When we see a person for  PT for the 1^st time, they will commonly state that they not sure if their pain is coming from their neck or shoulder (as they point to the area that hurts above the top of their shoulder blade) while in truth it can be difficult at times to discern whether the shoulder or the neck (or both) is the issue. 

So, let us provide you with some key information that should be helpful for you to know.

If a person has a shoulder problem, there is commonly an event or an activity that they can recall whereby they may have irritated or strained their shoulder. This might include a fall, a home project such as painting a room, some lifting activities or it might be related to efforts to exercise or sports participation. It is also true, that shoulder problems can start for no ‘apparent' reason.  Second, the person is typically able to pinpoint where they hurt (perhaps the front or the top of the shoulder) and they are able to identify what movements of their arm increase their pain. Third, the pain they experience is usually minimal when the arm is ‘at rest' (unless they are sleeping on the involved side) and the pain rarely extends below the elbow. While another key thing to realize is if the shoulder is stiff and painful, reaching overhead may result in some compensatory motion, whereby there is increased strain placed on the neck, causing it to also become painful.

In contrast, when a person has a neck problem, unless they were involved in a specific accident, most neck problems gradually develop over time for no apparent reason, while occupations that we commonly associate with neck issues include desk workers or people working at a computer station for prolonged periods and jobs that require repetitively looking overhead. Second, the person may report pain when turning their neck to one side (not always the case) and if the problem is more severe, they may experience generalized pain in the area of the shoulder or shoulder blade region and pain extending below the elbow. In addition, the person may also experience tingling and /or numbness down their arm. Headaches are also often associated with neck problems

The tricky thing of course is when both areas hurt! In this instance, it is helpful to know that while abnormal shoulder motion  ( typically overhead) can lead to some neck pain / soreness, a shoulder problem should not  otherwise cause neck pain, while in contrast a neck problem can readily cause shoulder pain and even weakness.

That all said, a comprehensive clinical exam can readily distinguish whether the shoulder or neck is the cause of a person's problem and that is where one of our PTs at Mid-Michigan PT Specialists  can help not only determine the underlying reason for a person's complaints, but also identify an effective treatment program to overcome the problem.

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At Mid- Michigan PT Specialists, we have extensive experience providing therapy for individuals with both Neck  and Shoulder Problems  -  so if this is a problem that you are experiencing , call our office today to schedule a FREE Consultation to see if Physical Therapy can help you OR sign up for our upcoming Free Shoulder Workshop!