The shoulder is a wonderful part of the body. The area is connected by a beautiful assortment of bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Of any joint in the body, the shoulder joint (which is a ball-and-socket joint) has the greatest range of motion.
While this mobility makes it possible for humans to do a wide variety of activities, it also means the shoulder is easily injured. While injuries can be sport of activity related, they also commonly happen in the workplace and around the home. If you feel pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, feel your joint swelling, experience a change in color or temperature, or find your range of motion limited, it is a pretty safe bet that you have injured your shoulder in some way.
So just what are some of the most common shoulder injuries? Here’s a brief look.
Separation: often occurring when you fall or when the shoulder receives a blow, separation is when the ligaments connecting the outer end of the collarbone and the end of the shoulder blade tear and separate.
Pulled muscle: this occurs when too much strain is put on the shoulder muscle.
Bruises: also called contusions, occur when the small blood vessels under the skin of the shoulder rupture or tear.
Sprains: occur when the ligaments connecting the different bones are injured (though not torn).
Torn Rotator Cuff: this is when at least one of the tendons that cover the shoulder joint are damaged.
Frozen: while the exact causes are unknown, it results in an extremely stiff shoulder that is difficult to move in any direction.
Dislocated: when the bones are pushed or pulled out of their normal relationship with one another.
Fracture: broken bones usually happen when the bone is struck directly, either through a blow or a fall.
Arthritis: occurs when the cartilage lining the bones of the shoulder joint are worn away.
If you are experiencing any pain or discomfort in your shoulder, it’s important you are immediately examined and treated. Through proper treatment, you can ensure your shoulder remains active and mobile, allowing you to continue to enjoy your favorite activities.