By Mace Laith
While the shoulders are the moveable joints in the human body, they are also not stable because of their range of motion. Since the upper arm’s ball is bigger than your shoulders’ socket, it becomes vulnerable to injuries.
Shoulder joints should as well be supported by ligaments, tendons, and soft tissue muscles that are also subject to underuse, overuse, or injuries.
In addition, degenerative conditions, as well as other diseases in the human body, can contribute to shoulder issues or generate pain, which travels along the nerves to your shoulders. Some of these shoulders are not limited to the following:
1. Impingement
Shoulder impingement happens when the acromion, the top of your shoulder blade, puts pressure on soft tissues in your arm and is lifted away from the body.
When the arm is lifted, the top of the shoulder blade impinges or rubs on the bursa and rotator cuff tendons. If the condition worsens, you will need a shoulder surgeon to carry out surgery or handle it.
2. Shoulder Instability
This happens mostly to athletes and young people. When ligaments and muscles holding it together are stretched beyond the normal limits, the shoulders become unstable. For younger individuals, these health issues can be normal for development and growth. Usually, shoulders tighten or stiffen with age.
While in athletes, this problem is caused by some motions used in pitching or tackling. These motions basically put pressure on the shoulders, stretching their ligaments over time. It might cause pain, which comes on either gradually or quickly. It may as well cause a weakness in your arm or make you feel your shoulders are loose. Proper treatment may include the following:
- Surgery
- Physical therapy
- Rest
3. Shoulder Osteoarthritis
A deeper ache at the back of your shoulders can be a sign of shoulder osteoarthritis. This pain is accompanied by cartilage deterioration, which is a cushioning material covering the ends of the bones.
As the condition worsens, stiffness in the shoulder develops to the extent where you may lose the capability to reach your back. Often patients report that they are not able to thread a belt or scratch their back.
Over time, symptoms related to osteoarthritis may develop. For some individuals, shoulder injuries from sports and other activities might kick off the degenerative process, which may eventually lead to osteoarthritis.
4. Frozen Shoulder
A patient with this condition has stiffness as well as difficulty with movement. Both passive and active motion is limited severely, distinguishing this condition from other conditions.
Patients usually can’t scratch their backs or put on coats and are not able to touch their scapular from below or above. A plain x-ray needs to be obtained to show a preserved joint space.
Physical therapy is also important for patients with this condition. If you have this problem, you can improve through physical therapy that focuses on a range of motion.
Final Say!
If you have either of these shoulder problems, it would be important to reach out to a doctor. And if your shoulder pain is sudden and is not linked to injuries, dial 911 right away, as it can be a sign of a heart attack.
