Can't Lift Arm Above Head? Common Causes

If you can’t lift your arm above your head, the cause usually falls into one of three patterns: pain stops you (often rotator cuff tendinopathy, bursitis or impingement), weakness stops you (often a rotator cuff tear or a nerve problem), or stiffness stops you (often frozen shoulder or arthritis). One useful clue is whether someone else can lift your arm higher than you can. Sudden weakness after a fall or a pull needs checking within the same week.

The three patterns overlap, and many people have more than one. This page explains what tends to set them apart, what usually helps, and when the inability to lift needs a prompt check.

Key takeaways

Three patterns: pain, weakness and stiffness, each pointing to different common causes.
Pain pattern: the arm can go up but it hurts, often with a painful arc partway up.
Weakness pattern: the arm will not lift by itself, but someone else can lift it.
Stiffness pattern: the arm will not go up whoever moves it.
Sudden weakness after an injury: needs checking within the same week, because some tears do better with early repair.

Where are you right now?

It just happened after an injury: read “Weakness” and the safety sections first.
It has crept up over weeks and is not settling: see “Which pattern is it?” and “If it isn’t going to plan”.
After an injection or surgery: your surgeon or doctor’s plan comes first.
Trying to get back to overhead work or sport: see the “When can I…” table.

Which pattern is it?

These describe tendencies, not a diagnosis.

Pain

What it feels like: the arm can lift, but a sharp or aching pain stops you, often between shoulder and head height.
Common causes: rotator cuff tendinopathy, bursitis, shoulder impingement, calcific tendinitis.
What usually helps: reducing overhead load for a few weeks, gentle movement, then gradual strengthening.

Weakness

What it feels like: the arm will not lift by itself, or drops, even though someone else can lift it.
Common causes: a rotator cuff tear, or a nerve problem from the neck or around the shoulder.
Sudden or gradual: sudden weakness after a fall, a pull, or catching something heavy points more toward a tear. Gradual weakness with tingling points more toward a nerve.

Stiffness

What it feels like: the arm stops at the same point however hard you try, and someone else cannot lift it further either.
Common causes: frozen shoulder, shoulder arthritis, or stiffness after an injury or surgery.
What usually helps: depends on the cause and stage, but often regular stretching over months.

Whether someone else can lift your arm higher than you can is one of the most useful clues.

Week by week

For the pain pattern from a common tendon problem, without injury:

Weeks 0 to 2: reduce overhead tasks; gentle movement below shoulder height.
Weeks 2 to 6: many people find overhead reach easier as strengthening begins.
Weeks 6 to 12: most tendon problems improve substantially; full overhead strength often takes longer.

For weakness after an injury: assessment within the first week or so matters more than any timeline. For stiffness: frozen shoulder often runs one to three years.

Where else this could be coming from

The neck: a pinched nerve can weaken the muscles that lift the arm, often with tingling, numbness, or pain down the arm.
Shoulder blade: if the muscles that rotate the shoulder blade are weak or the blade sticks out, lifting can be limited.
Upper back: a stiff mid-back limits the last part of overhead reach.
The elbow, wrist or hand: not usually a cause of being unable to lift the arm, but nerve problems there can add to weakness in the hand.

Is this normal?

“I can lift it when I’m lying down but not standing.” Common with rotator cuff weakness, because lying down reduces the load.
“It hurts going up and coming down.” A painful arc is typical of tendon and bursa problems.
“I can’t lift it but there’s little pain.” Weakness with little pain can come from a tear or a nerve problem and is worth getting checked.
“It clicks.” Clicking without pain or weakness is common and often not a concern.

If it isn’t going to plan

It is week four. Hanging washing or reaching for a cereal box still stops at shoulder height, and you have been waiting for it to loosen up on its own. The thought is that rest will settle it.

Rest helps pain settle at first, but tendons weaken without load, and stiffness builds without movement. If weakness is the issue, rest will not show whether there is a tear that needs early attention.

If you cannot lift your arm and it is not clearly improving after 2 to 4 weeks, get assessed by a physical therapist or your doctor. Questions to ask:

Pattern: is my limit mainly pain, weakness or stiffness?
Tear: do I need a scan to check for a tear, and how soon?
Neck: could a nerve in my neck be part of this?
Plan: which exercises and how much load suit my shoulder now?

When can I…

Activity	Typical range
Sleep on that side	Often 6 to 12 weeks for tendon problems; longer for tears and frozen shoulder
Drive	When you can steer with both hands and reach the seatbelt safely
Reach overhead	Often 6 to 12 weeks for tendon problems; months for tears and stiffness
Lift	Light loads close to the body usually fine early; overhead lifting usually last
Desk work	Usually possible with the keyboard close and the arm supported
Manual work or sport	Overhead work and throwing often 3 months or more

If you have had surgery, your surgeon’s protocol comes first.

Call your local emergency number or go to the emergency department if

Deformity or dislocation: the shoulder looks out of shape after a fall or blow.
Chest symptoms: inability to lift the arm with chest pain, breathlessness or sweating.
Sudden weakness of one side: with facial droop or slurred speech, which can be a stroke.

See a doctor today if

Hot, swollen shoulder: with fever or feeling unwell.
Progressive weakness: the arm or hand is getting weaker over days, especially with neck pain or tingling.

Get it checked soon if

Sudden weakness after injury: you cannot lift your arm after a fall, pull or lifting something heavy. Aim to be seen within the same week.
Not improving: you still cannot lift your arm after 2 to 4 weeks.
Other signs: unexplained weight loss, or night pain that no position changes.