Limited Shoulder Range Of Motion

Shoulder range of motion can become limited due to inflammation, trauma, arthritis, tendon damage, calcium deposits, scar tissue, or immobilization following an injury or procedure. Dr. Kevin Kruse and our experienced clinical team specialize in evaluating and treating the underlying cause of restricted shoulder movement, creating individualized treatment plans to restore comfort, mobility, and function.

This page explains how the shoulder moves, what normal shoulder range of motion looks like, common causes of limited motion, how shoulder mobility is assessed, and when to schedule an evaluation at our clinic for shoulder pain or stiffness that isn’t improving on its own.

Key Takeaways

• Limited shoulder range of motion can affect lifting, reaching, and behind-the-back movements, making it difficult to perform everyday activities or stay active.
• Common causes include frozen shoulder, shoulder arthritis, rotator cuff tears, post-procedure and fracture-related stiffness, shoulder impingement, and calcific tendonitis.
• A sudden change in shoulder motion, painful stiffness, or a major difference between shoulders should be evaluated by a shoulder specialist.
• Range-of-motion exercises may help restore shoulder mobility, but severe, worsening, or painful restriction should always be diagnosed before starting an exercise program.

How Does The Shoulder Move?

The shoulder is one of the most mobile joints in the body. Bringing together the upper arm bone (humerus), shoulder blade (scapula), and collarbone (clavicle), it allows you to lift, reach, rotate, carry, and place your hand behind your back.

Most motion occurs at the glenohumeral joint, where the ball of the upper arm bone (humeral head) moves within the socket (glenoid). Smaller amounts of motion occur at the acromioclavicular joint, which connects the collarbone to the highest point of the shoulder blade, and the sternoclavicular joint, which connects the collarbone to the breastbone.

The rotator cuff, a group of four small muscles and tendons that help keep the ball centered in the socket, is the primary mover and stabilizer of the shoulder. It works with the biceps, deltoid, pectoralis, trapezius, and other surrounding muscles to coordinate smooth arm and shoulder movement.

When one or more structures within the shoulder become inflamed, weak, stiff, injured, or otherwise damaged, normal shoulder motion can become painful or restricted.

Normal Shoulder Range Of Motion

Because the shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint, it moves through a wide range of planes. Normal shoulder range of motion includes flexion or elevation (lifting the arm forward or overhead), extension (moving the arm backward), abduction (moving the arm away from the body), adduction (bringing it back toward the body), external rotation (turning the arm outward), and internal rotation (turning the arm inward).

Normal shoulder mobility can vary significantly from person to person. Shoulder range of motion typically only becomes a concern when it has noticeably decreased, when one shoulder moves much less than the other, or when stiffness or pain is interfering with daily function.

Common Causes Of Limited Shoulder ROM

Limited shoulder range of motion often develops when the shoulder cannot glide, rotate, or elevate normally. Common causes include:

Frozen Shoulder

Frozen shoulder, also called adhesive capsulitis, can cause significant stiffness and loss of both active and passive shoulder motion. It’s considered idiopathic, meaning it doesn’t always have one clear cause, but is likely related to an inflammatory or autoimmune-type response that is out of proportion to a minor injury or irritation. Adhesions, or sticking points, can form in the shoulder capsule and stop the joint from moving normally.

Shoulder Arthritis

Shoulder arthritis can limit motion when cartilage damage changes the way the ball and socket move against each other. As the smooth bearing surface wears down, the joint may become painful, stiff, or more difficult to move through its normal range. In more advanced cases, bone spurs can form around the joint, creating additional mechanical restriction and making overhead or behind-the-back movements harder. Contact our clinic today if you suffer from shoulder arthritis.

Rotator Cuff Tear

When a rotator cuff tear occurs, the rotator cuff may no longer be able to lift, rotate, or stabilize the shoulder normally. Active motion may become limited because the tendon attachment is no longer functioning properly. Passive motion may also be affected if inflammation and pain inhibition cause the body to guard against movement. Experiencing a rotator cuff tear? Make an appointment with Dr. Kruse.

Post-Surgical Stiffness

Post-surgical stiffness, also called post-operative capsulitis, can occur when the trauma of an operation causes the body to form excess or hypertrophic scar tissue in the shoulder. This scar tissue may restrict motion during recovery. Stiffness can also develop after long periods of immobilization, including extended sling use after a shoulder procedure, which is one reason Dr. Kruse emphasizes minimally invasive techniques, and when appropriate, a no-sling or limited-sling recovery approach. Contact our clinic if you are experiencing post-surgical stiffness.

Post-Fracture Stiffness

It’s common to have a very stiff shoulder after a fracture involving the bones of the shoulder joint. While the bone is healing, the shoulder may need to be immobilized or placed under movement restrictions, which can contribute to stiffness. Dr. Kruse and our clinical team help patients balance the protection of the healing bone with a safe return to motion.

Calcific Tendonitis

Calcific tendonitis occurs when calcium forms in the rotator cuff tendons as a response to chronic tendonitis. A calcium deposit in a tendon that contracts with the muscle can cause pain, impingement, and decreased motion. In advanced cases, calcium may need to be removed or debrided during an operation, and any resulting tendon damage may need to be repaired.

Shoulder Impingement

Shoulder impingement occurs when the tendons and bursa in the small subacromial space become irritated, inflamed, and swollen. This can create a pinching sensation with overhead reaching or lifting. Over time, pain and irritation may cause patients to move the shoulder less, which can contribute to worsening stiffness.

How To Assess Your Shoulder Range Of Motion

Most people can tell when one shoulder is no longer moving the way it should. Common warning signs include:

• Difficulty lifting the arm overhead
• Trouble reaching behind your back
• One shoulder moving much less than the other
• Pain, catching, or stiffness near the end of motion
• A sudden loss of mobility after an injury or procedure

A shoulder specialist can physically examine your shoulder and compare your range of motion to what’s considered normal. The assessment may include active motion, where you move the arm yourself, and passive motion, where the clinician gently moves the shoulder for you.

What Are Shoulder Range-Of-Motion Exercises?

Shoulder range-of-motion exercises are gentle movements designed to stretch the muscles of the shoulder and upper arm in order to gradually restore mobility. Gently stressing the end range of motion is important for progression, but you should never push through sharp or worsening pain.

Common examples of shoulder range of motion exercises include:

• Doorway stretches
• Wall walks
• Table slides
• Pulley stretches
• Other controlled movements that help the shoulder move more freely, as symptoms allow

The right program depends on the underlying cause of mobility limitations. Severe, painful, or worsening movement restrictions should always be evaluated by a shoulder specialist before range-of-motion exercises are initiated.

Book An Appointment Today

As a high-volume Dallas shoulder surgeon, Dr. Kruse specializes in diagnosing and treating complex shoulder conditions with individualized, evidence-based care. Whether your limited motion is related to frozen shoulder, arthritis, rotator cuff damage, shoulder impingement, post-procedure stiffness, or another shoulder condition, our team can identify the cause and recommend the next steps toward restoring comfort, mobility, and function. Schedule an appointment today to get started.