The shoulder joint can be extremely troublesome because
it is a very fragile and vulnerable joint. This joint
is susceptible to injury because of its structure. A little
bony overhang that comes from the shoulder blade joins
with the bone in the upper arm, called the humerus; however,
there is not a direct attachment. Capsules, ligaments,
and muscles, not bony structures, hold the bones of the
shoulder in place. This relationship is why the force
of gravity can easily pull the long arm bone down and
cause problems.
One shoulder problem is subluxation, which occurs when
the bone in the arm pulls away from the little bony
overhang. A little flat plate allows the bone in your
arm to slide down as you lift your arm up. Many times,
when people are struck in the shoulder joint, they are
unable to move the arm bone down that little plate.
The biggest problem in shoulders is overuse of the
muscles, leading to tendonitis around the shoulder joint
where the muscle begins. Bursae, little sacs that allow
the muscles to slide smoothly over each other, can also
become inflamed because of excessive motion; this condition
is called bursitis. In addition, people can fall and
tear the muscles around the shoulder joint, as in a
rotator cuff tear.
Other problems that may cause difficulty in shoulder
motion are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Treatment
Treatment generally involves altering your
activities, rest and a physical therapy
regimen to improve your strength and flexibility.
Medication may be prescribed to decrease
the inflammation and reduce your pain. Injections
of drugs may also be used to treat pain.
Ninety percent of patient problems will
respond to conservative treatment. Surgery
may be required to resolve problems such
as recurrent dislocation and some rotator
cuff tears.
All treatments are generally accompanied
by a physical therapy regimen specific to
the injury. |
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