My shoulder hurts.
Stress 'SPAL-la'. 'Mi fa male' = mee-fah-MAH-leh — a very useful pain phrase.
Use this to communicate pain or discomfort to a trainer or staff member during or after exercise. Prompt communication prevents worsening injuries.
'Mi fa male' literally means 'it makes pain to me' and is the standard Italian way of expressing bodily pain. The body part goes after: 'la spalla' (the shoulder), 'il ginocchio' (the knee), 'la schiena' (the back).
Mi fa male il ginocchio.
My knee hurts.
For knee pain.
Ho un dolore alla schiena.
I have a backache.
Alternative construction with 'dolore'.
Sento una fitta al petto.
I feel a sharp pain in my chest.
Serious — stop exercising immediately and inform staff.
Italian trainers are required to advise you to stop exercising and consult a doctor ('medico') for any persistent pain. Italy has a strong culture around preventive sports medicine ('medicina dello sport') and many cities have dedicated sports medicine centres.