Condition library
Shoulder pain when lifting your arm: is it impingement?
Pain on the outside of the shoulder or upper arm when lifting the arm out to the side or overhead, reaching behind your back, or lying on that side is very commonly caused by irritation of the rotator cuff tendons and the bursa above them. This used to be called “shoulder impingement”; it's now often called rotator cuff related shoulder pain. It's common in people who do overhead work, lifting, swimming, throwing and gym training, and in people over 40. Most people improve with a progressive strengthening programme. Glasgow Sport & Spine Clinic in Glasgow treats shoulder pain with assessment, hands-on treatment and exercise rehab; calcific tendinopathy may also be treated with radial shockwave therapy.
Seek urgent help — call 999 — if:
- shoulder or arm pain comes with chest pain or tightness, breathlessness, sweating or feeling sick, especially if it's your left side
See your GP, call NHS 111 or go to A&E if:
- you can't lift your arm after a fall or injury, or the shoulder looks deformed (possible dislocation, fracture or rotator cuff tear)
- the shoulder is hot, red and swollen, or you have a fever
- you have unexplained weight loss or a history of cancer
- you have pain, numbness or weakness travelling down the arm into the hand
Common causes
- rotator cuff tendinopathy from a sudden increase in overhead work, lifting or sport
- bursitis (irritation of the bursa above the cuff)
- calcific tendinopathy — calcium deposits in a cuff tendon, which can cause severe pain
- age-related rotator cuff changes, which are common and often not painful
- referred pain from the neck
How it's assessed
Assessment checks how the shoulder moves, cuff strength, and whether pain is coming from the neck rather than the shoulder. A stiff, painful shoulder that has lost movement in all directions may be frozen shoulder, which is managed differently.
How it's treated at Glasgow Sport & Spine Clinic
- a progressive rotator cuff and shoulder blade strengthening programme
- ART and IASTM to the shoulder and upper back
- dry needling (acupuncture)
- mobilisation of the upper back and neck where they contribute
- radial shockwave therapy for calcific tendinopathy and persistent tendon pain
Frequently asked questions
- Is it a rotator cuff tear?
- Some people have tears, but many tears seen on scans don't cause pain. Strength testing and history usually guide treatment better than the scan.
- Should I keep training?
- Usually yes, with modifications. Most people can train around shoulder pain while the rehab programme progresses.
- Do I need a steroid injection?
- Injections can help short-term pain for some people, but exercise remains the main treatment. Your GP can discuss this.
About the practitioner
Guy Murray, BA, BOst (Hons), HDip NMT, is the sole practitioner at Glasgow Sport & Spine Clinic, Suite 1.4, Redtree Business Suites, 33 Dalmarnock Rd, Glasgow G40 4LA. He has treated musculoskeletal pain and sports injuries in Glasgow since 2008, for patients ranging from office workers and older adults to professional athletes. He was the first practitioner in Scotland to be certified in full-body Active Release Technique (2011) and the first in the UK to complete the Postural Restoration Institute core courses, and trained directly under Leon Chaitow. Treatment sessions combine assessment, hands-on treatment and a home rehab plan.
Appointments: 07584 284854 · guy@glasgowsportandspine.co.uk · Monday–Friday, 10:00–18:30 · Book an appointment · Treatments and prices
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. If you are worried about your symptoms, see your GP or call NHS 111.