Find Out the Causes and Treatments for Shoulder Blade Pain

Shoulder blade pain can affect many people. Unfortunately, it is not easy to determine the exact cause of the pain. The condition can be triggered by muscle strain or by a serious health issue.

The shoulder blades are two bones with triangular shapes which are attached to the collarbone and the arms. The medical term for the shoulder blades is scapulae and they are part of the upper back region. It is crucial not to ignore the symptoms of shoulder blade pain and to seek specialized medical care as soon as possible.

Main Causes

• Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis leads to brittle bones and although fracturing your scapula is quite rare, it can happen during a fall or an accident.

• Disc Disease

There are two main types of disc diseases: degenerative disc and herniated disc. The degenerative disc disease happens with age when the spine discs start to lose fluid and break down, causing less space between the vertebrae pressing on the nerves. The herniated disc makes the gel-like fluid in the disc push out and press on a nerve. Both the conditions cause pain in the shoulder blades.

• Muscle Strain

One of the most common reasons for shoulder pain is a muscle strain. Repetitive work or a new exercise regime can put extra strain on the muscles around the scapulae. Sometimes, it’s enough to sleep in a wrong position to wake up with a sharp pain in the shoulder area.

• Arthritis

Osteoarthritis causes swelling, pain, disfigured cartilage, abnormal bone growth, and loss of motion. Due to the inflammation caused by this condition, many people have reported pain between the collar bone and tip of the shoulder blade.

How to Treat this Disease

The treatment depends on the cause of the pain. If it is caused by muscle strain, the pain should go away by resting. If the cause is a more serious condition, then the doctor will advise with regards to the best course of treatment.

You can prevent shoulder blade pain by making some changes in your lifestyle.

Maintain Good Posture

Because the main cause of shoulder blade pain is a muscle strain, it is very important to have a good posture. If you have a job that implies sitting at a desk all day, make sure you put a small support at your lower back and that your back is as straight as possible. Your feet should touch the ground, and the knees and elbows must bend at a 90°-degree angle.

Shoulder blade pain can also be caused by a stiff neck. With this simple 60-second exercise, you will be able to ease the pain in your neck and the shoulder blade.

Press the affected area with your hand, using good pressure, but not too much to cause more pain. Turn your head to the other direction of the pain, push your chin towards your armpit and then return the head to the starting position. Repeat 15-20 times.

If you experience shoulder blade pain that will not go away in a couple of days, it would be recommended to consult an orthopedic specialist.