Cracking Shoulder: Causes And When To See A Doctor

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Medical News TodaySubscribeWhat can cause shoulder cracking or popping?

Medically reviewed by Cameron White, M.D., MPH — Written by Adrienne Stinson on November 8, 2019

Dislocation
Snapping shoulder blade
Arthritis
Bone tumors
When to see a doctor
Prevention
Outlook

Doctors refer to the cracking or popping of joints, like the shoulders, as crepitus. Though crepitus happens often, the reason that joints pop is not always clear.

Cracking, clicking, and popping sounds are quite common in the joints.

Scientists have thought that the noise may have something to do with the release of gas from the fluid or the spaces within the joints.

The shoulder is a complicated part of the skeleton. Two joints provide movement, including the glenohumeral joint, in which the head of the long bone in the upper arm fits into a shallow socket. Some know this as a ball-and-socket joint.

Read on to learn more about common causes of cracking shoulders, as well as treatments, when necessary.

Shoulder dislocation

a man with a painful cracking feeling in his shoulder. — Trauma may cause a shoulder dislocation.

Dislocation or partial dislocation of the shoulder can cause instability.

The joint slipping in and out of place can also cause a cracking sound.

Dislocation can cause the shoulder to appear to rest too far forward or backward, or it may hang below where it should.

Shoulder dislocation has several causes and treatments. They include:

Trauma to the shoulder

This trauma often results from sports injuries or accidents, in which something hitting the shoulder causes the bone within the joint to pop out of place.

Dislocation most commonly occurs in the glenohumeral ball-and-socket joint.

Cartilage along the rim of the socket may tear when dislocation occurs. This tear is called a Bankart lesion, and it may make the shoulder more prone to further dislocations or feelings of instability.

After an injury, a doctor should be able to diagnose a dislocation with a physical examination and X-rays. This type of imaging test can also help reveal any broken bones or other injuries.

If a shoulder keeps dislocating and the cartilage in the joint is torn, doctors may recommend stabilization surgery to repair the tear.

Overextension of the shoulder joint

A shoulder may dislocate if a person extends the joint too far. This can happen during an everyday activity if a person has extremely flexible joints.

When overextension occurs, the shoulder will often pop back into the socket easily.

Physiotherapy and exercises may help prevent overextension, if a person experiences it frequently.

Abnormal shoulder muscles

Sometimes, a person dislocates a shoulder without pain. This may result from having weak or abnormal muscles around the shoulder.

If dislocation occurs due to an issue with the muscles, physiotherapy could help strengthen them. A physiotherapist or doctor may also suggest surgeries to reduce the size of the joint and help prevent dislocation from occurring.

Snapping shoulder blade

Some people hear and feel a snapping while moving their shoulder blades. This can be due to inflammation in a fluid-filled sac called a bursa.

The purpose of the bursae is to reduce friction in joints. Inflammation in one or more bursae is called scapulothoracic bursitis, in this instance.

This inflammation may cause no pain, or it may cause the shoulder blade to become extremely painful and tender.

Scapulothoracic bursitis and a snapping shoulder blade often develop as a result of overuse from activities that involve lifting the arms above the head, such as:

football
pitching, as in baseball
swimming
gymnastics
weight training

Doctors may use imaging tests, such as CT scans or MRI scans, to make a diagnosis after a physical examination. Injecting a local anesthetic and corticosteroids in the area may also help with the diagnostic procedure while relieving pain if it is present.

The plan of action for treating a snapping shoulder blade includes:

rest
use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs)
changes to daily activities
shoulder rehabilitation, including muscle strengthening exercises

Rehabilitation may take 3–6 months, but a person should continue to follow their treatment plan until they have achieved their recovery goal.

Other treatments options include:

applying heat to the area
massage
iontophoresis, in which an electrical current makes it easier for the body to absorb drugs through the skin
ultrasound therapy
corticosteroid injections
wearing a shoulder brace to maintain posture

If shoulder snapping does not improve with these treatments, the doctor may recommend surgery.

Learn more about bursitis in the shoulder here.

Shoulder arthritis

Arthritis can affect all the joints in the body, including those in the shoulder.

