What it is
Irritation of a bursa or abnormal friction between the scapula and chest wall. It may relate to repetitive load, scapular control or, less commonly, bony changes.
Typical clinical symptoms
- Pain along the inner border or beneath the shoulder blade
- Grinding, rubbing or snapping as the scapula moves
- Pain with repeated overhead activity
- Tenderness and fatigue in the muscles around the scapula
Video
No video has been added for this condition yet.
Scientific literature
External publications selected for this topic. Their scope may cover a specific condition, population or intervention within this topic; they do not constitute an individual treatment plan.
Scapulothoracic bursitis and snapping scapula syndrome: a critical review of current evidence.
Systematic review / meta-analysis · 2015
Shoulder
When is medical assessment needed?
Deformity after trauma, sudden inability to raise the arm, loss of sensation or pulse, a hot red shoulder with fever, or pain with chest pressure or breathing difficulty require prompt medical assessment.
Descriptions are for orientation. Diagnosis follows history, clinical examination and, only when indicated, imaging or laboratory tests.
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