Shoulder injuries are common injuries among athletes and non-trained people alike. Arms, the upper torso, and the head may all move in rhythm because of the complicated shoulder joint.

A shoulder injury can cause pain, torn ACL, loss of mobility and strength, stiffness, numbness, and tingling in the shoulder. Still, there are many other causes of shoulders.

Here is a list of 6 main causes of a shoulder injury that can help you avoid them.

1. Rotator Cuff Injury

It is a common cause of shoulder injury and pain. It's also the most common damage that leads to rotator cuff problems, including tears and strains. The four muscles that make up the rotator cuff work to support the shoulder joint, but they are susceptible to damage from trauma or overuse.

Rotator cuff injury can be caused by trauma such as falls onto an outstretched hand or dropped objects. It may also occur from excessive overhead lifting activities like throwing things overhand rather than sideways for distance improvements.

2. Shoulder Fracture

Shoulder fractures are common injuries and can be caused by any of the following:

• An accident or fall.
• Sports injuries such as football, tennis, and baseball.
• Trauma from a car accident or motorbike collision.

The symptoms of a shoulder fracture include pain in the arm, stiffness in the joint area, loss of movement, and weakness. It's crucial to see your doctor immediately if you experience any symptoms so they can look for clues that there might be an underlying problem that hasn't been identified yet.

3. Labral Tear

It is a tear in the labrum, the soft tissue that connects your shoulder blade to your upper arm bone. The labrum is an attachment point between two bones and acts like a shock absorber for your shoulder joint.

Symptoms of this tear include pain in your shoulder, arm, or hand, weakness or difficulty lifting objects with your arms, and difficulty turning or rotating your wrists.

4. Cervical Sprain

A cervical sprain is a type of joint sprain. This injury occurs when the ligaments that connect your collarbone to your spine are stretched or torn. The common symptom of this injury is pain in the neck and shoulder area, which can radiate to other parts of your body, such as the arms or chest muscles.

The prognosis for a cervical sprain depends on how long it's been since you sustained the injury. Permanent damage is more likely to occur if an incident, such as an accident, occurred more than six weeks ago.

5. Cartilage injury (Capsule)

Cartilage is a tissue that cushions the bones' ends and helps stabilize joints. It also protects your shoulder from friction with other bones, such as when you bump into someone or fall on something hard. If you have cartilage damage in your shoulder, pain can develop where your arm connects with your body.

6. Contusions

You might have bumped your shoulder in a car accident, fallen on your arm, and banged it on the ground hard enough to bruise. Either way, if you're experiencing pain or swelling in your shoulder region and can't move freely, there's likely a contusion.

Conclusion

To avoid shoulder injuries, you shouldn't improperly lift, throw or transport any object that weighs more than 10 pounds. When you exert yourself during sports activities, it is common for your shoulders to become overworked. If you have sustained a shoulder injury, it's important to see your sports doctor immediately and learn ways different exercises can help prevent future pain and other conditions.

Your premier Orthopedic Surgeon in Lubbock, TX, Dr. Kevin Crawford, specializes in minimally invasive procedures and has experience with arthroscopic and reconstructive surgery of the shoulder, ACL, shoulder, knee, and elbow with an emphasis on cutting-edge orthopedic methods.

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