Ongoing shoulder pain can prevent you from doing the things you love or cause you discomfort when you perform daily activities such as cleaning and cooking. To get effective treatment, you must first understand the underlying cause of your pain, which could be anything from an injury to a result of an existing condition. Here are some of the reasons why you may be experiencing shoulder discomfort or pain.
Why Am I Experiencing Shoulder Pain?
1. Rotator Cuff Tears
Your rotator cuff is composed of four muscles that cover the head of the arm bone, or humerus. Tears in these muscles can be caused by an injury or strain over time. If your shoulder pain is worse when your arm is resting or you feel arm weakness when you lift it, you may have tears in this muscle, so visit an orthopedic doctor.
2. Tendinitis/Bursitis
Shoulder tendinitis and bursitis occur when joints in the shoulder become inflamed due to repetitive motion or injury from sports like baseball. To prevent these conditions, maintain the correct form for your sport and stretch your arms before exercising.
3. Impingement
In patients with shoulder impingement syndrome, a swollen rotator cuff causes compression of the tendons and diminished blood flow, which results in stiffness, inability to lift the arm, and a dull, aching feeling in the shoulder. Prevent this strain by stretching before workouts and improving your flexibility through exercises such as Pilates.
4. Arthritis
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that can impact all joints in the body, including those in the shoulder. As the cartilage deteriorates with the progression of the condition, the bones in the shoulder make contact, disrupting joint function, causing pain, and decreasing the range of motion. Often affecting seniors, the symptoms of this condition can be managed with medications.
5. Frozen Shoulder
Much like the name implies, frozen shoulder prevents the motion of the shoulder and the arm. It’s caused by thickened connective tissues, which cause pain and restrict movement. While there’s no identifiable cause, people aged 40 and older and those with reduced mobility due to other conditions are more likely to develop it.
Whether your shoulder pain is caused by a degenerative condition, repetitive motion, or sports injury, visit Advanced Orthopaedic Associates in Wayne, NJ. Serving Passaic County for over 25 years, they offer individualized treatments to prevent and heal foot and ankle issues, neck and back pain, fractures, and other conditions that cause pain or discomfort. Visit them online to learn more about their shoulder treatments, or call (973) 839-5700 to schedule an appointment.
