What causes shoulder problems?
There are several factors involved in shoulder disorders: • the aging process, including disuse and atrophy; • strain and overuse; • trauma. It’s not unusual for many of the common shoulder problems described below to result from a combination of these factors. The Aging Process Whether you’re 17 or 70, age has a profound impact on how the body responds to shoulder strain or trauma. As young people, the tissue around our shoulder joints is soft and resilient. Before age 30, if we “overdo it” through sports or physical labor, the most we’re likely to suffer is a slight, short-lived soreness or stiffness in the tendons. This condition- tendinitis- is perhaps the most common of all shoulder problems. It rarely requires treatment in young people; as we enter middle age, however, the cumulative effects of years of tendinitis can result in much more serious ailments. As we move into our 30s and 40s our muscles and tendons begin to undergo a structural weakening because of the aging process.
Most shoulder problems are the result of overuse or traumatic injury. Athletes who participate in contact sports, such as hockey or football, often suffer shoulder injuries. Frequent lifting and repetitive arm rotation can also cause wear and tear on the shoulder. Inflammatory diseases such as arthritis and bursitis may develop over time.
Many shoulder problems are caused by the breakdown of soft tissues in the shoulder region. Using the shoulder too much can cause the soft tissue to break down faster as people get older. Doing manual labor and playing sports may cause shoulder problems. Shoulder pain may be felt in one small spot, in a larger area, or down the arm. Pain that travels along nerves to the shoulder can be caused by diseases such as: • Gallbladder disease • Liver disease • Heart disease • Disease of the spine in the neck.
Although the shoulder is the most movable joint in the body, it is also an unstable joint because of its range-of-motion. Because the ball of the upper arm is larger than the socket of the shoulder, it is susceptible to injury. The shoulder joint must also be supported by soft tissues – muscles, tendons, and ligaments – which are also subject to injury, overuse, and under use. Degenerative conditions and other diseases in the body may also contribute to shoulder problems, or generate pain that travels along nerves to the shoulder.
