Shoulder Pain Diagram:
Identify The Cause Of Your Pain By Location

Shoulder Pain Diagram: 
Identify Your Pain By Location

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. Whether it is a new incidence of pain or you have had it for a while, we are here to help.

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

Front Shoulder Pain Diagram: Find out all about the common causes of pain at the front of the shoulder and upper arm

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:

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 the best treatment options

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

1. Front Shoulder Pain Diagram

Our first front shoulder pain diagram focuses on shoulder problems that cause pain on the front and side of the shoulder and upper arm.

Front Shoulder Pain Diagram: Common causes of front shoulder pain shown on our diagnosis chart, including rotator cuff tear, shoulder impingement and labral tears
  • Rotator Cuff Tear: Damage to one of the rotator cuff tendons. Key symptoms - shoulder pain, weakness and difficulty lifting the arm
  • Shoulder Impingement: Compression of the soft tissues under the acromion. Key symptoms - pain lifting the arm overhead with a classic painful arc
  • Biceps Tendonitis: Irritation of the biceps tendon. Key symptoms - front shoulder pain, particularly with lifting or carrying
  • Labral Tears: damage to the special cartilage that lines the shoulder socket. Key symptoms - instability and clicking
  • Shoulder Cysts: small pockets of fluid that collect around the shoulder. Key symptoms palpable lump, weakness and catching sensation

There are other less common causes of pain in this area such as swimmers shoulder and SLAP tears. Find out more about the causes of front shoulder pain.

2. Top Shoulder Pain Diagram

This shoulder pain diagram highlights common causes of pain on top of shoulder and collarbone pain. 

Top Of Shoulder Pain Diagram: This shoulder pain diagnosis chart shows common causes of top of shoulder pain including clavicle fracture, SCJ injury, ACJ injury and subacromial bursitis
  • Clavicle Fracture: a break in the collar bone, usually from a fall, RTA or direct blow. Key symptoms - sharp pain and deformity
  • Shoulder Bursitis: Inflammation of the subacromial bursa. Key symptoms - pain when lifting arm or lying on shoulder
  • AC Joint Injury: Damage to the ligaments of the AC joint, usually caused by falling onto the shoulder. Key symptoms - pain bringing arm across body
  • AC Joint Arthritis: Degeneration of the AC joint. Key symptoms - pain, grinding and stiffness on the top of the shoulder

There are a number of other less common causes of pain in this area such as distal clavicle osteolysis and sternoclavicular joint damage. Find out more about pain on top of the shoulder and collarbone pain.

3. Shoulder & Upper Arm Pain

The next shoulder pain diagram focuses on shoulder pain that radiates down resulting in shoulder and upper arm pain.

Shoulder and Upper Arm Pain Diagram: Causes of shoulder and upper arm pain including fractures, supraspinatus tendonitis and rotator cuff tears. Find out more with our shoulder pain diagnosis charts.
  • Supraspinatus Tendonitis: tendon irritation. Key symptoms - deep aching and catching pain in shoulder that radiates down the upper arm
  • Frozen Shoulder: inflammation of the joint capsule. Key symptoms -  progressive shoulder pain and stiffness in the shoulder and severely restrict movement
  • Humerus Fracture: A break in the shoulder joint or upper arm bone
  • Nerve Irritation: key symptoms - burning, shooting, tingling symptoms in the shoulder that may radiate down the upper arm
  • Heart Attack: key symptoms - intense chest pain and tightness that may radiate down left arm. Requires immediate medical attention.

Other shoulder problems may cause radiating pain down the upper arm such as shoulder impingement and rotator cuff tears. Find out more in the Upper Arm Pain section.

4. Posterior Shoulder Pain Diagram

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

Posterior Shoulder Pain Diagram: Find out all about the most common causes of back of shoulder pain
  • Muscle Strain: Straining the upper trapezius muscles. Key symptoms - pain across back of the shoulders and between shoulder blades
  • Trigger Points: Tight knots in muscles. Key symptoms - localised aching pain around the shoulder blade
  • Scapulothoracic Bursitis: Inflammation of the bursa between the shoulder blade and rib cage. Key symptoms - pain and grinding sensations in the shoulder blades.
  • T4 Syndrome: Damage to the mid part of the upper back. Key symptoms - 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 Diagnosis Chart: Common Causes & Symptoms 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:

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

Neck Vs Shoulder

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 and hand pain diagrams to help you identify the cause of wrist pain.

