Shoulder pain is more common than you think. In fact, about 70% of people experience shoulder pain at a certain point in their lives. You will need to consult your doctor about your condition but here are the top 7 causes of shoulder pain.
7. Rotator Cuff Tendonitis
This is one of the most common causes of shoulder pain. Rotator cuff muscles keep your shoulders stable. With the frequent use and doing the same motions over and over again, rotator cuff tendonitis, which leads to shoulder pain. (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
6. Rotator Cuff Tears
Direct traumas and repetitive motions are common causes of rotator cuff tears and subsequently shoulder pain.
The pain can be acute if it happened suddenly but it can also be chronic if it happened due to repetitive motions and minor traumas over time. (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
5. Frozen Shoulder
People who have frozen shoulder suffer from severe stiffness and immobility of the shoulder joint. The levels of pain vary according to the severity of the condition. The condition affects middle-aged women in particular. (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
4. Shoulder Bursitis
Hot and swollen shoulders usually indicate that there is an inflammation in the shoulder and one of the most common areas of inflammation in the bursa, which is a sac filled with fluids that make the movement between the muscles and bones easier and smoother. (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
3. Labral Tears
It is common among professional athletes to suffer from tears in the labrum cartilage surrounding the shoulder joint. The labrum cartilage keeps the shoulder stable and mobile. The tears are common in athletes and normal people as well. (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
2. Shoulder Impingement
Physical activities that require repetitive head movements such as swimming may lead to shoulder impingement. The tendons become pinched between the should bone making it very painful to even move the entire arm including the shoulder slightly. Any movement using the head, neck, or shoulder may worsen the condition. (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
1. Osteoarthritis (OA)
OA is a degenerative joint disease. It is also called wear and tear disease because the cartilage between the bones of the joints breaks down. When the joint moves, the bones rub against each other, which can be very painful.
When it affects the shoulder, it limits the range of motion and makes the slightest movement of the arm very painful. (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
