- Acute trauma: fall, impact, dislocation
- Overload due to repetitive movements (e.g., sports, work)
- Long-term incorrect loading, poor posture, or muscular imbalances
- Degenerative processes and wear and tear
- Inflammatory or degenerative changes of the tendons, labrum, or bursa
- Poor circulation due to pre-existing conditions
Shoulder pain can occur at any age, whether following an acute accident or due to gradual wear and tear. The shoulder is one of the most mobile and, at the same time, most complex joints in the body, stabilized primarily by muscles and tendons. Accordingly, it is susceptible to overload, poor posture, degenerative changes, or injuries from falls.
If shoulder pain persists, a thorough examination is worthwhile. This makes it possible to clearly determine the cause and select a targeted therapy.
As a shoulder specialist in Innsbruck, Dr. Gregor Pittl provides precise diagnoses with a clear, individually tailored treatment concept. He prefers conservative therapies and only recommends shoulder arthroscopy or other surgical measures when they are medically truly sensible and necessary.
Dr. Gregor Pittl
Specialist in Orthopedics and Traumatology in Innsbruck
How do shoulder complaints arise?
Cause
Shoulder pain can occur acutely due to an accident or fall, or it can develop gradually and become chronic, for example, through overload, wear and tear, or incorrect loading. Depending on the cause, the symptoms manifest differently: pain during movement, restricted mobility, instability, or weakness can be indications of various affected structures. In physically active people or those in manual trades, overload, tendon irritation, or micro-injuries are common.
Furthermore, degenerative changes in the shoulder tend to increase with age.
Common causes can include:
Symptoms & conditions of the shoulder
Symptoms
Depending on the affected structure and severity, shoulder complaints can vary greatly. Some symptoms are noticeable during specific movements, while others appear even at rest or at night.
Typical symptoms are:
- Pain when lifting, rotating, or extending the arm
- Restricted mobility or a “stiff” feeling in the shoulder
- Loss of strength, especially when lifting or carrying
- Pain at night, especially when lying on the shoulder
- Cracking, grinding, or a “pinching” sensation during movement
- Swelling, localized heat, or signs of inflammation
- Feeling of instability, as if the shoulder is “giving way”
- Pain that radiates from the shoulder joint into the upper arm, neck, or back
Most common clinical pictures of the shoulder:
Clinical Conditions
- Calcific tendonitis (calcified shoulder)
- Tendon tears of the rotator cuff, e.g., degenerative or after an accident
- Impingement syndrome & subacromial pain syndrome
- Osteoarthritis in the shoulder joint
- Shoulder instabilities / dislocations
- Bursitis (inflammation of the bursa)
- Cartilage damage or labral lesions
- Tendinopathies / tendon irritation
- Injuries after a fall or direct impact (e.g., fractures, subluxations)
Diagnosis & treatment with the shoulder specialist in Innsbruck
Treatment
Many shoulder conditions can be effectively treated conservatively in the early stages. To determine the cause and therapy options, Dr. Pittl, as a shoulder specialist in Innsbruck, takes the time for a careful diagnosis.
This takes place in three steps:
- Detailed medical history (anamnesis)
- Clinical examination: mobility, stability, muscle status, functional tests
- Imaging procedures depending on suspicion: X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, to visualize the joint, bones, soft tissues, and tendons
Treatment methods by Dr. Pittl – Shoulder Specialist Innsbruck
Depending on the diagnosis, Dr. Pittl, as a shoulder specialist in Innsbruck, prefers to rely on conservative and regenerative procedures. Possible therapies include:
- Physiotherapy & therapeutic training for stabilization, strengthening, and mobilization
- Gentle inflammation treatment for acute irritation
- For tendon problems: targeted load management, shockwave therapy or magnetic field therapy
- For cartilage or joint wear: joint-preserving therapies, anti-inflammatory measures, or supportive procedures
- If there is structural impairment, shoulder arthroscopy may be indicated. This is considered after careful evaluation and only when conservative therapies have been exhausted.
Your shoulder specialist in Innsbruck
Dr. Gregor Pittl
Many shoulder complaints can be significantly improved through a careful examination and an individually tailored therapy concept.
Contact us if you would like to have your shoulder pain clarified by shoulder specialist Dr. Pittl in Innsbruck. You are also welcome to arrange an appointment during private consultation hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I consult an orthopaedist for shoulder pain?
If shoulder pain persists for more than a few days, occurs at night, restricts mobility, began after a fall, or causes loss of strength, an orthopaedic evaluation should be performed.
What is a rotator cuff tear and how is it treated?
A rotator cuff tear is a rupture of one or more shoulder muscle tendons. Depending on the extent, treatment is either conservative—using anti-inflammatory measures, physical therapy, and strengthening—or surgical, typically via shoulder arthroscopy for larger tears and persistent symptoms.
What is calcific tendinitis of the shoulder and how is it treated?
Calcific tendinitis of the shoulder (tendinosis calcarea) is a condition in which calcium deposits form in the tendons of the rotator cuff, usually in the supraspinatus tendon. Calcific tendinitis of the shoulder develops due to calcium deposits in a tendon of the rotator cuff, most commonly the supraspinatus tendon. This leads to pain and restricted mobility. Treatment is usually conservative, including shockwave therapy, anti-inflammatory measures, and physiotherapy.
Is shoulder surgery always necessary, or are there effective conservative therapies?
Surgery is not always necessary. Many shoulder conditions can be successfully treated conservatively, e.g., through physiotherapy, targeted strengthening, anti-inflammatory measures, or supportive procedures such as shockwave or magnetic field therapy.
Can I train despite shoulder pain?
Mild discomfort often allows for adapted training, as long as the exercises do not trigger or intensify pain. If there is significant restriction of movement, loss of strength, or pain under load, training should be paused and an orthopedic examination should be performed.
What does shockwave therapy do in the shoulder?
Shockwave therapy can relieve inflamed tendon structures, promote blood circulation, and stimulate tissue healing. It is often used for calcific shoulder, irritation of the rotator cuff, insertional tendinopathies, or impingement, and can significantly reduce pain.