After jogging, it is not unusual to experience pain in the shoulder. Most cases of shoulder pain in joggers are mild and resolve within a few days with just home care, but some people might find their pain persists or worsens with time, and rarely, shoulder pain can indicate a serious health condition. Fortunately, most cases of shoulder pain related to jogging are preventable with lifestyle changes and treatable with home and medical care.
Features
Shoulder pain can occur while jogging or shortly after, and the pain might last for just a few hours to many days or longer, depending on the cause. Joggers might feel a gradual ache in the shoulder that worsens with time, or the pain might develop suddenly and without warning. In some cases, the shoulder pain might worsen with physical activity. Some people might develop additional symptoms, such as decreased mobility in the shoulder joint, swelling or redness in the shoulder or upper arm, weakness or fatigue when carrying or picking up items with the affected arm, and decreased strength when performing exercises, such as pushups, pullups or weightlifting with the painful shoulder.
Causes
Most cases of shoulder pain during or after jogging result from overuse injuries or wear and tear of the shoulder joint over time. Injuries, such as a sprain or strain, dislocated shoulder, rotator cuff injury, tendinitis or rupture of a tendon, might occur while jogging. Wear-and-tear injuries, such as osteoarthritis, torn cartilage and avascular necrosis or the death of bone tissue, can also cause pain in the shoulders of joggers. Less common but more serious causes of shoulder pain while jogging include ectopic pregnancy, heart attack or a collapsed lung. These conditions require emergency medical care.
Treatments
Home care includes resting the joint, using ice to reduce swelling and heat to relax muscles and taking pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. If the pain does not respond to home treatments, an orthopedist might inject corticosteroids or lidocaine to reduce inflammation and numb the area. Shoulder pain resulting from severe injuries, such as rotator cuff tears or shoulder dislocations, might require surgical treatment, followed by physical therapy and rehabilitation.
Prevention
Before going for a jog, take time to warm up and stretch the muscles and joints, including the shoulders. When finished jogging, taking a few more minutes to cool down can also help in preventing shoulder pain. Slowing down or stopping exercise at the first sign of pain can help prevent worsening of an injury. Alternating types of exercise can also help in preventing shoulder pain that results from overuse.
