Straining to finish that last hammer curl may be the difference between buff or broken when working out. The shoulder is one of the most mobile joints in the human body and is surrounded by muscles, tendons, ligaments, bursa, nerves and blood vessels. Damage to any one of these structures can cause pain and a loss of function in the shoulder.
Tendinitis/Tendonosis
The tendons attach the muscle to the bone. Tendons are incredibly strong and can resist up to twice the force of the attached muscle, according to an article published by Whitney Lowe, LMT, in Massage Today. In order to achieve rapid movement and contraction, the tendons are housed in sheaths, allowing them to move smoothly. Overuse of the tendons, including shoulder tendons, can create friction in the sheaths, causing heat to build up. Excessive strain or lifting weights that are too heavy can eventually lead to inflammation, altered tissue alignment and irregular movement. These issues will not allow the tendon to move smoothly, and cause pain in the affected area.
Bursitis
A bursa is a small fluid-filled sack that acts as a cushion and lubricating factor between tendons and ligaments and bone. There numerous bursa around the larger joints of the body. Direct trauma to the shoulder, like dropping a weight on it, can cause the bursa to become inflamed and irritated. More commonly though, the bursitis develops from overuse or repetitive strain from weightlifting and not appropriately treating existing shoulder injuries. The Mayo Clinic states that the most common areas for bursitis are the shoulders, elbows and hips.
Strain/Sprain
A strain is when a muscle fiber is torn; a sprain is when a ligament is torn. Both strains and sprains have grades or degrees ranging from 1 to 3, with grade 3 being a complete rupture of the tissue. These injuries can happen from a rapid stretch or change in direction of the tissue when the body is fatigued. Additionally, lifting a weight that is too heavy and trying to power through it by adding a swinging motion to the exercise versus a lifting motion can also cause injury to these soft tissues in the shoulder. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons states that fatigue and pain in the area are warning signs to take a break before an injury happens.
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, or TOS, is a condition that develops from previous trauma, sports injuries, repetitive overuse or an imbalance of muscles near the front and back of the shoulder. When TOS occurs, the blood vessels and nerves become compressed in the area between the collarbone (clavicle) and the first rib, according to the Mayo Clinic. While this is not directly part of the shoulder, the pain can travels into the shoulders and arms. This condition can often be re-aggravated or first noticed when weightlifting. If the nerves or vascular system are being compressed, tingling and numbness will be most notable during overhead lifting motions and when the arms are extended in front of the body.
