Shoulder Pain & Problems

Arthritis - which causes painful movement. This occurs as the smooth surfaces of the cartilage that line the bones of the shoulder joint are worn away, and joints begin to wear out and become larger. The most common cause of osteoarthritis is overuse

Bursitis - Bursitis often occurs when tendonitis and impingement syndrome cause inflammation of the bursa sacs that protect the shoulder

Dislocation - The shoulder joint is the most frequently dislocated major joint of the body - often caused by a significant force that separates the shoulder joint's ball (the top rounded portion of the upper arm bone, or humerus) away from the joint's socket (glenoid)

Fracture - A fracture is a partial or total crack or break through a bone that usually occurs due to a impact injury

Frozen shoulder - or extreme stiffness in the shoulder that often occurs when a minor shoulder injury heals with scar tissue that affects how the joint moves. This scar tissue reduces flexibility in the shoulder and makes it more prone to injury. There is also a lack of synovial fluid to lubricate the gap between the arm bone and socket that normally helps the shoulder joint to move. The major symptom is the inability to move the shoulder in any direction without pain

Impingement syndrome - Impingement syndrome is caused by the excessive squeezing or rubbing of the rotator cuff and shoulder blade. The pain associated with the syndrome is a result of an inflamed bursa (lubricating sac) over the rotator cuff, and/or inflammation of the rotator cuff tendons, and/or calcium deposits in tendons due to wear and tear. Shoulder impingement syndrome can lead to a torn rotator cuff

Rotator cuff tear - which may occur in younger people, but most of them happen to middle-aged or older adults who already have shoulder problems. Using your arm overhead puts pressure on the rotator cuff tendons. Repetitive movement or stress to these tendons can lead to impingement, in which the tissue or bone in that area becomes misaligned and rubs or chafes. Symptoms of a torn rotator cuff include tenderness and soreness in the shoulder during an activity that uses the shoulder. A tendon that has ruptured may make it impossible to raise the arm

Separation - The shoulder becomes separated when the ligaments attached to the collarbone (clavicle) are torn, or partially torn, away from the shoulder blade (scapula). Shoulder separation may be caused by a sudden, forceful blow to the shoulder, or as a result of a fall

Shoulder instability (including dislocation) - often caused by activities such as tackling or pitching that put extreme force on the shoulder. Symptoms of shoulder instability are pain that comes on either suddenly or gradually, a feeling that the shoulder is loose or a weakness in the arm

Sprain, or shoulder separation - which occurs when the ligaments that hold the clavicle to the roof of the shoulder tear. If this happens, the clavicle is pushed out of place and forms a bump at the top of the shoulder. Sprains are common in falls, when the hand or arm is outstretched to stop the fall or when the fall is on a hard surface. Symptoms are severe pain when the sprain occurs, a misshapen shoulder and decreased movement of the shoulder

Strains - from overuse, leading to a decrease in flexibility, a common problem in middle age, especially among "weekend warriors," or people who don't exercise regularly but go out every now and then for an intense sport

Tendonitis - Tendonitis of the shoulder is caused when the rotator cuff and/or biceps tendon become inflamed, usually as a result of being pinched by surrounding structures. The injury may vary from mild inflammation to involvement of most of the rotator cuff. When the rotator cuff tendon becomes inflamed and thickened, it may become trapped under the acromion