Nov 14, 2022

Types of Shoulder Injuries; Symptoms of Torn Rotator Cuff & other Shoulder Conditions

There are many different types of shoulder injuries, and they can cause a wide range of symptoms.

Shoulder injuries are a common cause of shoulder pain. The shoulder is made up of three bones: the humerus (upper arm), scapula (shoulder blade), and clavicle (collarbone). There are many different types of shoulder injuries and their symptoms vary depending on the type you have.

The most common injury to your shoulder is called an "acute rotator cuff tear." This type of injury occurs when the muscles or tendons that form the shoulder joint become torn or damaged. Symptoms include pain, weakness, and loss of strength in your arm. If left untreated, this type of injury can lead to significant problems including a decreased range-of-motion, stiffness in the shoulder joint, and even permanent nerve damage.

Another common injury that can affect the shoulder is called "frozen shoulder." This occurs when too much scar tissue forms around the joint capsule (the lining around your joints) which causes stiffness in the shoulders and pain during movement. Frozen shoulders can develop over time due to repetitive strain injuries such as throwing sports like baseball or tennis; however it can also be caused by other injuries such as fractures or surgeries involving your shoulders over time too!

You may have heard of a shoulder injury involving a dislocation that occurs when the arm pops out of socket. This can occur for many reasons, such as falling on an outstretched hand or landing on an outstretched arm during a fall.

MendMeShop also gets lots of customers asking about this common shoulder injury: A Rotator Cuff tear. This injury occurs when the tendons of the rotator cuff become torn or inflamed and can be caused by repetitive overhead motions or trauma to the shoulder area.

Shoulder support for Frozen shoulder

Another shoulder injury to discuss is impingement syndrome, which occurs when bones rub against each other causing irritation in the joint and surrounding tissues. Impingement syndrome can lead to bursitis and arthritis if not treated properly early on.

Shoulder injuries are common and can range from mild to severe. Some shoulder injuries can be treated without surgery, but others may require surgery to repair torn ligaments, cartilage or bursa sacs. Injuries to the shoulder can be divided into two categories: soft tissue and bony.

Soft-tissue shoulder injuries are most commonly caused by repetitive stress on the shoulder, such as from throwing a baseball or playing tennis. They usually present with pain in the front of the shoulder, and symptoms may include swelling and bruising around the joint, stiffness in the affected area, and difficulty moving your arm.

Bony shoulder injuries are more severe and can occur when there is an injury to one or more of your bones in your shoulder. These injuries often cause bleeding or damage to tendons and ligaments that support your arm. You may experience pain near your collarbone or at the top of your shoulder, as well as decreased range of motion and loss of strength in your arm.

Shoulder injuries are common in the sports world, and they can be caused by a number of factors. There are several different types of shoulder injuries, and they can range from minor to severe.

There are many types of shoulder injuries. Shoulder injuries can be painful and debilitating, but they're also fairly common. Shoulder injuries are common among athletes, but they can also happen to anyone. Here's a quick rundown of some of the most common shoulder injuries:

Here are some of the most common types of shoulder injuries in detail:

✅Acromioclavicular joint sprain

✅Biceps tendinopathy

✅Glenohumeral joint sprain

✅Olecranon bursitis

✅Rotator cuff tear

✅Acromioclavicular joint sprain: This occurs when the ligaments around your shoulder joint become strained or torn. It is often caused by falling on an outstretched hand, when you fall on your shoulder or when someone pushes you in the chest. This impact may cause damage to the ligaments that support your AC joint. It can also occur when there's an abnormal motion between the clavicle and scapula (two of the important bones that connect the shoulder and arm to the trunk of the body)

An acromioclavicular joint sprain can happen in any activity where you're putting pressure on your shoulder muscles, like during weightlifting or sports. Symptoms include swelling, bruising and pain in the shoulder joint. We constantly remind people that if you have these symptoms, it's important to see a doctor right away so they can diagnose your injury and recommend treatment options for you

✅Anterior shoulder dislocation: This type of injury occurs when your humerus (arm) bone pops out of place at the front of your shoulder socket. There are two types: anterior-inferior and anterior-superior dislocations. Anterior-inferior dislocations are more common and happen when you fall directly onto your arm or when another person falls on top of your shoulder (e.g., during a game of football or basketball). Anterior-superior dislocations occur when someone falls onto your outstretched arm or pushes it behind you while standing behind you (imagine one player pushing into another player's shoulder from behind)

✅Acromioclavicular (AC) joint separation: This type of injury occurs when the AC joint separates from its surrounding ligaments. It's typically caused by trauma or a fall onto an outstretched hand. Symptoms include pain that's worsened by raising your arm above shoulder height and swelling around the area where the joint separates from its surrounding ligaments.

