The Types of Shoulder Injuries in Patients

The shoulder injuries may occur due to different reasons. The shoulder joint is the most mobile in the human body. Some of the common causes of shoulder injuries include impingement, instability, and bony structures.

Leading causes of Shoulder Injuries

These are some leading causes of shoulder injuries.

• A fracture which in a broken shoulder.
• Arthritis
• The tendon inflammation or muscle tear.
• Shoulder instability

Arthritis

Arthritis is one of the causes of shoulder injuries. The Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis affecting the shoulder. The wear and tear due to arthritis result in pain, swelling, and stiffness. The arthritis of the shoulder usually sets off at the middle age. The gradual development of arthritis worsens over time. Sometimes, physical activity related to sports may also cause pain. Infections, rotator cuff tear, and inflammation may also cause joint lining.

Fracture

The breaking of shoulder bone is called fracture. The fracture can occur in any bony part of the human body. Older patients often face the split shoulder injuries because of falling from a height. However, younger patients’ shoulder fracture is a result of a high-energy injury. One typical scenario for shoulder fracture is a high-speed vehicle accident. The shoulder fractures cause acute pain, bruising, and swelling.

Instability

An injury or impact that pushes the top of the shoulder blade out of its socket is called instability. The overuse of the shoulder joint or an injury can cause instability of the shoulder. The shoulder instability can be partial or complete. A partial instability results in some part of the shoulder coming out of the socket. In a full instability, the entire shoulder comes out of its socket. The orthopedic doctor recommends a treatment to overcome the instability and try to ensure that it does not happen again.

Impingement

Impingement of the shoulder is the pressure put on the shoulder on the soft tissues upon lifting of the arm. The lifting of the arm becomes very painful for the patient. The lifting of the arm may also result in impingement of the bursa and rotator cuff tendons. Impingement of the shoulder can lead to tendinitis and limiting of the shoulder movement. Repetition of shoulder impingements may lead to rotator cuff tear.

Tendon Tears

An acute shoulder injury can cause The tearing or splitting of the muscle. Muscle tears may also cause degenerative changes because of aging or long-term overuse of the shoulder joint. Some tendon tears are partial while others complete. Muscle tears can cause different types of shoulder injuries. The muscle tears most commonly cause rotator cuff and biceps tendon.

Tendinitis

The wear and tear of the tendon connecting shoulder muscle to the bone are known as tendinitis. The wearing down of the tendon gradually occurs over time. There are types of tendonitis, acute and chronic.

Chronic tendinitis is a degenerative disease like wear and tear or arthritis. Aging is one of the most common causes of tendinitis.

Acute tendinitis can occur to due exhaustive physical activities involving repetitive shoulder movements.

Bursitis

Bursitis is the swelling of the small fluid sacs located within joints. The shoulder injuries may also affect the bursa, causing it to swell. Bursa acts as a cushion to reduce friction between bones and muscles. The excessive use of the shoulder joint can lead to inflammation and cause subacromial bursitis. Bursitis of the shoulder can cause swelling and pain.