Shoulder pain can sideline even the most active person out there. It affects nearly every aspect of your life, from unloading the dishwasher to picking up your kids, shoulder pain can change your life. Your shoulder is made up of a series of muscles, tendons, and bones. Because your shoulder is such a mobile joint and is constantly used, it is especially prone to injury. While there can be many causes of shoulder pain, these are some of the most common:
Arthritis
Arthritis is one of the most common causes of shoulder pain that people experience. The most common type of arthritis the affects the shoulder is call osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis often pops up as you age. Osteoarthritis is caused by chronic movement, inflammation of the joint, or an injury at work or while playing sports.
Fracture
A fracture, or broken bone, is another leading cause of shoulder pain among patients. Shoulder fractures often evolve the collarbone, upper arm bone, or shoulder blade. Fractures are typically caused by a sudden impact and are a common sports injury.
Instability
Shoulder instability is when the head of the arm bone becomes displaced from the shoulder socket, this is most commonly known as a dislocated shoulder. When your shoulder dislocates it can cause muscle and tendon damage which increases the likelihood of dislocation in the future.
Tendon tears and inflammation
The shoulder is particularly prone to injuries due to overuse and repetitive tasks. Overuse and repetitive tasks can result in tendonitis, when the tendons are inflamed, and bursitis, an inflammation of the bursa, a fluid-filled sack that separates the tendon from the bone. Bursitis can lead to tendon damage due to the tendon scraping against the bone. Tendonitis is especially common in the rotator cuff.
If you are dealing with acute or chronic shoulder pain, give us a call to set up a consultation to see what the LOC team can do for you.