Shoulder pain

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Shoulder Pain

Shoulder Pain

The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint that has three main bones: the humerus (long arm bone), the clavicle (collarbone), and the scapula (also known as the shoulder blade).

These bones are cushioned by a layer of cartilage. There are two main joints. The acromioclavicular joint is between the highest part of the scapula and the clavicle.

The glenohumeral joint is made up of the top, ball-shaped part of the humerus bone and the outer edge of the scapula. This joint is also known as the shoulder joint.

Shoulder pain is any pain in or around the shoulder joint. The shoulder is the most movable joint in the human body. A group of four muscles and their tendons, called the rotator cuff, give the shoulder its wide range of motion.

Swelling, damage, or bone changes around the rotator cuff can cause shoulder pain. You may have pain when lifting the arm above your head or moving it forward or behind your back.

Causes

  • Frozen shoulder
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Rotator cuff Tendinitis
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Poor shoulder posture and mechanics
  • Bone spurs in the shoulder area
  • Dislocated shoulder
  • Shoulder separation
  • Broken shoulder bone
  • Bursitis
  • Sprains
  • Impingement
  • Broken Collarbone
  • Brachial plexus injury
  • Cervical Radiculopathy
  • Thoracic outlet syndrome
  • Overuse or injury of nearby tendons, such as the bicep muscles of the arms
  • Damage to the bones and cartilage, which can be caused by arthritis.

Symptoms

  • Pain deep in the shoulder joint, in the back or the front of the shoulder and the upper part of the arm. Sometimes the pain in the shoulder can be described as a ‘catching pain’. The location and type of pain is likely to relate to the structure causing the pain
  • Reduce movement, and pain when moving your shoulder.
  • Weakness of the shoulder/upper arm. Depending on the condition, there may be a sensation of the joint slipping out and back in to the joint socket, or the shoulder can become completely dislodged (dislocated)
  • Sensations of pins and needles (tingling) and burning pain. This is more likely to be associated with nerves from the neck than the shoulder joint itself.
  • Lack of movement after a shoulder dislocation. This is usually due to pain. Complete rotator cuff tears and injury to the axillary nerve both cause weakness in moving the arm away from the body. These problems require close clinical examination.

Differential Diagnosis

  • Adhesive Capsulitis of the Shoulder (Frozen Shoulder, Periarthritis of the Shoulder)
  • Rotator Cuff Syndrome (Rotator Cuff or Supraspinatus Tear or Rupture (Complete or Incomplete) not specified as Traumatic, Supraspinatus Syndrome)
  • Bicipital Tendinitis
  • Calcific Tendinitis of Shoulder, Calcified Bursa of the Shoulder
  • Impingement Syndrome of the Shoulder
  • Bursitis of Shoulder

Here at Nova Health Physiotherapy Clinic, we will evaluate the causes of your pain and dysfunction, develop an individually tailored treatment plan and provide one-on-one treatment to get you to pain free life.

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