Conditions Related to Shoulder Pain
The shoulder is a complex joint built to allow movement in many directions: forward, backward, around in a circle, and away from the body. Muscles and ligaments help keep the shoulder stable and secure in your shoulder socket. We depend on our shoulders to support many of our most basic motions, including pushing, pulling, lifting, and throwing. Because the shoulder is a very flexible joint, it is highly vulnerable to injury. Whether you’re a competitive athlete or an active elder suffering from years of repetitive motion, Dr Kinzel is here to treat a wide variety of shoulder conditions.
Common Shoulder Injuries & Conditions
The majority of shoulder pain problems involve the muscles, ligaments, cartilage, and tendons. In particular, athletes and skilled workers are especially susceptible to issues involving shoulder blade pain or shoulder joint pain. Because of repetitive, intensive routines, shoulder pain can develop over time.
Rotator Cuff Tears
Keeping the ball of your upper arm bone firmly within the shallow socket of the shoulder, the rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint. People who repeatedly perform overhead motions in their jobs or sports are more likely to sustain rotator cuff injuries. Age is another factor for risk of rotator cuff injury.
Shoulder impingement/Rotator Cuff Tendinitis
Both young athletes and middle-aged people find it common to experience rotator cuff pain. Especially vulnerable are those who use their arms overhead for sports such as baseball, tennis and swimming. Also at risk are people who do repetitive lifting or overhead activities using the arm, such as painting, paper hanging or construction.
Sometimes a minor injury may be the cause of the pain. However, pain can occur with no apparent cause.
Dislocated Shoulder/Shoulder Instability
The body's most mobile joint is the shoulder, which makes it susceptible to dislocation. An injury in which your upper arm bone pops out of the cup-shaped socket that's part of your shoulder blade defines a dislocated shoulder. Common complications associated with a dislocated shoulder are labral tears or Bankart lesions.
SLAP Tear
SLAP is an acronym for Superior Labrum Anterior and Posterior. The top (superior) part of the labrum is injured in a SLAP injury. The biceps tendon attaches to the labrum in this top area. Both in front (anterior) and back (posterior) of this attachment point is where a SLAP tear occurs. It is possible for the biceps tendon to be involved in the injury as well. SLAP tears are common in athletes who overhead throw, such as baseball and tennis players.
Shoulder Arthritis (Shoulder Osteoarthritis)
Osteoarthritis is a condition in which the smooth outer covering (articular cartilage) of bone wears down over time. It is also known as “wear-and-tear” arthritis. The cartilage becomes frayed and rough as it wears away, and the protective space between the bones decreases. The bones of the joint rub against each other during movement and this causes pain.