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

A shoulder pain diagram is a really useful tool when it comes to working out what is causing pain in your shoulder.

Different structures, muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints and bursa, are stressed in different areas of the shoulder, so where you feel pain provides important clues.

The shoulder pain charts below help you identify the most common causes of shoulder pain by location. Once you’ve matched your pain to the diagram, you can explore the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and best treatment options for each condition.

Shoulder Pain Location Charts

You'll find five different shoulder pain diagrams here focusing on different parts of the shoulder:

• Front Shoulder Pain Diagram: pain at the front and side of the shoulder
• Top Of Shoulder Pain Diagram: pain on top of the shoulder and in the collar bone
• Upper Arm Pain Chart: shoulder pain that radiates to upper arm
• Posterior Shoulder Pain Diagram: pain at the back of the shoulder and around the shoulder blades
• Elbow & Wrist Pain Diagram: pain further down the arm in the elbow and wrist/hand

These shoulder pain diagnosis charts will help you identify what is causing your pain and then you can find out the best ways to treat it and stop the pain from coming back. 

How To Use Our Shoulder Pain Diagrams

• Identify the exact area where you feel pain in your shoulder
• Find the matching area on the shoulder pain diagram below
• Use the list to see the most common causes of pain in that location
• Follow the links to learn more about diagnosis and treatment

You can also use our shoulder pain symptoms chart further down the page to quickly match your symptoms with common shoulder conditions.

4. Posterior Shoulder Pain Diagram

This diagram shows common causes of pain at the back of the shoulder and  shoulder blade pain.

• Muscle Strain: Straining the upper trapezius muscles is a common cause of pain across the back of the shoulders and between the shoulder blades
• Trigger Points: Tight knots in muscles that can cause aching pain around the shoulder blade.
• Scapulothoracic Bursitis: Inflammation of the bursa between the shoulder blade and rib cage causing pain and grinding sensations in the shoulder blades.
• T4 Syndrome: Damage to the mid part of the upper back that can refer pain down one or both arms

There are also other possible causes such as postural problems, spinal issues, nerve irritation, scapula fractures or a serious medical condition.

Find out more in the shoulder blade pain and pain between the shoulder blades sections.

5. Shoulder Pain Symptoms Chart

Our next shoulder pain diagnosis chart helps match your symptoms with possible causes of shoulder pain.

Shoulder pain can be a tricky one as it is often difficult to pinpoint where the pain actually is. The pain can be quite diffuse and it may feel like the whole shoulder aches all the way down the arm. 

Common symptoms that can help you work out what is wrong include:

• Shoulder Pain At Night: frequently associated with rotator cuff injuries and inflammatory shoulder conditions
• Burning Shoulder Pain: if there is a burning or shooting sensation
• Shoulder Lumps & Bumps: swelling or defined lumps around the shoulder
• Shoulder Pain When Lifting Arm: often caused by rotator cuff tears, bursitis or shoulder impingement. 
• Sharp Shoulder Pain: catching or stabbing pain
• Shoulder Clicking, Popping & Grinding: strange noises or sensations when you move your arm
• Pain Shoulder To Hand: sometimes the pain refers below the elbow, towards the wrist and hand
• Left Shoulder Pain: some conditions are more likely to affect the left arm

Looking at these symptoms alongside the shoulder pain diagrams above can help you identify the most likely cause of your pain.

In some cases, the problem isn't actually coming from the shoulder at all, it is actually coming from the neck.

A quick way to tell is to think about whether your shoulder pain gets worse when you move your head or your arm. If it gets worse when you move your head, check out the Nerve Pain article.

Elbow & Wrist Pain

Elbow and wrist pain are common problems which may or may not be linked to problems further up the arm or in the shoulder.

If your pain is further down the arm, visit the elbow pain diagnosis section which has various elbow pain diagnosis charts to help you work out what is wrong.

Alternatively, visit the wrist pain diagnosis section to find wrist pain charts to help you identify the cause of wrist pain.

What To Do Next

Identifying the cause of your shoulder pain is the first step toward effective treatment.

Many shoulder problems improve with simple measures such as rest, activity modification and targeted shoulder exercises.

However you should seek professional assessment if:

• pain is severe or worsening
• you cannot lift your arm
• symptoms persist despite rest
• there is significant weakness or swelling

A professional shoulder pain diagnosis can identify the exact cause and guide treatment.

Shoulder Pain Location Chart Summary

A shoulder pain diagram is a helpful way to identify possible causes of shoulder pain based on where the pain is located.

By matching your pain location with the diagrams above, you can quickly narrow down potential causes ranging from rotator cuff injuries and bursitis to AC joint problems and shoulder blade pain.

Your symptoms can provide additional clues and help guide you toward the correct diagnosis and treatment.

If you want to look at a specific area in a bit more depth, choose from the following:

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Related Articles

References

1. NHS UK: Shoulder Pain
2. British Medical Journal - Shoulder pain: diagnosis and management in primary care. Caroline Mitchell, Ade Adebajo, Elaine Hay and Andrew Carr

Page Last Updated: March 12th, 2026
Next Review Due: March 12th, 2028

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