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Welcome to the Pain Management and Injury
Specialists
Common Shoulder Injuries
Most problems in the shoulder involve the muscles,
ligaments, and tendons, rather than the bones. Athletes are
especially susceptible to shoulder problems. In athletes,
shoulder problems can develop slowly through repetitive,
intensive training routines.
Some people will have a tendency to ignore the pain and
"play through" a shoulder injury, which only aggravates the
condition, and may possibly cause more problems. People also
may underestimate the extent of their injury because steady
pain, weakness in the arm, or limitation of joint motion
will become almost second nature to them.
Orthopedic surgeons group shoulder problems into the
following categories.
Instability
Sometimes, one of the shoulder joints moves or is forced
out of its normal position. This condition is called
instability, and can result in a dislocation of one of
the joints in the shoulder. Individuals suffering from
an instability problem will experience pain when raising
their arm. They also may feel as if their shoulder is
slipping out of place.
Impingement
Impingement is caused by excessive rubbing of the
shoulder muscles against the top part of the shoulder
blade, called the acromion. Impingement problems can
occur during activities that require excessive overhead
arm motion. Medical care should be sought immediately
for inflammation in the shoulder because it could
eventually lead to a more serious injury.
Your shoulder joint is composed of three bones: the
clavicle (collarbone), the scapula (shoulder blade), and the
humerus (upper arm bone). Your shoulders are the most
movable joints in your body. They can also be unstable
because the ball of the upper arm is larger than the
shoulder socket that holds it. To remain in a stable or
normal position, the shoulder must be anchored by muscles,
tendons and ligaments. Because the shoulder can be unstable,
it is the site of many common problems. They include
sprains, strains, dislocations, separations, tendinitis,
bursitis, torn rotator cuffs, frozen shoulder, fractures and
arthritis.
Usually shoulder problems are treated with RICE. This stands
for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. Other treatments
include exercise, medicines to reduce pain and swelling, and
surgery if other treatments don't work.
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