Clicking or Popping in the Shoulder? Here's What It Means and What to Do
Updated July 20261 minute read
Painless clicking or popping in the shoulder is usually harmless — it often comes from tendons or soft tissue gliding over bone and doesn't signal damage. Clicking that comes with pain, catching, weakness, or a feeling of instability is more meaningful and may involve the labrum or rotator cuff. If noise is paired with those symptoms, it's worth a physical therapy assessment.
What this usually means
Most likely causes. Harmless clicks from tendons or the shoulder blade gliding over the ribs are common and don't need treatment. When painful, rotator cuff irritation or scapular movement issues are typical. Less common causes. Catching or clicking with a sense of slipping can involve a labral tear or instability, especially after a dislocation or in throwing athletes.
What you can try at home
If the noise is painless and not limiting, you can usually ignore it. If it comes with pain, avoid the specific movements that reliably catch, keep the shoulder gently active, and consider strengthening the cuff and shoulder-blade muscles.
When to see a physical therapist
If clicking comes with pain, catching, weakness, or instability, a PT can sort out the cause and treat it.
Red flags — don't wait
Seek care for a shoulder that dislocates, locks, or is deformed after injury, or arm pain with chest symptoms (emergency).
How a PT treats this
When relevant, treatment strengthens the cuff and scapular muscles to improve control and reduce painful catching.
Frequently asked questions
Sources (3)
- AAOS OrthoInfo: SLAP Tears in the Shoulder. — AAOS OrthoInfo
- AAOS OrthoInfo: Chronic Shoulder Instability and Dislocation. — AAOS OrthoInfo
- MedlinePlus: Rotator Cuff Injuries. — NIH/MedlinePlus
This article is for education only and isn't medical advice. Always talk to a licensed clinician about your specific situation.