What Causes Pain Between Shoulder Blades?

The shoulder blade, otherwise known as the scapulaNot all types of pain between shoulder blades are
is the bone structure in the upper back part of theindicative of infection, inflammation, or problems
body connecting the arm to the thorax (chest wall).within the scapula region. Pain between the shoulder
The shoulder blade also forms part of the socket,blades may be an indicator of a disease other than
which connects the upper arm to the socket. It isthat which is directly related to infection in the
surrounded by muscles and tissues which cushion thescapula; such pain may be a signal warning from one
bone structure allowing the shoulders to moveof the organs of the body. This type of pain is
smoothly. Thus, the shoulder blade is largely involvedconsidered as "referred pain".
in the different movements of the human arms. LikeShoulder blade pain may signal any pain from another
any other parts of the body however, the shoulderpart of the body the severity of which may range
blade may suffer swelling and inflammation, whichfrom mild to severe. Thus, the pain may be a
lead to what is commonly referred to as shoulderreferred pain from the lower part of the neck, or
blade pain.from the lower part of the back. This may be
However, pain between shoulder blades may becaused by too much stress or too much time spent
caused by a number of factors. The pain may bein front of the computer. This may also indicate a
sourced from inflammation of the tissues or tendonsposture problem. If the person has a bad posture,
surrounding the scapula or the shoulder blade. Musclesthe spine may be affected and therefore it refers
surrounding the shoulder blade may have been tornthe stress and pressure to the shoulder blade area.
or strained due to some strenuous activities. TheOn the other hand, pain between shoulder blades
same case may also apply as regards the tendonsmay indicate severe medical problems or conditions in
and ligaments in the scapula region. Joint dislocationsthe other organs of the body. It may mean an
may also lead to shoulder blade pain as a result of aimpending heart attack; it has been documented that
strong trauma after an accident or during a play of aprior to a heart attack, most are experiencing pain
sport. Shoulder blade pain may also involve infectionbetween their shoulder blades. Gallbladder disease
or bone tumor in the region of the scapula; but casesmay also manifest in the form of pain between
of this type are very infrequent.shoulder blades. This may oftentimes be accompanied
Although pain between shoulder blades may signalby vomiting. It may also be caused by liver cancer
that there is something wrong with the tissues,and esophageal cancer or cancer in the esophagus
joints, ligaments or muscles around and within thedue to an abnormal growth of cells and tumors in a
shoulder region, it is not however always the case.person's esophagus.