Published on: 5/21/2025
What Causes Pain When Moving My Arm Across My Body?
Pain when moving your arm across your body can be caused by issues like scapulothoracic bursitis or shoulder problems common in older adults.
Explanation
When you feel pain while moving your arm across your body, it might be due to a condition called scapulothoracic bursitis. This is happens when a bursa, a small fluid filled sac, located around the long edge of one of your shoulder blades becomes inflamed and causes pain. This type of pain can also be related to shoulder issues that are often seen in older adults.
Possible Causes
- Scapulothoracic Bursitis: This occurs when a bursa in the shoulder blade area becomes inflamed, leading to pain when moving the arm.
- Age-Related Shoulder Pain: As people age, they might experience more shoulder pain due to wear and tear or other conditions affecting the shoulder. One of these conditions is arthritis involving the acomioclavicular joint, which is the joint you can feel at the far end of your collar-bone closest to the shoulder.
If you experience persistent pain, it is important to consult a healthcare professional to determine the exact cause and appropriate treatment.
(References)
- Boneti C, Arentz C, & Klimberg VS. (2010). Scapulothoracic bursitis as a significant cause of breast .... Annals of surgical oncology, 20853053.
- Vogt MT, Simonsick EM, Harris TB, Nevitt MC, Kang JD, Rubin SM, et al. (2003). Neck and shoulder pain in 70- to 79-year-old men and .... The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society, 14609687.
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