Shoulder Pain

Tendinitis occurs when the shoulder joint is excessively overused typically due to the physical demands of a person’s job, overhead activity, or sport.

Another factor for tendinitis is also poor posture because this alters the normal forces on the tendons, and can set you up for tendon injury.

This causes the tendons to undergo ongoing inflammation, resulting in swelling and painful impingement when raising your arm.

Frozen shoulder results in a painful loss of motion in the shoulder with a tightening of the shoulder joint that severely limits motion. It is also known as “adhesive capsulitis.”

This condition can occur if your arm has been in a cast or sling for a while, or if you have been bedridden for an extended period.

Some ethnicities are more predisposed, and women from 40-60 years of age tend to have more instances of this condition than men.

Impingement typically occurs because of abnormal movement and tracking of the humeral head as you lift your arm overhead.

Pain typically occurs when lifting your arm at or above 90 degrees.

The two main forms of arthritis that affect the shoulder are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Both of these result in loss of motion, weakness to the shoulder muscles, and difficulty performing normal, daily tasks.

Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the immune system decides to attack the membranes surrounding the shoulder joint, resulting in pain and inflammation.

Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage in the shoulder joint experiences significant “wear and tear,” typically due to age or excessive overuse.

The shoulder is a “ball-and-socket” joint, which means that the head of the upper arm bone, or “humerus,” fits perfectly into the corresponding space within the shoulder blade, or “scapula,” and the ends of the bones are protected by a thick layer of cartilage, preventing friction between the bones.

Tendons are also protected from rubbing against the bones by fluid-filled bags known as “bursae.” Tendons connect the bones of the shoulder to a group of bones called the rotator cuff.

Your shoulders are capable of a wide range of physical feats. They have the most range of motion of any joint in your body! However, the possibility of pain and discomfort comes with its own set of complications.

The type of pain you experience in your shoulder may differ depending on what is causing it. Pain from impingement, for example, typically occurs when you raise your arm from a specific point in the range of motion.

A degenerated shoulder can cause persistent aches when you move your arm in certain directions. Acute injuries can cause sudden and intense pain, making the movement of your shoulder impossible.

Pain can also occur if something goes wrong with the complexities that comprise the mechanical interplay of the shoulder.