Muscles that may contribute to pain in the front of the shoulder

Pain in the front of the shoulder can have several possible causes. In some cases, muscular tension and trigger points may contribute to discomfort felt in the front of the shoulder.

What makes shoulder pain particularly interesting is that the area where you feel the pain is not always where the problem originates. Trigger points in different muscles can sometimes refer pain toward the shoulder.

12 Muscles That May Refer Pain to the Front of the Shoulder.

Compare the referred-pain patterns below with the area where you feel discomfort. Select a muscle to learn more.

Scalenes referred pain pattern

Scalene Muscles

Trigger points in the scalenes may refer pain or discomfort toward the front of the shoulder, the back of your shoulder and down the arm.

Learn More
SCM referred pain pattern

SCM

Trigger points in the SCM muscle tend to perpetuate other trigger points in the scalenes, which in turn can affect your shoulder

Learn More
Infraspinatus referred pain pattern

Infraspinatus

Trigger points in the Infraspinatus may contribute to pain or discomfort around the front of you shoulder and down the front of the arm.

Learn More
Anterior Deltoid referred pain pattern

Anterior Deltoid

Tension and trigger points in the Anterior Deltoid may contribute to pain or discomfort around the front of the shoulder.

Learn More
Pectoralis Major referred pain pattern

Pectoralis Major

Trigger points in the Pectoralis Major may refer discomfort locally tom the chest and on the the front of the shoulder.

Learn More
Pectoralis Minor referred pain pattern

Pectoralis Minor

Trigger points in the Pectoralis Minor may produce localized discomfort around the front shoulder, the chest and sternum.

Learn More
Coraco-Brachialis referred pain pattern

Coracobrachialis

Trigger points in the Coracobrachialis may refer discomfort around the front shoulder and down the back of the arm.

Learn More
Subclavius referred pain pattern

Subclavius

Trigger points in the Subclavius may refer discomfort to the anterior shoulder, the front of the upper arm, and the lateral forearm.

Learn More
Brachialis referred pain pattern

Brachialis

Trigger points in the Brachialis may refer discomfort around the anterior shoulder. inner elbow and around the thumb.

Learn More
Bicep Brachii referred pain pattern

Biceps Brachii

Trigger points in the Biceps Brachii may refer pain toward the front of the shoulder and the elbow joint.

Learn More
Sternalis referred pain pattern

Sternalis

Trigger points in the sternalis muscle may produce referred pain around the chest and into the front of the shoulder.

Learn More
Subscapularis muscle referred pain pattern

Subscapularis

Trigger points in the Subscapularis muscles may refer pain or discomfort toward the the back of the shoulder and to the wrist.

Learn More