rotator cuff tear occurs when the tendons in the shoulder are damaged, often from repetitive overhead activities, sports, or accidents. It is a common cause of shoulder pain, especially in older individuals.
Symptoms
Diagnosis is based on a physical exam and X-rays, with MRI providing the clearest view of the tear.
Treatment
Treatment options include conservative methods like rest, a shoulder sling, pain medication, steroid injections, and exercises. Surgery may involve open or arthroscopic repair, where suture anchors reattach the tendons to the bone. Post-surgery rehabilitation includes motion and strengthening exercises.
Shoulder pain is common in athletes, especially those involved in sports like swimming, tennis, pitching, and weightlifting. These injuries often result from repetitive arm motion or overuse, leading to pain, stiffness, limited movement, and a popping sensation.
Common Causes
Treatment
Initial treatment includes R.I.C.E. (rest, ice, compression, elevation), physical therapy, and bracing. Pain-relieving medications may help. If conservative treatments fail, surgery may be needed to repair or reconstruct the joint, including the possibility of replacing damaged parts with a prosthesis.
Shoulder impingement is the inflammation of the shoulder tendons and is a common cause of pain. It is also known as swimmer’s shoulder, tennis shoulder, or rotator cuff tendinitis.
Symptoms
Pain, swelling, bruising, warmth, restricted movement, and increased pain when moving the knee.
Causes
Diagnosis
Your doctor will assess the range of motion and may order X-rays or MRI scans to confirm the injury and inflammation.
Treatment
Arthritis means joint inflammation, typically caused by cartilage damage. In the shoulder, this damage leads to arthritis, causing pain, swelling, heat, and redness. Initially, pain comes from inflammation. As cartilage wears away, pain results from bones rubbing together.
Common Types of Arthritis
Symptoms
Common symptoms include joint pain, swelling, redness, stiffness, and limited movement. In shoulder arthritis:
Diagnosis
Doctors diagnose arthritis through medical history, physical exams, and imaging tests like X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs.
Treatment
A shoulder labral tear can result from trauma, overuse (e.g., throwing or weightlifting), or aging, which weakens the labrum.
Symptoms
Treatment
Initial treatment may include anti-inflammatory medications, rest, and rehabilitation exercises to strengthen the rotator cuff. If symptoms persist, arthroscopic surgery may be needed. During surgery, the surgeon will remove the damaged labrum or repair it with sutures if the tendon is also affected.
A shoulder dislocation occurs when the upper arm bone slides out of the glenoid (socket), often from sports or repetitive shoulder use at work. It can be a partial dislocation (subluxation) or a complete dislocation, leading to pain and instability. Most dislocations occur in the forward direction, but they can also happen backward or downward.
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Your doctor will examine your shoulder and may order an X-ray to confirm the dislocation.
Treatment
The treatment involves a procedure called closed reduction, where the upper arm bone is moved back into the socket. Afterward, the shoulder is immobilized with a sling for several weeks. Ice can be applied 3-4 times a day. Once pain and swelling decrease, rehabilitation exercises will be recommended to restore range of motion.
The biceps muscle is located at the front of the upper arm and helps bend and rotate the arm. The biceps tendon connects the muscle to the shoulder and elbow bones.
A biceps tendon rupture occurs when the tendon frays and eventually tears, either partially or completely. Ruptures can happen at the shoulder (proximal) or the elbow (distal), though shoulder ruptures are more common.
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Your doctor will diagnose a rupture based on symptoms, medical history, and physical exam. Imaging (X-rays and MRI) may be used to check for bone deformities or determine if the tear is partial or complete.
Non-Surgical Treatment
Surgical Treatment
Surgery may be needed if non-surgical treatments don’t work or if full strength restoration is required. The torn tendon is reattached to the bone using sutures.
Risks and Complications
Frozen shoulder is a condition marked by pain and stiffness in the shoulder that gradually worsens over time, often taking one to three years to resolve on its own.
Symptoms
Frozen shoulder develops in three stages:
Causes
The shoulder joint is made up of bones, tendons, and ligaments, all encased in a capsule of connective tissue. In frozen shoulder, this capsule thickens and tightens, restricting movement. The exact cause is unclear, but it is often linked to diabetes or prolonged immobilization after an injury or surgery. Women and people over 40 are at higher risk.
Diagnosis
Frozen shoulder is diagnosed through a physical exam, where your doctor checks shoulder movement and pain levels. You may be asked to perform specific arm movements, and your doctor may also move your arm to assess the range of motion. An anesthetic injection may be used to numb the area for further evaluation. Imaging, such as X-rays or MRIs, may be ordered to rule out other issues.
Treatment
In rare cases, if other treatments don’t provide relief, surgery to remove scar tissue and adhesions may be recommended.
The acromioclavicular (AC) joint is located at the top of the shoulder where the acromion (a part of the shoulder blade) and the clavicle (collarbone) meet. The joint, lined with cartilage, can gradually wear down with age or repetitive activities like overhead motions in sports, such as basketball. This condition is called AC arthritis.
Common Symptoms
Causes
AC arthritis occurs when the cartilage covering the bone ends in the joint wears down. This can result from prolonged strain, joint diseases, injury, or deformities. It may also develop after a shoulder separation.
Diagnosis
Your doctor will review your medical history and conduct a physical exam. A diagnostic injection into the joint can help confirm the AC joint as the source of pain. Imaging tests such as X-rays, MRIs, bone scans, or ultrasounds may be used to assess cartilage damage and fluid buildup in the joint.
Treatment
If symptoms persist, surgery may be recommended. This typically involves removing a small portion of bone from the end of the collarbone (distal clavicle resection) to prevent bone-on-bone friction. Surgery may be done using arthroscopy (minimally invasive) or a traditional open technique.