloe Wilson BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy
Reviewed By: SPE Medical Review Board

Front shoulder pain, aka anterior shoulder pain, is a common problem.

It may come on gradually over time or suddenly after an injury.

There may be a general dull ache or a specific sharp pain in front of the shoulder and movement may be restricted. Sometimes the pain is linked to a specific activity such as reaching above your head, other times it may seem random.

Pain on the front of the shoulder may extend down the arm too and there may be associated symptoms such as tingling or numbness. But how do you know what is wrong? Let’s look at what causes front shoulder pain.

Causes Of Front Shoulder Pain

There are a number of different things that can cause front shoulder pain and they all present slightly differently. They may involve the shoulder muscles, one of the shoulder joints or other soft tissues.

Here you'll find a brief overview of each one and from there you can find out more about the treatment and recovery process for each.

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Other Possible Causes

We have looked at the most common front shoulder pain causes, but there are a few other things it could be.

ACJ Injury

Damage to the bones or ligaments at the acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) causes front shoulder pain where the scapula meets the clavicle. ACJ injuries may develop gradually overtime due to wear and tear or suddenly due to an injury such as a fall onto the shoulder. Most ACJ injuries will heal naturally in a few weeks but more severe injuries may require surgery

Osteoarthritis

Gradual wear and tear and degeneration of the shoulder cartilage can lead to restricted movement, particularly rotation and front shoulder pain. Conservative treatment such as physiotherapy and pain relief are often sufficient but is symptoms get progressively worse, then surgery may be indicated.

Why Does The Front Of My Shoulder Hurt?

There are lots of different things that can cause front shoulder pain but by thinking about your specific symptoms it can be easier to work out what is going on:

• Front Shoulder Pain When Lifting Arm: Almost all shoulder problems can cause front shoulder pain when lifting the arm, but it tends to vary which part of movement is the most painful.
  Worse With Initial Movement: Tendonitis, SLAP Tear, Frozen Shoulder
  Worse When Arm Around Shoulder Height: impingement syndrome or rotator cuff tear, swimmers shoulder
  Worse When Arm Fully Raised: Rotator Cuff tear, biceps tendonitis, osteoarthritis, ACJ injury


• Pain In Front Of Shoulder When Throwing: front shoulder pain when throwing things is common as the shoulder is in its most vulnerable position when the arm is working around shoulder height. Common causes include a SLAP tear, rotator cuff tear, biceps tendonitis or shoulder impingement syndrome
  
  
• Sharp Pain In Front Of Shoulder: If there is a sharp pain in front of the shoulder it may indicate that something is getting trapped or pinched with shoulder impingement syndrome. Or if you’ve injured the front of the shoulder it may indicate a fractured collarbone
  
  
• Dull Pain In Front Of Shoulder: If the pain in front of your shoulder is more or a dull pain than a sharp one, you may have a rotator cuff tear, SLAP tear, swimmers shoulder or frozen shoulder
  
  
• Burning Pain In Front Of Shoulder: If your main symptoms is a burning sensation at the front of your shoulder it is most likely a sign of bursitis, biceps tendonitis or nerve damage
  
  
• Pain In Front Of Shoulder And Down Arm: If your shoulder pain extends down your arm, particularly below the elbow then it is likely to be due to nerve damage or referred pain from the neck rather than a problem in the shoulder itself
  
  
• Pain In Front Of Shoulder When Breathing: Front shoulder pain that gets worse when you breathe is unlikely to be problem in the shoulder itself, but is more likely to be a medical issue such as angina, pleurisy or even a heart attack. If you get shoulder pain when breathing get checked out by your doctor asap as there could be a serious problem
  
  
• Front Shoulder Pain When Benching: If you are getting pain when you bench press it may simply be that you need to look at your technique or that there is some muscle imbalance with weakness or tightness around your shoulder. Another possibility is a rotator cuff tear which may have been caused by overloading the tendon
  
  
• Painful Arc With Shoulder Movement: Front shoulder pain that is worse when the shoulder is lifted around shoulder height or anywhere in the arc 30 degrees above and below that is usually due to shoulder impingement syndrome or supraspinatus tendonitis. Outside the range there is often little pain
  
  
• Severely Restricted Shoulder Movements: If your arm movements are severely restricted and you have suffered an injury such as a fall, then you may have a shoulder fracture. If your arm movement has gradually become more and more restricted, particularly twisting movements, with or without pain, then you may have a frozen shoulder, particularly if you are over 40.

What Else Can Help?

You can find out loads more about each of these causes of front shoulder pain, including what the best treatment options are for each by using the links above. 

In most cases, front shoulder pain will settle down with a combination or rest, medication, physical therapy and rehab exercises. However, sometime surgery will be needed to remove abnormal bone growths or repair torn soft tissues.

If you have pain elsewhere in your shoulder or arm, visit the shoulder pain diagnosis section for help working out what is wrong.

Page Last Updated: 09/05/2022
Next Review Due: 09/05/2024

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