Shoulder Conditions to Look Out For

Did you know that the shoulder is the most flexible joint in the human body? While the shoulder’s extreme mobility allows folks to use their arms in amazing functional ways, it also poses the threat of injury. Let’s talk about the common conditions that can create pain in the shoulder:

Tendonitis
Tendonitis is inflammation in one or more tendons. Shoulder Tendonitis distinctively speaks about the tendons of the shoulder. Most often, the tendons that flare up are the biceps tendon in the rotator cuff area. Pain can range from mild to severe and can cause problems with static positions of the arm as well as movement.

Bursitis
“Bursa” is a fluid filled sac found in the shoulder joint that can become inflamed and painful when there is friction of the joint. Friction can exist from joint surfaces changing over time, from falls, or injury. Bursitis in generally painful, with additional symptoms of swelling or warmth in the shoulder.

Osteoarthritis
This shoulder condition often refers to the *inevitable* wear and tear of a joint over time. Because it’s a condition in relation to time, shoulder osteoarthritis symptoms onset slowly and gradually. Some common signs are experiencing stiffness in the joint area. As the cartilage and other tissues in the joint wear down, down also goes mobility while pain goes up.

Frozen Shoulder
Although commonly referred to as “frozen shoulder”, adhesive capsulitis occurs when the connective tissue around the shoulder becomes inflamed, thick and stiff. From here, it’s easy to get stuck in a cycle – pain increases, mobility decreases, and the more mobility decreases, the more pain we see.

Rotator Cuff Tear
The “rotator cuff” is a group of muscles that surround the shoulder joint. Their job is to keep the alignment of the upper arm bone in the socket of the joint. Small tears can occur from overuse, malalignment, or just regular wear and tear over time. Falling or lifting something too heavy can result in larger tears. Pain symptoms of a rotator cuff tear can feel like a dull ache in the shoulder, or overall discomfort.