The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body, but because of the mobility, it is also frequently injured. There are many dangers of shoulder injuries, including pain from a fracture or separation, joint capsule damage and rotator cuff injury.
Fractures and Separations
Common with sports and falls, the shoulder can sustain both fractures and sprains. A fracture can occur in almost any part of the shoulder including the clavicle and humerus, which are the two most commonly fractured parts of the shoulder.
Sprains or separations are common on the top of the shoulder, called the AC joint, and can be painful. A sprain to the AC joint is graded from a 1 to 3, with 1 a partial tear of the ligament and 3 a complete tear, which will usually require surgery.
Both fractures and sprains to the shoulder must be evaluated by a physician to rule out further damage to surrounding structures. Fractures and sprains that go untreated can lead to permanent problems in the shoulder, including loss of motion and chronic pain.
Joint Capsule Injury
One of the structures that allows the shoulder to move so freely is the capsule that the surrounds the joint. The joint capsule is easy to injure, and when injured, results in a dislocation of the shoulder form the capsule.
Two injuries to the capsule can occur, there can be a subluxation or partial dislocation and a complete dislocation. A subluxation is a severe stretch of the joint capsule leaving the capsule stretched and loose. A subluxation is painful and the shoulder can feel unstable with many activities.
A full dislocation means the joint dislocates completely; this usually requires a physician to reduce the joint back into place and sometimes surgery to repair the tear in the joint capsule and prevent further dislocations.
Rotator Cuff Injury
Just like a sprain to the shoulder, a rotator cuff tear is graded 1 to 3, with 3 a complete tear of the muscle. Rotator cuff tears can be painful and severely limit function of the arm. If a rotator cuff injury is suspected, see your physician; the longer you wait to have the muscle repaired, the more difficult the surgery and recovery process will be.
