When you suffer a shoulder injury, it’s important to recognize the signs and symptoms so that you can get the treatment you need. In this video, we are going to discuss three common shoulder injuries that result from traumatic events in sports, exercise and daily life.
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Shoulder injuries are common and can range from minor strains to major tears, but there are three common injuries that you should be aware of: rotator cuff tears, shoulder dislocations, and AC joint separations.
Rotator cuff tears occur when the rotator cuff muscles and tendons in your shoulder become torn or damaged. This is often due to overuse or repetitive motion of the arm, especially overhead or out away from your body. Rotator cuff tears are typically treated with physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medications for pain relief. Sometimes injections or even surgery are needed, especially for full-thickness rotator cuff tears.
A shoulder dislocation occurs when your upper arm bone slips out of its socket in your shoulder blade. This usually happens after a fall or other traumatic event where there is sudden force on your arm. Once the ball is put back in the socket, rest followed by physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medications for pain relief are helpful. Seeing an orthopedic surgeon can be a good idea as many shoulder dislocations involve tears of the labrum and supporting capsule and ligaments that lead to recurrent instability.
AC joint injuries or separations occur when ligaments around the acromioclavicular (AC) joint—the area where your collarbone meets your shoulder—are stretched or torn during an accident or fall onto an outstretched hand. You might notice pain directly along that joint or pain when reaching across your body. Mild AC injuries often do not need surgery but can improve with rest and physical therapy. More serious AC injuries require surgery to stabilize the AC joint.
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