Elbow Pain Diagnosis Chart: use our elbow pain diagram to work out what is causing your 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, ice, medication, activity modification and targeted shoulder exercises, most of which can be done at home without any specialist equipment.

You can find out all about the best ways to treat different shoulder problems by reading the relevant article about your pain using the links above for each condition.

When To See A Doctor

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
  • symptoms are associated with chest pain or shortness of breath
  • following major trauma or with obvious deformity

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

FAQ's

Let's have a look at some of your common questions about shoulder pain location diagnosis.

1. Does the location of shoulder pain help identify the cause?

Yes, in many cases where you feel your shoulder pain can tell us quite a lot about which structures might be involved. Pain at the front, top, back or side of the shoulder tends to have different patterns, while pain into the upper arm is also very common with shoulder problems.

However, location alone cannot tell you exactly what is wrong. It is also important to consider how the pain started, which movements aggravate it and whether you have other symptoms.

2. Why is shoulder pain worse at night or when lying on it?

Shoulder pain often feels worse at night, particularly when you lie on the painful side. The pressure through the shoulder can irritate already sensitive tissues, while certain sleeping positions can put the arm into a position that squashes certain structures and aggravates symptoms.

Night pain occurs with a number of shoulder problems, including rotator cuff-related pain and bursitis, so it doesn't point to one specific diagnosis. The location of the pain and your other symptoms help give us a clearer picture. Find out more in the Shoulder Pain At Night section.

3. What does it mean if my shoulder pain is mainly in my upper arm?

Pain travelling into the upper arm is actually very common with shoulder problems. Rotator cuff problems and frozen shoulder, for example, can cause an ache around the outer or upper part of the arm rather than directly over the shoulder joint.

If the pain travels further down the arm towards the hand, particularly with tingling, numbness or weakness, it is highly likely that a problem in the neck or nerves could be contributing to your symptoms. Find out more in the Arm Nerve Pain section.

4. What does pain near the collarbone mean?

Pain around the collarbone or right on top of the shoulder often points to a problem at the acromioclavicular (AC) joint, where the collarbone meets the shoulder blade. AC joint problems typically cause fairly localised pain and may be aggravated by lifting the arm or reaching across your body.

An injury to the collarbone itself can also cause pain here. How the pain started and exactly where you can feel it are important clues. Find out more in the Collar Bone Pain section.

5. What does it mean if shoulder pain shoots down my arm to my hand?

Pain that travels all the way from the shoulder towards the hand is less typical of a problem affecting the shoulder alone. If you also have burning, tingling, numbness or weakness, it is very likely that a nerve is involved.

The nerves supplying the arm come from the neck, so neck problems can sometimes feel like shoulder pain. Notice whether moving your neck changes the symptoms, as this can provide another useful clue. Find out more in the Pain From Shoulder To Hand section.

6. What does shoulder clicking with pain mean?

Clicking or popping from the shoulder is very common and, on its own, isn't usually a cause for concern. However, clicking that occurs with pain, catching, locking or a feeling that the shoulder is unstable is more significant.

Problems such as labral injuries, shoulder instability and some rotator cuff conditions can produce this combination. I’d look at where the pain is, which movement causes the clicking and whether you also have weakness or a feeling that the shoulder may give way. Find out more in the Shoulder Clicking section.

7. What does shoulder pain with weakness mean?

If your shoulder hurts and feels weak, the pattern of weakness is worth paying attention to. Rotator cuff problems, for example, can cause pain around the shoulder or upper arm together with difficulty lifting the arm. However, pain itself can make a shoulder feel weak because you naturally avoid using it and the muscles quickly lose strength.

Sudden weakness following an injury, or being unable to lift your arm normally, is something I would recommend getting assessed rather than trying to work out from a shoulder pain diagram alone.

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:

Shoulder Pain Diagram: Find out what is causing your pain with our shoulder pain diagnosis charts

And remember, the shoulder pain diagram and diagnosis charts here are not a substitute for medical advice. If you are not sure whether you need to see your doctor, have a look at our handy guide.

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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: September 23rd, 2026
Next Review Due: September 23rd, 2028