Your shoulder has a wide and versatile range of motion. When you injure your shoulder, your range of motion diminishes and you may experience a great deal of pain and discomfort. The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body and can, in some cases, separate and stretch or tear the ligaments that hold it in the socket.  

The shoulder is the most mobile joints in the body. Because of this anatomy, the shoulder is susceptible to various disorders and injuries:

 

Symptoms of separated shoulder include:

  • Severe pain

  • Deformity in the shoulder

  • Tenderness in the shoulder and surrounding areas

  • Limited movement

  • Weakness and swelling

 

Rotator Cuff Injury

The rotator cuff consists of a group of muscles and tendons that control the movement of the shoulder in the socket. The rotator cuff is subject to strain, tearing (partial or complete), and degenerative changes as we age.

Symptoms of Rotator Cuff injury usually includes painful movements, weakness and difficulty sleeping on the affected side.

 

Bursitis

Shoulder bursitis symptoms typically include tenderness at the outer shoulder, especially when raising the arm above the head. A person with shoulder bursitis may find it painful to raise the arm, get dressed, or put pressure on the side of the affected shoulder.

The shoulder’s subacromial bursa is the largest bursa in the body and is susceptible to bursitis. It is located below a part of the shoulder blade called the acromion (hence the name “subacromial”). If this bursa becomes inflamed it is called shoulder bursitis or subacromial bursitis.

A diagnosis of shoulder bursitis is often accompanied by a diagnosis of tendinitis or shoulder impingement syndrome. These are separate but often overlapping conditions that affect the soft tissue around the shoulder joint

 

Impingement Syndrome

Shoulder impingement syndrome is a common cause of shoulder pain. It occurs when there is impingement of tendons or bursa in the shoulder from bones of the shoulder. Overhead activity of the shoulder, especially repeated activity, is a risk factor for shoulder impingement syndrome. Examples include: painting, lifting, swimming, tennis, and other overhead sports. Other risk factors include bone and joint abnormalities.

With impingement syndrome, pain is persistent and affects everyday activities. Motions such as reaching up behind the back or reaching up overhead to put on a coat or blouse, for example, may cause pain.

Over time, impingement syndrome can lead to inflammation of the rotator cuff tendons (tendinitis) and bursa (bursitis). If not treated appropriately, the rotator cuff tendons can start to thin and tear.

 

Adhesive Capsulitis/Frozen Shoulder

Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) is stiffness, pain, and limited range of movement in your shoulder . It may happen after an injury or overuse or from a disease such as diabetes or a stroke. The tissues around the joint stiffen, scar tissue forms, and shoulder movements become difficult and painful.

Frozen shoulder can develop when you stop using the joint normally because of pain, injury, or a chronic health condition, such as diabetes or a stroke. Any shoulder problem can lead to frozen shoulder if you do not work to keep full range of motion.

 

Frozen shoulder occurs:

  • After surgery or injury.
  • Most often in people 40 to 70 years old.
  • More often in women (especially in postmenopausal women) than in men.
  • Most often in people with chronic diseases.