The shoulder is a complex and sophisticated joint and many sports can damage this area.

Understanding shoulder problems

The shoulder has the greatest range of motion of any joint in the body. To allow so much movement the joint needs to be ‘free’ to move and can become unstable without its complex ligaments and muscles to keep it in motion.

Important structures of the Shoulder

The deepest layer of the shoulder includes the bones and the joints. The next layer is made up of the ligaments of the joint capsule. The tendons and the muscles come next.

Bones

The bones of the shoulder are the

• the humerus (the upper arm bone)

• the scapula (the shoulder blade)

• the clavicle (the collar bone).

• the acromion (the roof of the shoulder which is part of the scapula)

Ligaments

Ligaments are soft tissue structures that connect bones to bones. The joint capsule surrounds a joint and the ligaments attach one bone to another. These ligaments are the main source of stability for the shoulder.

Muscles

The rotator cuff muscles are a group of four muscles that lie outside the shoulder joint and help to keep the shoulder stable and anchored in the socket while bigger more superficial muscles, such as the deltoid muscle, move the arm.

Tendons

Tendons anchor the muscles to the bone so that they can work like levers to move the limb.

Bursa

Bursae are small fluid filled sacs that are found wherever two body parts move against one another to help reduce friction. In the shoulder the bursae are found sandwiched between the rotator cuff muscles and the outer layer of large bulky shoulder muscles.

Common Shoulder Injuries

Rotator Cuff Injury

A rotator cuff injury is a common shoulder problem. The rotator cuff muscles move and stabilise your shoulder. If the rotator cuff muscles are weak or injured the shoulder joint will wobble about and can cause painful clicking, locking and tendon damage. Rotator cuff injuries are common in swimming, paddling, racquet and throwing sports.

Shoulder Bursitis

Shoulder bursitis is a common cause of shoulder pain that is often related to rotator cuff injury. Usually, related to the excessive use of the shoulder which leads to inflammation and swelling of the bursa. Bursitis often occurs in association with rotator cuff tendinitis.

Acromioclavicular Joint injury

The AC joint is short for the acromioclavicular joint. Separation of the two bones forming this joint is caused by damage to the ligaments connecting them. It is sometimes also referred to as a shoulder separation injury. The most common way of injuring the AC joint is by landing on the shoulder, elbow, or onto an outstretched hand.

Frozen shoulder

Frozen shoulder or ‘Adhesive Capsulitis’ is a common cause of shoulder pain in people aged between 40 and 60, with women affected more than men. The cause of frozen shoulder is unknown and is a self limiting condition.

The common signs and symptoms of a frozen shoulder are:

• Initially the shoulder pain comes on gradually and leads to a loss of movement in the shoulder – Freezing Phase

• Then there is restriction of shoulder movement which can last for up to a year – Frozen Phase

• Finally there is a gradual increase in shoulder range of movement – Thawing phase

Shoulder Dislocation

Shoulder dislocation is a common shoulder injury in contact sports such as rugby and martial arts. This type of shoulder injury is usually categorised by severe shoulder pain and usually required hospital treatment to restore shoulder alignment.

If you’re suffering from any of these symptoms then help is at hand.  Our physios are experts in dealing with shoulder injuries so get in touch today.

Physio Treatment Costs:

• Initial assessment (45 mins) £83

• Consultation (30 mins) £59

NEW CLIENTS: Please note if you have not been to ESPH before, or are presenting a with new condition, please book a physio assessment appointment