✅Biceps tendinopathy: This is an injury to the tendon that connects your bicep muscle to your shoulder blade. It can be caused by overuse of your arm or lifting something too heavy or as a result of repetitive movement such as throwing a ball or lifting heavy objects. Tendinopathy occurs when a tendon becomes inflamed or injured due to overuse or repetitive stress. It's a common cause of shoulder pain in athletes and nonathletes alike, especially those who participate in sports such as weightlifting, baseball pitching and golfing. Tendinopathies can affect tendons in any part of the body but often occur near joints such as the elbow, knee or ankle. It can also affect tendons around muscles and bones close to joints such as those surrounding the rotator cuff muscles.

It can cause pain and stiffness in your shoulder or forearm, as well as decreased strength in your arm. Treatment options include rest from activities that cause pain

✅Glenohumeral joint sprain: This is when you strain or tear one of the ligaments around your shoulder joint (glenohumeral). It can happen if you fall on an outstretched hand while playing sports or lifting something too heavy. This type of injury affects the glenoid socket where your upper arm bone meets your shoulder blade and can result from falls or collisions with other players, especially during sports activities. This injury usually occurs when there's an abnormal movement of your shoulder joint, usually because of trauma or sports-related activities like throwing or swimming. It can lead to pain and swelling around your shoulder blade area, which may make it hard for you to raise your arm above your head.

✅Olecranon bursitis: This is inflammation of the bursa sac that sits over the tip of your elbow (olecranon). It usually occurs when you repeatedly use that area (playing sports or using a computer mouse for long periods of time). The olecranon process is located at the end of your upper arm bone and helps keep tendons in place while they move through small spaces between bones in joints like those between your elbow and wrist (for example). Bursitis develops when there's too much pressure on the olecranon (the tip of your elbow) which causes swelling and tenderness around that area of your body. You might notice pain when you reach up over your head or bend down low while lifting grocery bags

Torn Rotator Cuff

The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles that allow you to lift your arm and also to keep it stable. The tendons that connect these muscles to the shoulder blade can tear, especially if you've sustained an injury or had surgery in that area. If you have pain and stiffness in your shoulder and one or more of the following symptoms, you may have a torn rotator cuff:

Pain at Rest and at Night

Pain at rest or during the night can be one of the more troublesome symptoms of a torn rotator cuff. You may experience pain as you lie down to go to sleep, or as you wake up in the middle of the night. This can also make it difficult for you to get comfortable while lying on your back or side, especially if that is how you’re most comfortable sleeping. Read more sleep tips on our latest blog post all about Sleep Hygiene

Limited Range of Motion

One of the main symptoms of a torn rotator cuff is limited range of motion. This may include:

Pain when moving the arm forward, backward, or sideways
Pain when lifting the arm above your head
Pain when lifting something relatively easy like a cup or a book

Weakness

Weakness is the most common symptom of a torn rotator cuff. You may experience weakness in your arm or shoulder and elbow, which can make it difficult to perform simple tasks like opening jars or lifting objects from the floor or picking up a grocery bag. Weakness can also occur in your hand and fingers, making it hard to grasp objects with precision. If you notice that you are having trouble gripping things with one hand, this could be an indication that you have a torn rotator cuff!

Swelling

You may also experience swelling in the arm, shoulder or upper back. This is usually worse with activity and can sometimes improve with rest. Swelling is often not painful and can sometimes be hard to see, so you may need to feel for it around the shoulder joint.

Cracking or Grinding Sound

If you are experiencing a grinding or cracking sound, it is important to note the difference between the two.

Cracking sounds are usually associated with a torn labrum (Labrum is a type of cartilage found in the shoulder joint) while a grinding sound indicates damage to your rotator cuff.

If you experience either of these symptoms, we recommend that you seek medical treatment as soon as possible.

Even if you don't have all the symptoms, see a doctor if you suspect you have a torn rotator cuff.

