Thecervical spineis the neck region of your spinal column.

Most broken collarbones are the result of falling on the shoulder itself or landing on an outstretched arm.

Bursitis is inflammation of the bursa, which can happen due to injury, infection, or disease.

Man stretching back and shoulders with physical therapist

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Together, they keep your arm in the shoulder socket.

When these muscles and/or tendons are torn, it results in arotator cuff injury.

This may be due to a sports injury or over time by repetitive wear and tear.

The muscles and tendons of the rotator cuff are located in this sub-acromial area as well.

The compression occurs with repeated overhead movements such as those used in throwing a ball or swimming.

This creates a vicious cycle that’s hard to break.

When you have neck pain, you may find that the muscles of your shoulders lose their strength.

Pleurisy

This condition involves swelling in the lining around the lungs and chest cavity.

It can cause shoulder and neck pain when you take a deep breath.

Pericarditis

Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardium, which is the sac that surrounds the heart.

One of the symptoms includes pain in the neck, shoulders, or chest when you take a breath.

It gets worse if you lie down or breathe deeply.

Other signs of pericarditis are fever, weakness, and trouble breathing.

How Is Neck and Shoulder Pain Diagnosed?

Some simple strategies include:

What Is the Best Treatment for Shoulder and Neck Pain?

Most neck and shoulder injuries are treated conservatively, at least at first.

Common treatments include:

If these approaches don’t work, some conditions may require surgery.

Physical therapists are movement experts trained on biomechanics of the body, including the neck and shoulder.

Summary

Shoulder and neck pain often go together because the areas are so interconnected.

In more extreme cases, surgery may be recommended.

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