The Shoulder: How Do Injuries Happen?
Posted by
Jeni P. on Thu, Apr 19, 2012 @ 02:50 PM
Shoulders are the most moveable joints in the body. The shoulder joint is comprised of three bones: Clavicle (collarbone), Scapula (shoulder blade) and the Humerus (upper arm bone). The socket is smaller than the ball of the Humerus, making the joint less stable than others throughout the body.
Shoulder injuries may not be the most common on-the-job injuries, but they do keep employees out of work the longest. The average amount of time missed for a back injury is 12 days – 3- months for a shoulder injury.
Athletes are the most likely to develop a shoulder injury due to excessive, repetitive, overhead motions required for sports like swimming, tennis, weight lifting and pitching. However, those whose job requires them to routinely perform such activities as hanging curtains, painting walls, filing and gardening often suffer from constant shoulder pain.
An athlete may become so used to a certain degree of discomfort that he no longer notices it, and he may compensate for the constant weakness and limited range of motion associated with shoulder injuries. This will eventually lead to a more complicated injury.
Pain is the way our body informs us something is wrong, and the onset of new pain should never be ignored. The most common symptoms of a shoulder injury are stiff shoulder joint(s), a shoulder that feels like it could pop or slide out of its socket, and weakness in the arm(s). If you are experiencing these symptoms, schedule an appointment with a physical therapist promptly to learn the severity of the problem.
