Shoulder Injuries

What are shoulder injuries?

Injuries to the shoulder joint are common, especially in sports. They are often tough to diagnose because shoulder pain may be caused by a mixture of bone, muscle, and joint damage. You may be given different diagnoses based on your symptoms. All could be correct.

Shoulder injuries include broken bones, dislocations, sprains, muscle strains, and bruises. These can be caused by a direct fall onto an outstretched arm or from direct hit to the shoulder. The symptoms come on instantly with severe pain and tenderness. Your shoulder may swell and you may not be able to move it. People who fall or who play contact sports have a higher risk for these kinds of injuries.

Shoulders can also be injured by overuse. Overuse injuries include bursitis, tendonitis and bone spurs. Overuse injuries develop slowly. Eventually, pain is felt during and after activity. Baseball pitchers, golfers, swimmers, and tennis players often have overuse injuries. People who work with hand tools or use their shoulders a lot on the job may also have these problems.

What is the treatment?

If your shoulder has just been injured, put ice on your shoulder and see your healthcare provider right away. You should also see your provider if your shoulder hurts while doing daily activities or if it hurts to raise your arm above your head.

You can treat mild cases of shoulder pain with rest and ice. Put an ice pack, gel pack, or package of frozen vegetables, wrapped in a cloth on the area every 3 to 4 hours, for up to 20 minutes at a time.

Take an anti-inflammatory medicine such as ibuprofen, or other medicine as directed by your provider. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) may cause stomach bleeding and other problems. These risks increase with age. Read the label and take as directed. Unless recommended by your healthcare provider, do not take for more than 10 days.

If your shoulder muscles are tight, you can use moist heat on your shoulder for 20 to 30 minutes before stretching. Do not use heat if you have swelling.

Overuse injuries are often treated with gentle exercises to build strength and restore range of motion to the joint. Your healthcare provider will tell you the right exercises to do. Physical therapy, moist heat, ultrasound, and stretching can also help.

How can I prevent shoulder injuries?

To prevent shoulder injuries:

• Do a proper warm-up before throwing activities.
• Learn how to fall properly. You should tuck and roll to avoid falling on an outstretched arm.
• Use proper form and posture when doing an activity or sport.
• As you recover from a shoulder injury, be sure to follow a conditioning program to develop strength and flexibility in and around the joint. Do range of motion exercises often during the day.