Common Shoulder and Elbow Injuries: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment Options
Shoulder and elbow pain can make everyday activities much harder. Reaching for something on a shelf, getting dressed, carrying groceries, or even opening a door can become painful.
The good news is that shoulder and elbow pain does not always mean you need surgery. Many common injuries and conditions can improve with conservative orthopedic care and physical therapy.
At SportOrtho, our goal is to help patients understand what is causing their pain and find the right treatment to help them move comfortably again.
Why Do Shoulder and Elbow Injuries Happen?
Shoulder and elbow injuries can happen for many reasons. Some develop slowly over time, while others happen suddenly.
Common causes include:
- Repetitive movements
- Overuse
- Sports and exercise
- Lifting something incorrectly
- A sudden injury or impact
- Muscle weakness
- Normal changes that happen with age
- Repeating the same movement at work or home
Pain does not always mean there is a serious injury. However, ongoing pain should not be ignored, especially when it begins to affect your strength, movement, sleep, or daily activities.
Common Shoulder Injuries
The shoulder is a complex joint that allows your arm to move in many directions. Because it moves so much, it can also be more likely to develop certain injuries.
Rotator Cuff Injuries
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that helps keep your shoulder stable and allows you to lift and rotate your arm.
Rotator cuff problems can range from irritation and inflammation to a partial or complete tear.
Common symptoms include:
- Pain when lifting your arm
- Shoulder weakness
- Pain at night
- Difficulty reaching overhead
- Trouble reaching behind your back
Physical therapy can often help improve shoulder strength, movement, and function depending on the type and severity of the injury.
Shoulder Impingement
Shoulder impingement occurs when tissues in the shoulder become irritated as the arm moves.
You may notice pain when reaching overhead, lifting your arm, or reaching behind your back. Treatment may focus on improving shoulder movement, strengthening the muscles around the joint, and reducing irritation.
Shoulder Bursitis
A bursa is a small, fluid-filled cushion that helps reduce friction around a joint. When a shoulder bursa becomes irritated, it can cause pain and swelling.
Shoulder bursitis may make it uncomfortable to raise your arm or sleep on the affected side.
Conservative treatment can help reduce irritation and restore normal shoulder movement.
Shoulder Arthritis
Arthritis can cause changes in the shoulder joint as the cartilage that cushions the bones wears down over time.
Common symptoms include:
- Aching pain
- Stiffness
- Reduced range of motion
- Pain with everyday activities
Depending on the condition, treatment may include physical therapy, activity changes, medication guidance, injections, or other conservative orthopedic options.
Common Elbow Injuries
Your elbow connects your upper arm to your forearm and allows you to bend, straighten, and rotate your arm. Like the shoulder, it can become painful from overuse, injury, or normal wear and tear.
Tennis Elbow
You do not have to play tennis to develop tennis elbow.
Tennis elbow is often caused by repeated use of the muscles and tendons in the forearm. Activities that involve frequent gripping, lifting, or wrist movement can contribute to the condition.
Common symptoms include pain on the outside of the elbow, weakness when gripping, and pain when lifting objects.
Physical therapy can help improve strength and movement while reducing stress on the affected area.
Golfer's Elbow
Golfer's elbow is similar to tennis elbow, but the pain usually occurs on the inside of the elbow.
And just like tennis elbow, you do not have to play golf to develop it.
Repetitive gripping, lifting, or other arm movements can contribute to the condition.
Elbow Bursitis
Elbow bursitis happens when the bursa near the elbow becomes irritated and swollen.
You may notice swelling, tenderness, or pain around the back of the elbow. Repeated pressure on the elbow or an injury can contribute to bursitis.
Elbow Sprains and Strains
A sprain affects a ligament, while a strain affects a muscle or tendon. Both can happen after a sudden injury or from overuse.
Symptoms can include pain, swelling, weakness, and difficulty moving the arm normally.
When Should You See an Orthopedic Provider?
Some soreness may improve with rest and time. However, it is a good idea to seek medical care when pain continues or begins interfering with your normal activities.
Consider getting evaluated if:
- Your pain does not improve
- Your pain is getting worse
- You notice weakness in your arm
- Your range of motion becomes limited
- Swelling continues
- Pain is affecting your sleep
- You are having trouble completing normal daily activities
- You experienced an injury and cannot use your arm normally
Severe pain, major swelling, a visible change in the shape of the arm or joint, numbness, or an inability to move the arm may require prompt medical attention.
Can Physical Therapy Help Shoulder and Elbow Injuries?
Physical therapy is an important part of conservative orthopedic care for many shoulder and elbow conditions.
A physical therapist evaluates how your body is moving and develops a treatment plan based on your specific needs.
Treatment may help you:
- Reduce pain
- Improve flexibility
- Increase strength
- Restore range of motion
- Improve joint stability
- Return to normal activities
- Prevent the same problem from continuing or coming back
Your treatment may include specific exercises, stretching, strengthening, hands-on techniques, and guidance on how to safely return to your normal activities.
The goal is not simply to treat the painful area. It is to help you move better and get back to the activities that are important to you.
Conservative Orthopedic Care: Treatment Before Surgery
Hearing the word "orthopedic" does not automatically mean surgery.
Many shoulder and elbow conditions can be treated with conservative care. Conservative orthopedic treatment focuses on finding the cause of your pain and using non-surgical options whenever appropriate.
Depending on your condition, treatment may include physical therapy, medication guidance, injections, imaging, activity changes, or other orthopedic treatments.
At SportOrtho, we believe surgery is not always the first step. Our providers focus on understanding your condition and helping you find an appropriate treatment plan.
If surgery is eventually needed, conservative treatment may still be an important part of preparing for surgery and recovering afterward.
Don't Ignore Shoulder or Elbow Pain
It can be easy to assume that shoulder or elbow pain is simply part of getting older. But ongoing pain, weakness, or stiffness should not be something you have to accept.
For older adults, maintaining strength and mobility can also help support independence and make everyday activities easier.
For adult children helping an aging parent, noticing changes in how someone uses their arm can be an important reason to encourage an evaluation.
Getting help does not automatically mean surgery. In many cases, the first step is simply understanding what is causing the problem.
Find Conservative Orthopedic Care at SportOrtho
You do not have to live with shoulder or elbow pain.
SportOrtho provides conservative orthopedic care and physical therapy designed to help patients reduce pain, improve movement, and return to the activities they enjoy.
Whether your pain started suddenly or has been building over time, an evaluation can help you understand what is happening and what treatment options may be available.
Don't let shoulder or elbow pain keep you from doing the things you enjoy. Schedule an evaluation with SportOrtho to learn whether conservative orthopedic care or physical therapy may be right for you.