Shoulder pain can happen for many different reasons. It may be a dull ache or a sharp, shooting pain, and can come from different areas inside the shoulder. The pain can come on slowly or suddenly, but in kids it usually gets better within a few weeks. Follow these instructions to care for your child.

• Follow your health care provider's recommendations for:
  • how long to take a break from sports and activities
  • any stretching or strengthening exercises
  • seeing a physical therapist

       For pain, your child can:

• Take ibuprofen (such as Advil^®, Motrin^®, or a store brand), if recommended by your health care provider. Follow the directions on the label for how much they should take and how often.
• Place a cold pack wrapped in a towel on the area for 15–20 minutes a few times a day for the first few days after an injury. Put a towel or cloth between the cold pack and the skin. 
• Place a heat pack wrapped in a towel on the shoulder for no longer than 20 minutes (being careful not to burn the skin) or have your child take a warm bath or shower. Heat packs can also help with stiffness.

Your child has:

• pain that gets worse 
• no improvement in shoulder pain after a few days
• signs of infection, such as fever, swelling, warmth, or redness around the shoulder

Your child has:

• severe pain
• weakness, numbness, or tingling in the arms or hands

What causes shoulder pain? Many things can cause shoulder pain, such as:

• overuse
• muscle strain from lifting heavy objects (including backpacks)
• poor posture
• sleeping in an uncomfortable position
• sports or activities that involve repetitive arm movements
• injury
• stress
• other medical conditions, like an infection or inflammation

What can help prevent shoulder pain? It may help for your child to:

• Work with a sports trainer to make sure they don't overtrain and that they warm up and cool down correctly.
• Improve their posture. They should keep their shoulders back, their back straight, and their chin up when sitting and standing, and keep their weight even over both hips and feet when standing.
• Avoid carrying very heavy objects. If they use a backpack, try to keep it light. They should use both shoulder straps when wearing the backpack.
• Get plenty of physical activity to keep muscles strong.
• Stay at a healthy weight.
• Talk to a counselor if stress might be a cause of the shoulder pain.