Shoulder Pain Diagnosis Chart: Finding the Cause of Your Pain

Shoulder pain arises from damage to local structures in the shoulder, such as joints, tendons and ligaments or referred from the neck or the abdomen. A shoulder pain map can be a useful tool to help find out the cause of your shoulder pain. Find out possible causes of shoulder pain using a shoulder pain diagnosis chart. 

Front of shoulder pain map

Click on the site of your pain at the front of the shoulder. Then, follow the link for specific conditions to find out more

Back of shoulder pain diagnosis chart

Click on the location of your pain at the back of the shoulder. Then, follow the link for each specific condition to learn more about how to assess and manage.

Is a shoulder pain map useful for finding the cause of your pain?

Yes — within limits. A study found that common shoulder conditions produce fairly distinctive pain patterns. Researchers studied nearly 100 people with shoulder pain and found:

• Rotator cuff pain or subacromial impingement was sharp, usually at the front of the shoulder, and could spread down the arm.

• AC joint arthritis pain was sharp and stabbing, and always at the top of the shoulder.

• Shoulder arthritis caused the most severe pain, affecting the shoulder and the whole arm.

• Calcific rotator cuff tendinitis pain was severe but limited to the shoulder and upper arm.

• Labral tears, such as  SLAP tear, cause pain localised to the shoulder and upper arm.

So location is a strong clue — but patterns overlap, which is why a clinical assessment is required to confirm the diagnosis.

Frequently asked questions about shoulder pain location

What does the location of my shoulder pain mean?

Broadly, pain at the top of the shoulder often points to the AC joint; pain at the front to the rotator cuff, biceps tendon, or shoulder joint; and pain at the back or over the shoulder blade to the rotator cuff, the neck (referred), or a nerve problem. The map above links each area to its likely causes.

Can shoulder pain come from somewhere other than the shoulder?

Yes — the neck commonly refers pain to the shoulder and shoulder blade, and the chest, ribs, and abdomen can also be affected. That’s why a thorough assessment looks beyond the shoulder itself.

When is shoulder pain a red flag? (Seek urgent help)

Seek emergency care if shoulder or arm pain — especially on the left — comes with chest tightness or pressure, breathlessness, sweating, nausea, or light-headedness, as this can be referred pain from the heart. Also see a doctor promptly for shoulder pain after significant trauma, with fever, with a visible deformity, or with progressive weakness or numbness in the arm.

Does the pain location alone diagnose the problem?

No. Location narrows the possibilities, but many conditions overlap, and some pain is referred. A clinical examination — often with ultrasound or MRI — is needed to confirm the cause and guide treatment.

Final word from Sport Doctor London about the shoulder pain map

A shoulder pain map is a helpful first step in narrowing down the cause of your pain by location. But it’s a guide, not a diagnosis — overlapping patterns and referred pain mean an expert assessment is the only way to be sure.

If you have shoulder pain, Dr Masci can assess you in London, including an ultrasound in the clinic. Contact the team here or call +44 (0) 203 488 0350.

Related shoulder resources:

• Shoulder specialist: what we treat
• Shoulder blade pain: common causes
• Rotator cuff tendonitis and bursa injection
• Frozen shoulder treatments
• Shoulder joint injection