Educational pain pattern · Shoulder

AC-joint or sprain pattern

Pain on top of the shoulder can follow a fall or direct impact.

Important: This page cannot tell you whether you have this condition. Many problems share similar symptoms.

Symptoms commonly associated with this pattern

Tender top of shoulder
Pain across the body
Possible swelling

Common triggers

Fall onto shoulder
Contact sport
Heavy pressing

What changes the next step

Major trauma, rapid worsening, inability to use the area normally, fever or feeling seriously unwell, unexplained swelling, and new neurological symptoms should move the decision away from self-guided stretching.

Sources

Patient education: bones, joints and muscles — American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Muscle pain: When to see a doctor — Mayo Clinic

Content checked 29 August 2026. “Checked” does not mean medically reviewed by an individual clinician.