Why Do I Get Shoulder Pain When I Reach Back?

Do You Get Shoulder Pain When You Reach Back?

In this video, you'll learn what causes shoulder pain when you reach back, and what you can do to be able to reach back comfortably without shoulder pain.

6 Simple Solutions For Rotator Cuff & Shoulder Pain More 4 Life Physical Therapy St. Louis MO 63011 Gladly Serving Ballwin, Manchester, Chesterfield, Des Peres, Ellisville, and St. Louis County.

What Causes Shoulder Pain When I Reach Back?

Having shoulder pain when you reach back is a common complaint among people who suffer from shoulder problems. Shoulder pain when reaching back can affect can affect everyday activities such as:

  • Pulling up your pants
  • Fastening a bra
  • Putting on a coat
  • Reaching into the back seat of a car
  • For some, even wiping after going #2

If you've found yourself wondering "Why do I get shoulder pain when I reach back?", then here's likely the reason why you get it:

Your shoulder is a ball and socket joint where the ball (humeral head) rotates in the socket (glenoid fossa) as you move your arm.

When you reach back, your arm moves backwards, but the ball of the shoulder actually glides forward in the socket.

shoulder pain when I reach back

This can cause you to pinch the rotator cuff tendons that attach to the front of the shoulder, especially if the muscles in the back of your shoulder are too stiff.

Your shoulder blade also moves when you reach back.

Depending on what type of reaching back you're talking about, your arm and shoulder blade will move differently.  Here are two common types of reaching back movements that can cause shoulder pain if done improperly.

Shoulder Pain When Reaching Behind Your Back

Shoulder Pain When Reaching Back For An Object Behind You

Keep reading to learn more about each of these types of problems, plus how to perform these movements better so that you don't get shoulder pain when you reach back.

Need Help For Shoulder Pain When You Reach Back?

Request a Free Shoulder Pain Discovery Visit to learn how we can help your shoulder pain

Shoulder Pain When Reaching Behind Your Back

Reaching behind your back should be a combined movement of both your shoulder blade moving backwards, along with your forearm rotating around the axis of your upper arm (internal rotation).

If the tissues in the back of the shoulder are too stiff, the ball of the shoulder can't rotate properly in the socket.

As a result people will often compensate by tipping their shoulder blade forward, and extending their elbow behind their body.

This in turn lower the arch of the shoulder down toward the ball, and causes the ball of the shoulder to glide forward.  Both of these things can cause shoulder pain when you reach back behind your back.

To prevent shoulder pain when reaching behind your back, think about moving your shoulder blade and arm as one unit as shown in the video above.

Shoulder Pain When You Reach Back For An Object Behind You

When you reach back for an object behind you, such as getting something out of the back seat, the same principles apply as above.

If your elbow goes behind your body, the ball of the shoulder glides forward in the socket.  This can cause shoulder pain when you reach back.

Tips to Avoid Shoulder Pain When You Reach Back

  1. Avoid it if possible.   Try to turn your body instead.  An extreme reaching back movement is not a normal movement that your body is supposed to make.
  2. If you have to reach back, think about pulling your shoulder blade back first.  Then allow your arm to follow.
  3. Don't let your elbow go too far behind your body

Follow these tips regularly when reaching back and you should have less shoulder pain when doing so.

Need More Help For Shoulder Pain?

Talk to one of our Specialists to learn how we can help.

What Exercises Can I Do To Stop Shoulder Pain When I Reaching Back?

As mentioned above, if you get shoulder pain when you reach back, often it's due to:

  1. the muscles in the back of the shoulder being too stiff causing the ball to glide forward in the socket, or
  2. the chest muscles being too stiff causing the shoulder blade to tip forward.

 

If the muscles in the back of the shoulder are too stiff, the "sleeper stretch" is a good exercise to stretch the muscles and joint capsule in the back of the shoulder.

However, if you do the sleeper stretch incorrectly, it can actually cause shoulder pain.

Click here to learn a New & Improved version of the sleeper stretch.

 

Like this post? See our other posts on Shoulder Pain

Help! My Shoulder Hurts After Sleeping

Prevent Shoulder Pain When Golfing

Shoulder Pain When Arms Raised? These 2 Tips Can Help!

 

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Read my full affiliate disclosure here.