From the bench press to the shoulder press, the strength and stability of your shoulders is critical for many strength-training exercises. Any pain in your shoulder, therefore, will seriously impinge on your weightlifting routine and possibly affect your quality of life. Understanding the nature and severity of the problem will help you properly address it. If your shoulder pain persists, consult with your doctor.
Anatomy
The shoulder is where the shoulder blade and upper arm bone come together like a ball and socket to facilitate movement. The arm bone, or humerus, which is much larger than the shoulder blade, must stay centered in the socket to function properly. The labrum, a ring of cartilage in your shoulder, and the rotator cuff, a collection of muscles and fibers, provide stability. Muscles stabilize the scapula, or shoulder blade, and offer both strength and flexibility.
Injuries
Overuse and sudden injury are two major sources of shoulder pain. Usually a sudden injury is a sprain or strain. A sprain is a stretching or tearing of a ligament, a tough band of fibrous tissue that connects bones in a joint. A strain is a stretching or tearing of muscles or tendon. Symptoms of injury include pain, swelling and limited movement.
For minor shoulder pain, the treatment is usually RICE: rest, icing, compression and elevation of the shoulder. Surgery followed by rehabilitation may be needed to address a most severe tear. If you feel a slowly building pain that is different from typical muscle soreness and grows worse each time you lift, rest and consult a doctor. You may have an injury from overuse.
Structural Problems
Shoulder pain is often caused by an imbalance of strength between the shoulder and the chest muscles, which attach to the humerus. This causes bad posture and form, and eventually structural problems can form within your shoulder itself. For example, your humerus will be unable to glide within the joint like it normally should. Abnormal pressure and then inflammation will develop around the tendons between muscles and bones. Treatments include strengthening programs for your rotator cuff and your back muscles.
Considerations
An imbalance in muscle strength can lead to tears of the labrum, injuries of the rotator cuff tendon and problems with the bursa, a fluid-filled sac that provides cushion around the joints. And too much looseness in the structure of your shoulder joint can also lead to instability of your shoulder, further increasing the chances of a major injury.
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