MAIN Health Pain Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain is a very common form of localized pain and injury for the simple reason that the shoulder is the joint with the most range of motion.

Part of the reason that the shoulder is capable of such a wide range of motion is how it is built. The ball on the end of the upper arm is actually smaller than the socket of the shoulder holding it. This means that the shoulder must rely on a great deal of soft tissue to remain anchored properly in place, all of which makes the shoulder an injury and pain "hot spot."

Causes of shoulder pain

One very common shoulder injury is a dislocation, which is when the shoulder is either pulled outward, away from the body, or else the arm is rotated in such a way that the ball of the upper arm is popped out of the shoulder socket. A dislocated shoulder is a particularly bad injury to suffer because with each dislocation, it becomes easier for the shoulder to dislocate again.

A torn rotator cuff or some other irritation of the tendons of the shoulder, such as seen in tendonitis, is another extremely common cause of shoulder pain. A sudden injury, such as a fall, may be the cause of a tendon injury, but a lifetime of hard use or other factors like age or smoking may also weaken tendons, making them more susceptible to injury and also making the shoulder injury more difficult to repair.

Bursitis, or inflammation of the bursa surrounding the shoulder joint, is another typical condition that may cause stiffening and pain.

Shoulder pain isn't always caused by some sort of trauma, however. Heart disease, for example, can cause shoulder pain or conditions related to back or spine injury can affect the shoulder, especially the area of the shoulder blade.

Shoulder pain treatment

In most cases, treating shoulder injuries means protecting the injured shoulder from further harm, immobilizing and stabilizing the shoulder to prevent using it, and icing it to reduce swelling and pain. Of course, for serious or prolonged pain a trip to the doctor is usually recommended to help ascertain any possible related conditions or diagnose the exact cause of shoulder pain.

More about shoulder pain around the Web:

Your Orthopaedic Connection - Shoulder Pain - Good overview of including information on bursitis, tendonitis and other conditions including when to see a doctor, with more on available diagnosis and treatment options.

MedlinePlus - Shoulder pain - Comprehensive information on shoulder pain conditions, causes & treatment, what to expect at a doctor's visit, home care and prevention tips, related illustrations.

Shoulder Bursitis - MedicineNet - Information on causes & treatment options including pain relievers and medications, home care tips.

Tendonitis - Information on Tendonitis - About.com guide to causes and treatment, a discussion on the different types of tendonitis, and tips on how to avoid reoccurance.

also see in Pain -> Alternative pain therapies

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