There are several structures that can cause a painful shoulder. Injury to these structures can lead to the common diagnosis of shoulder tendonitis or a rotator cuff injury. This is not always the case and the source of the pain may not be the shoulder muscles and tendons at all. This article discusses the possible pain generators of the shoulder.
The most recognized way for pain to develop in the shoulder is through trauma. This could consist of something obvious like falling onto your outstretched arm causing your shoulder to jam or trying to push or pull on a stuck object. A less obvious traumatic event could be forcefully using the muscles of the shoulder over time and then pain occurs. This could happen during activities such as chopping firewood, hammering, or exercising in a repetitive fashion. The first traumatic event is identified as a macrotrauma meaning it's a large and obvious event. The second situation is termed a microtrauma meaning it's less obvious and occurred with repetitive insults to the muscle tissue. One does not necessarily occur more than the other, but both can cause significant injury and pain.
The macrotraumatic event can lead to injury of the muscle by causing a major tear in the muscle fibers. A muscle tear describes just that, a tear in the muscle. The muscle fibers actually rip apart and become separated from each other or where the muscle tendon inserts on a bone in the shoulder. The rotator cuff muscles can tear to different degrees. The size of the tear can vary and will be termed partial, full or full-thickness tear. It is important to remember that just because a muscle tear is present that doesn't always mean you will have to have surgery. Signs that a shoulder muscle is torn include but are not limited to pain, weakness, and loss of motion.
A microtraumatic event or repetitive overuse can lead to injury of the muscle by causing minor tears in the muscle fibers. These are small in degree but enough to cause an inflammatory process to occur which leads to pain. Tendonitis is an inflammation of the muscle or tendon. It is not the same as a partial or full tear. The muscle fibers do not actually separate from each other. This type of event can cause significant pain and dysfunction. Signs that a shoulder muscle is inflamed include but are not limited to pain, weakness, and loss of motion.
Bursitis is another common cause of shoulder pain. A bursa is a fluid filled sack that sits between muscle and bone. The bursa is designed to protect the muscle from scraping against the bone, thus it protects it from becoming irritated against the bone. The bursa has a lot of nerve endings in it. When the bursal sac becomes inflamed we call this condition bursitis. Bursitis of the shoulder can be very painful. A bursitis can occur in the shoulder as the result of a macro or microtraumatic event as described above just like a muscle tear or tendonitis can develop. Signs that a shoulder bursa is inflamed include but are not limited to pain, weakness, and loss of motion.
These are three of the most common pathologies that cause pain in the shoulder. You will notice that the symptoms that you may experience as a result of these conditions are very similar. So how do you tell which problem you may have? Well, to determine that you should consult a competent Physical Therapist in your area that specializes in the evaluation and treatment of musculoskeletal and/or orthopedic pathologies. They will be able to successfully diagnose the source of your pain and treat the problem appropriately.
A common problem most active and working people may complain about would be shoulder pain. Shoulder pains, just like any other muscle pain may cause moderate to extreme discomfort. This may, in effect, get in the way of people functioning properly in their day to day activities. Therefore, it is only important that one gets to be acquainted with the various ways by which shoulder pains may be avoided ? to avoid activities and other factors, which may potentially cause shoulder pains ? and thereafter, to get rid of shoulder pains once experienced. Since shoulder pain has become almost a common problem among active people, it is essential that people have basic knowledge on how to get rid of shoulder pain. People should have the minimum knowledge on the different procedures, which may be necessary if ever shoulder pains are not relieved by other simpler and manageable forms of medication or rehabilitation. This is extremely important in order that one may function in his daily activities without being encumbered by a distressing feeling brought about by shoulder pains.
There are in fact a number of ways which one may employ in order to relieve shoulder pain. But what is worth noting is that even before one can go on applying medical procedures or any form of medication to relieve shoulder pain, it is almost always imperative that one must first determine the precise cause for one's shoulder pain. This is precisely due to two interrelated reasons. First is that to be really able to get rid of shoulder pain, the root cause of the problem must be identified and thereafter treated accordingly. Second, there are a number of possible causes that may give rise to shoulder pain, and one medication or procedure may be more appropriate (or not appropriate or effective ? at all) for a kind of shoulder pain that is a result of a particular cause. Thus, there is always the necessity to determine the causes of shoulder pain if only to be able to ensure effective relief of shoulder pain.
Although shoulder pain may be due to some causes which may be stress-related, causes of shoulder pain may also include, among others, accidents, shoulder injuries, and/or excessive exercise which results in the muscles, joints, and tendons being overworked. In the case of excessive exercise or overworked muscles and joints, repetitive movements of the shoulder joint may lead to the deterioration of the joint. The result would be slight pain which would eventually become more painful. Accidents may also account for shoulder pain as a result of an injured shoulder blade, trauma inflicted against the tissues or muscles in the shoulder area, or the overstretching of the sinews. Cold which penetrates the area within or surrounding the shoulder may also be one of the causes of shoulder pain. Cold has the effect of making the muscles and the sinews contract. This contraction results in the stiffing of the muscles and thus, the resultant shoulder pain. Arthritis, which may further be the result of inflamed shoulder joint due to trauma, infection, or autoimmune disease, may also account for a persistent shoulder pain. The aforementioned are just some of the more common causes of shoulder pain.
Both Peter Harris & Brian Johnsonn are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Peter Harris has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fitness, Health and Dating and Romance. Peter Harris is a licensed Physical Therapist with 17 years experience in the profession treating patients with shoulder pathology. A painful shoulder can persist for years, significantly impacting your quality of life. You don't have to suffer any long. Peter Harris's top article generates over 22200 views. to your Favourites.
Brian Johnsonn has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fitness, Computers and The Internet and Fitness. For more information on exercises to cure a rotator cuff tear visit and ge. Brian Johnsonn's top article generates over 60500 views. to your Favourites.