Here is a discussion and common ailments of the shoulder. Most of these conditions can be treated naturally with effective results.
Your shoulder allows you to perform activities such as lifting and reaching, throwing and swimming. It is a ball-and-socket joint made up of three bones: the upper arm bone, or humerus; the shoulder blade, or scapula; and the collarbone, or clavicle. It also has four joints called the sternoclavicular joint (SC joint), the acromioclavicular joint (AC joint), the glenohumerral joint, and the articulation between the scapula and ribs. Imagine a golf ball on a tee with ligaments and tendons keeping it all stable, and you can appreciate the way it all fits together and the importance of good shoulder health.
Shoulder pain is very common, but you may wonder what exactly could be going on? Here is a list of common shoulder pain causes:
- Bursitis | Rotator Cuff Tendonitis- The most common diagnosis in patients with shoulder pain is bursitis or tendonitis of the rotator cuff.
- Rotator Cuff Tear- Rotator cuff tears occur when the tendons of the rotator cuff separate from the bone.
- Frozen Shoulder- Also called ‘adhesive capsuliitis,’ this is a common condition that leads to stiffness of the joint.
- Calcific Tendonitis- Calcific tendonitis is a condition of calcium deposits within a tendon- most commonly within the rotator cuff tendons
- Shoulder Instability- Instability is a problem that causes a loose joint and can be caused by a traumatic injury (dislocation), or it may be a developed condition.
- Shoulder Dislocation- A dislocation is an injury that occurs when the top of the arm bone becomes disconnected from the scapula.
- Shoulder Separation Also called an AC separation, these injuries are the result of a disruption of the acromioclavicular joint.
- Labral Tear- There are several patterns of a torn labrum, including a SLAP Lesion. The most common cause of a SLAP lesion is a fall onto an outstretched hand.
- Arthritis- Shoulder arthritis is less common than knee and hip arthritis, but when severe may require a joint replacement surgery.
- Biceps Tendon Rupture- A proximal biceps tendon rupture occurs when the tendon of the biceps muscle ruptures near the joint.
So what should you do? If you are ready to book an appointment, I will be happy to work with you to figure out the best care pathway for your unique needs.
We also have a number of blog posts about shoulder pain for further reading.
