The shoulder joint shows the greatest range of motion of all joints in our body. We become aware of the importance of the shoulder on a daily basis when the first pain ailments and problems with its full mobility appear. If any of them is strained, pain may develop, often referred to as the Painful Shoulder Syndrome.
The doctor conducting the interview, incl. on the basis of the above questions, it will recommend further diagnosis to determine whether the pain is the result of infection, rheumatic disease, neurological disease, damage to the locomotor system or systemic disease. Pain in the shoulder area can also be caused by ischemic heart diseases.
There are many causes of shoulder joint pain. That is why it is very important to make a precise diagnosis, and then recommend appropriate conservative or surgical treatment, if necessary. However, it is worth remembering that before the first pain ailments appear, it is worth using the prophylaxis of healthy joints and switching to a healthy lifestyle that can protect us from numerous ailments.
The causes of shoulder pain
Shoulder pain can be caused by many things. These can be mechanical injuries as well as inflammation. Pain in the shoulder area is very often referred to as the painful shoulder syndrome. Under this name are various diseases and ailments, the characteristic symptom of which is pain in the shoulder area.
Joint changes are most often caused by:
- articular cartilage damage
- mechanical injuries of the shoulder
- degenerative changes
- neurological diseases
- overloads
Shoulder pain often affects athletes who use their hands a lot, putting excessive strain on their shoulders. Shoulder injuries are very common among volleyball players, handball players, badminton and martial arts athletes. Shoulder overloads may first provoke a stinging sensation, and consequently manifest themselves in intense pain and problems with maintaining full mobility.
damage to the rotator cuff – the rotator cuff consists of four muscles and the tendons that surround them. The rotator cuff stabilizes the humerus in the acetabulum and is the strongest initiator of movement (abduction and flexion). The structure may be overloaded or even broken in the case of one sudden jerk.
However, the most vulnerable group to degenerative damage to the rotator cuff are people who make repetitive movements (e.g. indoor painters, volleyball players, handball players). Symptoms of damage to the rotator cuff include pain in 1/3 of the proximal shoulder, weakness in the shoulder and pain in the middle phase of the shoulder abduction.