Common shoulder injuries are frequently occurring problems relating to the human shoulder. The shoulder is composed of bones, muscles, and connective tissues. Millions of people suffer injuries to their shoulders every year. Many of these injuries—such as separations, dislocations, and fractures—are the result of sudden trauma. Many other problems—including frozen shoulder, arthritis, and rotator cuff damage—are more often the result of old age, disease, or general wear and tear on the shoulder. Physicians may prescribe a wide range of treatments for these ailments including rest, ice, stretching, medication, and surgery.
Shoulder Parts and Injuries
The shoulder comprises several parts that work together to allow movement while maintaining stability. The bone structure of the shoulder consists of three parts, the humerus (upper arm bone), the clavicle (collarbone), and the
scapula
(shoulder blade). These bones form a ball-and-socket joint with a wide range of motion.
Around these bones are muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Tendons and
ligaments
are both forms of strong connective tissue, but their functions in the body differ. Tendons connect muscles with bones and help to facilitate movement. Ligaments connect bones with other bones and help the body stay strong and stable.
Shoulders can move more freely than any other joints in the body, and their function is safeguarded by an intricate system of parts. These factors make shoulders immensely useful, but they also present many opportunities for injuries and other maladies. People of all ages, genders, sizes, and backgrounds may develop shoulder problems. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, about 7.5 million people in the United States sought medical attention for shoulder-related problems in 2006.
Many shoulder-related problems are caused by sudden injuries while many others result from consistent overuse of the shoulders. In both cases, athletes are particularly at risk for shoulder problems. According to a study published in 2009 in the Journal of Athletic Training, a group of high-school athletes experienced shoulder injuries most often during football, wrestling, and baseball activities. Of these injuries, most were not serious, with athletes able to return to their sports in less than a week. However, a small percentage (6.2 percent) of the cases required surgery.
The pain from shoulder injuries varies greatly. In some cases, patients feel one concentrated area of pain. In other cases, the pain extends over a large region, or even the entire arm. Various diseases and nerve reactions can greatly alter, and generally worsen, the effects of shoulder injuries.
Injuries from Sudden Trauma
Many kinds of common shoulder injuries exist. Some types are generally caused by sudden trauma such as falls, automobile accidents, and mishaps during sporting events. This group of injuries includes separation, dislocation, and fracture.
Separation involves serious injury to the ligaments that connect the scapula and clavicle bones. People most often suffer this injury due to falls, blows, or other forms of sudden trauma. In most cases, with rest, simple treatments such as application of ice, and possibly a medical sling, the injury will heal itself. In serious cases, though, surgery may be necessary to repair torn ligaments.
Dislocation
occurs when the ball-shaped end of the humerus comes out of the socket at the shoulder joint. This injury most frequently occurs if the arm is pulled or twisted in a manner that puts too much pressure on the shoulder. Although dislocation may be very painful and upsetting, the treatment is relatively simple. A physician can usually push the humerus back into place and repair the joint, leaving the patient with no lasting ill effects except temporary soreness. In some instances, however, severe dislocations may cause lasting damage to tendons, ligaments, or nerves, or ongoing weakness of the joint that may contribute to future injuries.
A shoulder fracture is an injury in which one or more of the bones of the shoulder are cracked, usually by falls or other trauma. The most commonly fractured bones in the shoulder are the humerus and clavicle. Fractures may vary in severity. Usually, a doctor can set the bones back together and allow them to heal; if this treatment is not successful, surgery may be necessary. After the initial treatments, patients usually have to wear a sling to keep the damaged bones in place while they heal.
Other Injuries and Problems
Some kinds of common shoulder ailments are not typically associated with sudden trauma. These shoulder problems may be caused by old age, disease, or repeated wear and tear over a long period. These shoulder maladies include frozen shoulder, arthritis, and rotator cuff problems.
Frozen shoulder is a medical problem that occurs when the shoulder no longer moves easily or the range of movement is restricted. People may experience frozen shoulder due to abnormal growths in the shoulder, diseases, or too much friction in the joint. This condition may also develop if a person does not move his or her shoulder for a long time. As with other ailments, surgery may be necessary, but often frozen shoulder will clear up with medicine, injections, and careful exercises.
Arthritis
is a disease that harms the joints, sometimes including the shoulder. Different forms of arthritis may be caused by autoimmune disorders or by ongoing wear and damage to the cartilage of a joint. Medication, exercise, and physical therapy are among the most commonly prescribed treatments for arthritis, though in serious or advanced cases surgery may be needed.
Some of the most common injuries and problems relating to the shoulder occur in the rotator cuff, an assortment of tendons and muscles that help the shoulder function. The rotator cuff tendons may suffer a tear due to repeated use, injury, or the degenerative effects of aging. They may also be affected by diseases such as
bursitis
and
tendinitis
, which cause irritation to parts of the shoulder. Medication, electrical and ultrasound treatments, and rest are often prescribed for ailments of the rotator cuff.
Bibliography
Bonza, John E., Sarah K. Fields, Ellen E. Yard, and R. Dawn Comstock. "Shoulder Injuries Among United States High School Athletes During the 2005 – 2006 and 2006 – 2007 School Years." Journal of Athletic Training 44.1 (Jan. – Feb. 2009): 76 – 83. Web. 16 Jan. 2015. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2629044/
"Common Shoulder Injuries." OrthoInfo. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 2009. Web. 16 Jan. 2015. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00327
"Shoulder Problems and Injuries." WebMD. Healthwise, Inc. Web. 16 Jan. 2015. http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/shoulder-problems-and-injuries-topic-overview
"What Are Shoulder Problems?" National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. National Institutes of Health. Jun. 2010. Web. 16 Jan. 2015. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Shoulder_Problems/shoulder_problems_ff.asp
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