Even if you don't have all the symptoms, see a doctor if you suspect that your rotator cuff is torn. There are many causes of shoulder pain and your doctor will be able to determine whether or not you have a torn rotator cuff or whether you have another condition or injury. If it's diagnosed as a tear, surgery is often necessary to fix it. However, with proper exercises and stretches, there's often no need for surgery

If you have a shoulder injury, it's important to seek treatment as soon as possible.

Here are some general symptoms of a shoulder injury:

✅Pain in the front of your shoulder or upper arm

✅Pain that increases with activity

✅Weakness in your arm

✅Swelling & Bruising

✅Tingling or numbness in your arm, shoulder, hand or fingers

✅Shoulder pain that gets worse when you move your arm or use it for something like lifting, throwing, or pushing something heavy

✅Pain when raising your arm overhead or reaching behind your back

✅Aching in the joint

✅Stiffness in the joint

✅Shoulder pain when sleeping on your side, especially if the injured shoulder is on top

✅Swelling around the joint or under the armpit

✅A change in range of motion from previous levels/ ability

- Pain: If you have a shoulder injury, you may experience pain in your shoulder or upper arm. This pain may be sharp or dull and may radiate down your arm. You should seek medical attention if your pain does not improve after several days or if it worsens with rest and ice application.

- Swelling: When you sustain an injury to your shoulder, swelling often occurs as a result of damage to soft tissue. Swelling usually subsides within two weeks, but if it lasts longer than that, see your doctor immediately because it could indicate more serious damage to your rotator cuff muscles or bursa.

- Movement limitations: If you suffer an injury to your shoulder joint, it will likely limit the range of motion available to you in that area due to pain and inflammation associated with tissue damage. This is common especially after injury sustained during impact forces associated with sporting activities like football or hockey. Range of motion should return once you injury starts to recover over time.

If you have any of these symptoms, see a doctor right away!

If you've injured your shoulder, you may be wondering what to do next. There are a few things you can do to treat your injury.

First, rest the shoulder for at least two weeks. This will give the ligaments and tendons time to heal. Rest the area, avoiding movements that cause pain or discomfort

Second, apply ice to the area for 15 to 20 minutes three times daily. Ice helps reduce inflammation & swelling in the tissues. Apply ice packs for 15 minutes at a time on the area that's injured, two to three times per day for up to 48 hours after the injury occurs. Just make sure not to apply ice directly onto your skin without wrapping it first (you don't want frostbite!!)

Third, follow up with a physical therapist (or your doctor who can refer you) who can help guide you through exercises that will strengthen your rotator cuff muscles and help prevent further injury in the future.

If your shoulder injury is severe enough that it requires medical attention, see a doctor, ideally who specializes in orthopedic surgery, as soon as possible. If pain persists, it’s always sound advice to see your doctor for an X-ray or MRI scan to check for damage to bones or tendons.

Apply heat to your shoulder using the Shoulder TSHELLZ after the first 48 hours of ice/ cold treatment. For more info on the Shoulder TShellz, click on the link above or contact MendMeShop’s customer service team who are happy to help!

Apply compression to help support your shoulder joint and help improve circulation to the injury site. MendmeShop’s Shoulder Compression support is a great (and stylish) way to help support your shoulder joint and protect it, before or after injury.

✅If you're experiencing shoulder pain, it's not just your imagination. Shoulder injuries are common and can range from mild to severe, so it's important to know how to treat them.

✅If you have a shoulder injury, it can be incredibly frustrating. You might not know what the best way to treat your injury is or how to keep from injuring yourself further. If you're looking for some quick tips, here are the most common symptoms and treatments for shoulder injuries:

✅If you've been experiencing any of these symptoms, it's important that you get checked out by a physician right away. A doctor will be able to assess whether or not you have a shoulder injury and be able to provide you with a recommended treatment, which may include physical therapy or surgery.

Conclusion

We at MendMeShop hope this blog post was helpful to you. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out, through email at service@mendmeshop.com or chat here right on the online store! You can text us too which is so easy! +1 705 888 5786

References

We pride ourselves on being thoroughly researched before we post blog posts, articles or webpages. Here is a list of references used to create this content:

👉Ref 1: Common Shoulder Injury, Orthoinfo

👉Ref 2: Shoulder Pain, Penn Medicine

👉Ref 3: Shoulder Pain, NHS, UK

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