What is shoulder arthritis?
Shoulder arthritis is the inflammation of the shoulder joint. The most common type of arthritis is called osteoarthritis, also known as wear-and-tear arthritis. Osteoarthritis is characterized by progressive wearing away of protective cartilage, eventually exposing bare bone within the shoulder joint. Who develops shoulder arthritis? Shoulder arthritis is more common in patients over the age of 50 and those who have a history of prior shoulder injury. There is also a genetic predisposition, meaning shoulder arthritis tends to run in families. What are the common symptoms of shoulder arthritis? The most common symptoms are pain during activities, limited range of motion, stiffness of the shoulder, swelling of the joint, tenderness around the joint, and a feeling of grinding or catching within the joint. As shoulder arthritis progresses, symptoms tend to get worse. However, symptoms do not always progress steadily with time. Patients with shoulder arthritis may experience good days and b
