Shoulder pain causes: from age-related degeneration to rare lung cancer symptoms

Shoulder pain in individuals over 50 is often linked to the degeneration of the rotator cuff. According to the Haute Autorité de Santé, 70% of such cases involve the rotator cuff. As people age, tendons become less elastic and poorly vascularized, while collagen synthesis slows down. A 2025 study in the journal Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research confirms that tendon degeneration increases proportionally with age, making shoulders vulnerable to microtraumas from even simple daily tasks.

While often attributed to musculoskeletal issues or aging, shoulder and arm pain can occasionally be a rare symptom of lung cancer. Specifically, a Pancoast tumor located in the upper part of the lung can grow to compress nerves and blood vessels passing through the shoulder. While respiratory symptoms like persistent cough or weight loss are more common indicators, patients should be aware that unusual shoulder pain may necessitate medical consultation.