SHOULDER CONDITIONS

Your shoulder joint is composed of three bones: the clavicle (collarbone), the scapula (shoulder blade), and the humerus (upper arm bone). Your shoulders are the most movable joints in your body. They can also be unstable because the ball of the upper arm is larger than the shoulder socket that holds it. To remain in a stable or normal position, the shoulder must be anchored by muscles, tendons and ligaments. Because the shoulder can be unstable, it is the site of many common problems. They include sprains, strains, dislocations, separations, tendinitis, bursitis, torn rotator cuffs, frozen shoulder, fractures and arthritis.

Usually shoulder problems are treated with RICE. This stands for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. Other treatments include exercise, medicines to reduce pain and swelling, and surgery if other treatments don’t work.

Overviews

  • Common Shoulder Injuries(American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons)
  • Shoulder Problems(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)

Diagnosis/Symptoms

  • Arthrography (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
  • MRI of the Musculoskeletal System (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
  • Musculoskeletal Ultrasound (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)

Shoulder MRI(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)

  • Shoulder Pain (American Academy of Family Physicians)
  • Shoulder Problems (American Academy of Family Physicians)

Treatment

  • Cortisone Shots(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • Joint and Soft Tissue Injections (American Academy of Family Physicians)
  • Shoulder Joint Replacement (American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons)
  • Shoulder Surgery (American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons)
  • Thermal Capsular Shrinkage (Thermal Capsulorrhaphy)(American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons)

Rehabilitation/Recovery

  • Rotator Cuff and Shoulder Conditioning Program(American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons) – PDF
  • Shoulder Osteoarthritis Treatment (Beyond the Basics)(UpToDate)

Specific Conditions

  • AC (Acromioclavicular) Joint Injuries (American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine) – PDF
  • Adhesive Capsulitis (Frozen Shoulder)(American Academy of Family Physicians)
  • Arthritis of the Shoulder(American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons)
  • Biceps Tendon Tear at the Shoulder(American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons)
  • Chronic Shoulder Instability(American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons)
  • Clavicle Fracture (Broken Collarbone)(American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons)
  • Dislocated Shoulder(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • Fracture of the Shoulder Blade (Scapula)(American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons)
  • Frozen Shoulder(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • Separated Shoulder(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • Shoulder Fractures: Clavicle, Scapula, Proximal Humerus(American Society for Surgery of the Hand)
  • Shoulder Instability(American Academy of Family Physicians)
  • Shoulder Joint Tear (Glenoid Labrum Tear)(American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons)
  • Shoulder Trauma(American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons)
  • SLAP Tears(American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons)
  • Tendinitis and Bursitis(American College of Rheumatology)
  • Tendonitis of the Long Head of the Biceps(American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons)