We use our shoulders for a lot and having pain impedes our everyday movements. Shoulder pain is one of the most common areas of pain and five of the most common causes of shoulder pain are osteoarthritis, rotator cuff injury, bursitis, shoulder instability, and adhesive capsulitis (also known as Frozen Shoulder).
Osteoarthritis is related to age, sex, and genes but can also be related to a previous injury, history of shoulder dislocations, infections, or rotator cuff tears. It is more common in women over 50 genetically and often gets worse over time with limited range of motion and stiffness
Rotator cuff injury effects almost 2 million people in the U.S. Injuries can include tendinitis, impingement syndrome, or rotator cuff tears. It usually is a dull ache deep in the shoulder with difficulty doing overhead activities and rotating your shoulder, with pain worst at night.
Bursitis is when a bursa (a fluid-filled sac that acts as a cushion to prevent rotator cuff tendons from rubbing on the bone) becomes injured and becomes irritated or inflamed. When this happens, tendons don’t glide smoothly over the bursa and it becomes painful. This can come from jobs or hobbies that have repetitive arm and shoulder movement, increased age, Rheumatoid Arthritis, gout, or diabetes.
Shoulder instability occurs when the lining of the shoulder joint, ligaments around the shoulder, or the cartilage around the socket become stretched, torn, or detached, allowing the ball of the shoulder to come partially or totally out of the socket. This is most common in athletes with repeated shoulder stress (baseball, swimming, tennis, or volleyball).
Adhesive Capsulitis, also known as Frozen Shoulder, is when the shoulder joint capsule thickens and tightens around the shoulder joint, restricting its movement. This pain moves in stages and is more likely if you’ve experienced an injury to your arm, suffered a stroke, have a disease like diabetes, thyroid, or Parkinson’s, or are a woman over 40 years old.
Physical Therapy can help.
Do any of these relate to you? Are you experiencing shoulder pain? A comprehensive evaluation is key to developing an individualized program to meet your specific needs and goals.In all of these causes of shoulder pain physical therapy is a treatment option. It can even help delay or eliminate the need for surgery. For more information, contact a rehab specialist at UP Rehab Services for a free injury screening. www.uprehab.com
