SHOULDER PAIN

Posted on Medical And tagged Medical, Shoulder, Sports Injuries

The shoulder is one of the body's most critical musculoskeletal formations. Every time you pick up your cup of coffee, grab a book on a high shelf, wave HELLO to someone, you're using the complex joint of your shoulder. Almost every movement we make with our hands and arms has an effect on the shoulder, because the human shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body.

This mobility gives the upper limb an enormous range of motion. But the anatomical design that makes this joint so versatile also makes it vulnerable, and shoulder pain can reverse a simple act such as brushing your hair in a painful event.

The shoulder can move in so many directions because it's a flat ball joint where the “ball” (the top of the humerus bone) is bigger than the socket it fits in.

As a result, the shoulder is at risk of instability and is the most frequently dislocated joint in the body. Their unique anatomy also makes them susceptible to sprains and separations, as well as to a wide range of overuse injuries. Some of the factors that predispose shoulders to injury are anatomical differences, and others are behavioral.

It is likely that 1% of adults with new shoulder pain are consulted annually.[1]

In the majority of cases, shoulder problems are overload injuries. Some problems involve the muscles in the shoulder, while others are actually about the joint connections themselves.

The most common cause of shoulder pain is the rotator cuff, which accounts for over two thirds of cases.² Rotator cuff injuries are most commonly caused by repetitive movements overhead, often in conjunction with manual work or sport.

But shoulder pain isn't always caused by a problem in the shoulder joint — problems in the neck can cause pain that is felt across the shoulder blade or in the upper outer arm.

When should you see a doctor? 3

Shoulder pain accompanied by difficulty breathing or chest tightness may be a symptom of a heart attack and requires immediate medical attention.

See a doctor immediately if your shoulder pain is caused by an injury and is accompanied by such an injury:

· A joint that appears deformed

· Inability to strain the joint or move the arm away from the body

· Intensive pain

· Sudden swelling

Make an appointment with your doctor if your shoulder pain is accompanied by pain:

· swelling

· Redness

· Sensitivity and warmth in the joint area

Some tips to improve your shoulder mobility and relieve shoulder pain:

· Don't work your way through severe pain — your body is telling you to stop what you're doing. Dull pain, especially when you're gently fighting your arthritis.

· Warm up your body and shoulders before weight training.

· Start with shoulder mobility exercises and then move on to strengthening and stretching.

You have three parts of your shoulder, the anterior (anterior deltoid), the middle (lateral deltoid), and the posterior (posterior deltoid). We are often strong in the front of our shoulders, but very weak in the middle and in the back. Focus on strengthening the back and sides of your shoulders and stretching the front of your shoulders.

[1] ^{Quillen DM, Wuchner M, Hatch RL. Acute shoulder injuries. Am Fam Physician. 2004 Nov 15. 70 (10) :1947-54.}

[2] ^{Murphey RJ. Shoulder pain. BMJ Clin Evid. 2010; 2010:1107.}

[3] ^{Mitchell C et al. Shoulder Pain: Diagnosis and Management in Primary Care BMJ2005 Nov 12; 331 (7525): 1124—1128.}

Posted on Medical and tagged Medical, Shoulder, Sports Injuries.