Shoulder Conditions

The shoulder is a ball and socket joint that offers a large range of movement. As the shoulder is a mobile joint it is more susceptible to injury.

For the shoulder to function correctly it relies heavily on the shoulder muscles for stability and any dysfunction to the muscles of the shoulder and its surrounding structure, such as to the collar bone, shoulder blade or the joint itself can cause pain and mobility problems.

Conditions that affect the shoulder can include frozen shoulder, strains to tendons and ligaments, rotator cuff injuries, impingements and instability and fracture.

Shoulder Conditions

1. Frozen Shoulder

This occurs when the shoulder is in that much pain that is causes inflammation that limits the range of motion.This stiffness can commonly be treated by the use of anti-inflammatory medication and in the instance that more needs to be done, your doctor may advise surgery in the form of a shoulder arthroscopy.

2. Strains

Strains to the tendons and ligaments that help support the shoulder joint can also cause severe pain. Pain from whiplash injuries which commonly affect the neck can radiate towards the shoulder region also causing problems in the way of limited movement as is the case when the levator scapulae muscle is involved. This is the muscle that extends along the back of the neck, with the function of assisting with various neck, arm and shoulder movements such as shrugging.

3. Rotator Cuff Injuries

The rotator cuff connects the bone of your upper arm to the shoulder blade and helps to keep the joint in place. It is comprised of a group of tendons and muscles, damage to any of which can cause a rotator cuff injury. Taking part in sports with repetitive arm movements increases the risk of such injuries.

4. Impingements & Instability

Shoulder impingement is an injury sustained as a result of your a tendon becoming pinched by a bone in the shoulder. The tendon commonly pinched is one that acts as a component of the rotator cuff muscles and tendons which stabilise the shoulder and assist with shoulder movement.

Shoulder instability occurs when the joint becomes excessively loosened. The shoulder may slide our of position sometimes to the point of dislocation.