Shoulder Pain Treatment: Causes, Care, and Rehabilitation

This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalized guidance and treatment.

What causes shoulder pain?

Shoulder pain can result from problems in the joint itself, nearby tendons and bursae, or referred pain from the neck. Common sources include rotator cuff tendinopathy, bursitis, impingement, frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis), fractures, and arthritis. Overuse, repetitive overhead activity, direct trauma, or age-related degeneration are frequent contributors. A careful history and physical exam help narrow causes; clinicians often assess range of motion, strength, and specific maneuvers that reproduce pain. Identifying the likely cause guides whether conservative care or further testing is needed.

Rotator cuff injuries and symptoms

Rotator cuff issues range from inflammation and tendonitis to partial or full-thickness tears. Symptoms often include pain with lifting or reaching, weakness, and nighttime discomfort. Older adults are more likely to have degenerative tears, while younger people often have acute traumatic tears. Diagnosis typically combines clinical tests with imaging such as ultrasound or MRI when repair or detailed assessment is considered. Initial management commonly emphasizes relative rest, targeted physical therapy to restore scapular and shoulder mechanics, and pain control. Surgical repair may be considered when conservative measures fail or for certain acute tears.

Arthritis-related shoulder pain

Arthritis affecting the shoulder can be osteoarthritis, post-traumatic arthritis, or inflammatory types such as rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis usually causes aching, stiffness, and reduced range of motion that may worsen over months to years. Treatment focuses on symptom control and preserving function: activity modification, tailored exercises to maintain mobility, analgesics or anti-inflammatory medications as appropriate, and intra-articular steroid injections for short-term relief in selected cases. For advanced joint damage that impairs daily activities, shoulder replacement surgery is an option discussed with an orthopedic specialist, taking into account overall health and functional goals.

Shoulder pain in the elderly

In the elderly, shoulder pain often reflects cumulative wear, decreased tendon vascularity, and higher prevalence of rotator cuff tears and osteoarthritis. Evaluation should consider comorbid conditions, medication risks, and bone health. Conservative treatment is usually preferred initially: gentle therapeutic exercises supervised by a physiotherapist, modifications to reduce strain, and cautious use of analgesics given potential side effects. Rehabilitation plans emphasize fall prevention, maintaining independence with adaptive strategies, and coordination with primary care or geriatric services to manage other chronic conditions that affect recovery.

Treatment options and rehabilitation

Treatment begins with conservative measures: relative rest, ice or heat as appropriate, short courses of analgesics or anti-inflammatories when safe, and progressive physical therapy focused on range of motion, rotator cuff and scapular stabilizer strengthening, and functional retraining. Corticosteroid injections can help reduce persistent inflammation in certain cases, while platelet-rich plasma and other biologic treatments have limited, evolving evidence and are discussed case by case. Surgical options—arthroscopic debridement, rotator cuff repair, or joint replacement—are considered when pain or loss of function persists despite rehabilitation. Rehabilitation timelines vary widely; recovery depends on the diagnosis, patient age, general health, and adherence to therapy. Local services such as primary care clinics, physiotherapy practices, and orthopedic specialists provide staged care and coordinated treatment plans.

Conclusion

Shoulder pain arises from diverse causes including rotator cuff problems and arthritis and requires a tailored approach that balances symptom relief with restoring function. Initial evaluation by a healthcare provider helps determine whether conservative care, targeted rehabilitation, injections, or surgery is appropriate. For elderly patients, treatment plans should account for overall health, medication risks, and goals for independence. Close follow-up and progressive exercise are central to improving outcomes and reducing recurrence.