Much more common in women than men, frozen shoulder typically affects those in the 40- to 60-year age range. In fact, about 3% of the general population and 20% of those with diabetes suffer from this puzzling condition. Its technical name, Adhesive Capsulitis, comes from the area affected (the shoulder’s joint capsule), and the fact […]
Your shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint made up of three dominant bones—the humerus, clavicle and scapula. The rotator cuff consists of a group of four tendons and associated muscles that collectively work to keep the arm bone within the socket of your shoulder blade while allowing your arm to raise and rotate. Although damage to […]
The biceps tendon runs from the biceps muscle through the rotator cuff and into the shoulder joint, where it then attaches to the socket. If the biceps tendon becomes inflamed or irritated, a condition called bicep tendinopathy, you may need to undergo surgery called biceps tenodesis to relieve the discomfort. Overuse of the tendon from […]
Shoulder impingement syndrome can involve bursitis (inflammation of the shoulder’s bursa), tendinitis (inflammation of the rotator cuff tendons), calcium deposits in the tendons or any combination of the three. People at risk include those who employ repeated overhead movements—tennis players, golfers, swimmers, construction workers and, quite commonly, those who perform do-it-yourself repairs around the home. […]
Shoulder dislocations are quite common in active young people. While surgery might seem like an extreme solution to a moderate problem, the procedure is actually the best chance for a problem-free shoulder in the future. A dislocation usually results in a trip to the emergency room, where the shoulder is reduced (placed back into its […]
When rotator cuff surgery is needed, the surgeon has to take into consideration whether or not fatty infiltration has occurred. Ideally, the surgeon can perform the surgery at an early enough stage before fatty infiltration becomes an issue. What is fatty infiltration? Sometimes, when the rotator cuff tendons have significantly pulled away from the bone […]
Because so many joints, tendons and muscles come together at the shoulder to create a wide range of motion, the shoulder is vulnerable to multiple conditions that can cause pain. The most common source of pain in the shoulder is the rotator cuff. Depending on your situation, the pain may be treated with decompression surgery, […]
Sometimes your shoulder may hurt when you reach up to a high shelf, or it may feel weak when you dig in the garden. Perhaps your upper back feels uncomfortable when it presses against the back of your chair. These can be symptoms of scapular winging, a condition distinguished by the unusual appearance of the […]
The shoulder is a complicated joint. It moves very freely, unlike a knee or elbow, because it has less bony stability. Instead, the surrounding muscles provide stability. Those muscles must be strong to help prevent injury—but injuries do happen. One of the most common shoulder injuries is impingement syndrome. The supraspinatus muscle, part of the […]
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that occurs when cartilage that cushions the joint wears down, causing pain and swelling as the ends of two bones rub together. Although you may be more familiar with arthritis in the knee and hip, it can also affect the shoulder. Although most of us know someone who has […]
