What are the symptoms of scapular winging?
Scapular winging symptoms vary from person to person depending on the underlying cause as well as the muscles and nerves involved. Most people with scapular winging have a shoulder blade that sticks out. This can make sitting in a chair or wearing a backpack uncomfortable.
If the winged scapula is the result of nerve damage, it can cause weakness in the muscles of your neck, shoulders, and arms. That weakness can make lifting, pulling, and pushing heavy objects hard.
Scapular winging often affects your ability to raise your arm above your shoulder. It may also be associated with other symptoms, including:
- pain or discomfort in your neck, shoulders, and back
- fatigue
- a drooping shoulder
What causes scapular winging?
Scapular winging is almost always caused by damage to one of three nerves that control muscles in your arms, back, and neck:
- the long thoracic nerve, which controls the serratus anterior muscle
- the dorsal scapular nerve, which controls the rhomboid muscles
- the spinal accessory nerve, which controls the trapezius muscle
Injuries and surgeries can both cause damage to these nerves and muscles.