There are different types of shoulder arthritis. They include:

osteoarthritis
rheumatoid arthritis
shoulder arthritis after injury
rotator cuff tear arthropathy
shoulder arthritis from avascular necrosis

Generally, arthritis in the shoulder may cause:

pain
cracking, popping, clicking, or grinding
stiffness
a limited range of motion

Treatment for shoulder arthritis should start with a doctor’s visit to determine the cause of any shoulder pain and cracking.

The following can help ease shoulder arthritis symptoms:

applying heat or ice to the area
using NSAIDs
practicing physiotherapy exercises
making changes to daily activities

Learn more about exercises that could help with shoulder arthritis.

Bone tumors

An osteochondroma is a bone tumor that can develop when the bones are growing. These tumors are noncancerous, and they can form in the shoulder.

Symptoms include:

a painless bump near a joint
pain during activities, if the tumor rubs against a tendon
tingling or numbness, if the tumor is near a nerve
changes to blood flow

Doctors use X-rays to help diagnose osteochondromas and similar issues. They may also use other imaging tests, such as MRI or CT scans.

In most cases, an osteochondroma does not require treatment. However, a doctor may recommend surgery if the osteochondroma causes pain, has a lot of cartilage, or forms near a nerve.

When to see a doctor

Seeing a medical professional when experiencing pain, particularly after an injury, is extremely important.

Successful rehabilitation is a time sensitive matter, and having professional help at an early stage can dramatically improve long term results. Likewise, following a treatment plan consistently can have significant long term benefits.

Physiotherapists can recommend exercises that people can do at home or at work, and these can take only a few minutes a day.

If cracking or popping in the shoulder causes pain, swelling, or other symptoms, see a doctor.

Prevention

In many cases, it can be difficult to prevent shoulder cracking or popping. However, a person can take steps to reduce the risk of any further damage.

If there is pain or swelling, avoid overusing the shoulder joint to prevent further injury. It is especially important to avoid strenuous activities involving lots of shoulder use, such as contact sports and those that involve overhead throwing.

Rest, massage, anti-inflammatory medications, and heat can help a shoulder injury heal.

Outlook

Cracking, popping, or clicking in the shoulders is generally not a cause for concern. However, if the sound occurs with pain, swelling, or other symptoms, see a doctor.

Physical therapy and home treatments often lead to recovery from a shoulder injury. If these methods are not fully effective, surgery and other treatments are available.

Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Bones / Orthopedics
Sports Medicine / Fitness

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Abrams, R. & Akbarnia, H. (2019). Shoulder dislocations overview.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459125/
Arthritis of the shoulder. (2013).https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/arthritis-of-the-shoulder
Chronic shoulder instability. (2013).https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/chronic-shoulder-instability/
Conduah, A. H., et al. (2010). Clinical management of scapulothoracic bursitis and the snapping scapula.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3445084/
Cutts, S., et al. (2009). Anterior shoulder dislocation.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2752231/
DeFroda, S., et al. (2017). Arthroscopic Bankart repair for the management of anterior shoulder instability: Indications and outcomes.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5685957/
Fryer, J. C. J., et al. (2017). A proposed in vitro model for investigating the mechanisms of 'joint cracking': A short report of preliminary techniques and observations.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5381484/
Osteochondroma. (2018).https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/osteochondroma/
Sadeghi, H., et al. (2018). Effect of frequency on crack growth in articular cartilage.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5711256/
Shoulder anatomy. (n.d.).https://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/where-it-hurts/shoulder-pain/shoulder-anatomy.php
Suja, V. C. & Barakat, A. I. (2018). A mathematical model for the sounds produced by knuckle cracking.https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-22664-4.pdf

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Medically reviewed by Cameron White, M.D., MPH — Written by Adrienne Stinson on November 8, 2019

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Cracking Shoulder: Causes And When To See A Doctor

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Shoulder dislocation

Trauma to the shoulder

Overextension of the shoulder joint

Abnormal shoulder muscles

Snapping shoulder blade

Shoulder arthritis

Bone tumors

When to see a doctor

Prevention

Outlook

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