6 Common Causes of Shoulder Pain

The shoulder is an engineering miracle that allows a great degree of motion in your arm. This is made possible with several joints and a variety of tendons and muscles.

But the mobility also makes the shoulder prone to injury. Due to injury and wear and tear, the shoulder may suffer from pain and weakness. From rotator cuff tears to AC joint pain, various shoulder issues may develop.

Here are the most common causes of your shoulder pain.

The Shoulder

The shoulder consists of the humerus or upper arm bone, the scapula or shoulder blade and the clavicle or collarbone. The head of the humerus fits into a socket in the shoulder blade but it is kept there by a combination of muscles and tendons.

Causes of Shoulder Pain

Your shoulder pain usually arises due to instability, tendon issues, fracture, or arthritis.

• Instability

Instability can cause excruciating pain in the shoulder, including dislocations and separations. This could be the result of the humerus being forced out of the shoulder socket, due to an injury or due to the shoulder joint becoming loose with age. If the ligaments, tendons, and muscles around the shoulder become separated, dislocations become more likely.

• Tendonitis

Tendons connect muscle to bone and its inflammation is referred to as Tendonitis. An inflamed tendon can occur from excessive use (as in playing tennis), or vibrations traveling down your arm repeatedly (as in hitting a golf ball off a synthetic mat repeatedly), or due to working with your arms above your head for long periods. Alternatively, tendonitis may be the result of degenerative wear and tear.

• Tendon tears

A torn rotator cuff is the most common example of tendon tears. Excessive throwing can cause tendonitis but if the movement is sharp enough, it can also tear the tendon. A tendon tear will severely restrict shoulder use.

• Fractures

Clavicle or the collarbone is the most commonly broken bone in the shoulder. But the humerus and shoulder blade may also be broken.

• Bursitis

Bursae are small, fluid-filled sacs that act as cushions between the bones and the soft tissues moving around them, to reduce friction. Shoulder overuse (as in repetitive movements) can cause inflammation in the bursae, causing bursitis. This can make the simplest movement in your arm painful.

• Arthritis

Shoulder pain can also be the result of osteoarthritis. It develops over time due to simple wear and tear. Symptoms of osteoarthritis are swelling, pain, and stiffness. It worsens over time.

If you’re suffering from acute or chronic shoulder pain, there’s an underlying cause that needs urgent attention by an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in shoulder problems.

To learn more about surgical shoulder and knee treatments in Phoenix, call one of the best orthopedic surgeons in Phoenix AZ at Phoenix Shoulder and Knee at 480-219-3342.

Phoenix Shoulder & Knee
1215 W Rio Salado Parkway
Suite 105, Tempe, AZ 85281
(480) 219-3342

This release was published on openPR.