Shoulder Pain
The shoulder is one of the most sophisticated and complicated joints of the body. Because the shoulder is the most mobile joint in the human body it is prone to unique and complex problems.
Shoulder problems occur when any one of these components starts to degenerate or is in some way compromised or irritated. The root cause is often overuse (which often comes with age), dislocation, or an accident, such as using the arms to break a fall, impacting the shoulder joint.
Shoulder Anatomy
- The shoulder is located where the humerus (upper arm), clavicle (collarbone), and scapula (shoulder blade) meet. The Glenohumeral joint is the major shoulder joint. Ball-and-socket socket construction allows for circular movement of the arm. he acromioclavicular joint (AC Joint) is on top of the shoulder, where the collarbone (clavicle) meets the highest point of the shoulder blade (acromion).
- The Rotator Cuff is a group of four muscles (Supraspinatus, subscapularis, infraspinatus, teres minor) that come together as tendons to form a covering around the head of the humerus. These muslces are what keep your shoulder in your socket.
- The Glenoid Labrum is a fibrous ring of tissue which attaches to the rim of the glenoid which is the shallow depression of the scapula or shoulder blade where the ball of the humerus sits.
- A bursa is a synovial fluid filled sac, which acts as a cushion between tendons and other joint structures. The major bursae in the shoulder include the subacromial bursa, the subdeltoid bursa and the subscapular bursa. The bursa can commonly become inflamed and cause pain (bursitis).
Common Problems Include:
- Sprains and strains
- Dislocations
- Separations
- Tendinitis
- Bursitis
- Torn rotator cuffs
- Frozen shoulder
- Fractures
- Arthritis
Common treatments for shoulder pain include:
- Regenerative Medicine
- Physical therapy
- Corticosteroid Injection of an anti-inflammatory medicine
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Surgery if all other treatments do not work
