How Does The Shoulder Work
Your shoulders each have two joints, making them the most flexible parts of your body.
The main shoulder joint the glenohumeral is a ball-and-socket joint. Its called this because the top of the upper arm bone the humerus is shaped like a ball. This ball fits into the shoulder blade bone, which acts as the socket, giving your shoulder a wide range of movement.
But, the shoulder socket is very small, compared to other ball-and-socket joints, such as the hip. Its held together and controlled by a covering of muscles, which are secured to the bones by strong cords called tendons.
These muscles and tendons form a capsule around the joint and support its movements, but can make it more likely to dislocate than other joints.
Inside the capsule is the synovium, which produces fluid that lubricates the joint and keeps the cartilage healthy. The cartilage helps protect your bones from any impact and sits between the bones of your shoulder joints to stop them rubbing together.
Above the main shoulder joint theres a smaller joint where the top of the shoulder blade the acromion meets the collar bone.
This is known as the acromioclavicular joint. It helps the larger joint below to move through its full range, particularly when youre raising your arm, lifting or throwing.
Diseases That Affect Shoulder Arthritis
Along with the five different types of arthritis affecting the shoulder, there are other conditions and diseases that can worsen shoulder arthritis and lead to complications. These include juvenile arthritis, gout, pseudogout, reactive arthritis, lupus, infectious arthritis, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, polymyalgia rheumatica, osteonecrosis, Lyme disease. Other conditions such as gallstones, liver abscess, angina or heart attack, or ectopic pregnancy can also result in greater pain and swelling experienced in the shoulder.
What Can I Do For Arthritis In My Right Shoulder
Moist heat. Ice your shoulder for 20 to 30 minutes two or three times a day to reduce inflammation and ease pain. If you have rheumatoid arthritis, your doctor may prescribe a disease-modifying drug, such as methotrexate. Dietary supplements, such as glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate may help relieve pain.
Recommended Reading: How Do You Treat Arthritis In The Hip
Shoulder Exercise: Wall Push Up
Strengthens shoulder, arm, and chest muscles
- Stand in front of wall, with your arms straight and hands flat against it.
- Place your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, and tighten your stomach muscles.
- Keeping your feet flat on the floor, bend your elbows and open your chest toward the wall.
- Lower your upper body toward the wall in a slow, controlled motion. Your shoulder blades will come together a bit in the back. Hold for one second.
- Keeping your hands flat against the wall, slowly push yourself back until your arms are straight.
- Repeat 8 times and gradually build up to more reps.
Tip: Make sure your fingers arent bent on the wall, says Shroyer. Keeping them flat and pushing hard against the wall fully engages the muscles in your shoulder, arm, and chest.
How Is Shoulder Osteoarthritis Related To Hip And Knee
In shoulder osteoarthritis also called degenerative joint disease your cartilage and other joint tissues gradually break down. Friction in the joint increases, pain increases and you slowly lose mobility and function. Shoulder OA is not as common as OA of the hip or knee, but it is estimated that nearly 1 in 3 people over the age
Recommended Reading: What Medicine Do You Take For Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rotator Cuff Tear Arthropathy
Rotator cuff tear arthropathy is a type of shoulder arthritis that can develop after a massive and prolonged rotator cuff tear. The four rotator cuff tendons in your shoulder wrap around the ball portion of the shoulder joint, holding it in place. If one or more of these tendons is heavily torn, this may cause the humeral head to rub against other bones and develop arthritis.
Shoulder Arthritis Treatment In North Dakota
The Bone & Joint Center is a leader in the diagnosis and treatment of shoulder and elbow arthritis in the Upper Midwest region. Our orthopedic team has the training and experience to use effective nonsurgical and surgical treatments to alleviate your symptoms. Have our bone and joint specialists examine your condition and recommend a highly individualized plan that you are comfortable with.
To schedule a consultation, call the Bone & Joint Center at 946-7400 or 900-8650 or send us an appointment request now.
Don’t Miss: Does Arthritis Qualify For Social Security Disability
Exercises To Help Shoulders With Arthritis
The goal of exercises for arthritis is to improve your strength and range of motion. Arthritis can make many motions uncomfortable or painful if done quickly. These exercises focus on slow, deliberate motions and stretches to improve your shoulders and relieve pain and tension.
Door Lean Stretches
This is one of the easiest stretches to help reduce tension in your shoulders.
Step 1: In front of a doorway, place both hands on the doorframe just above your head.
Step 2: Lean forward, using your shoulders to maintain your balance.
Step 3: When you feel a gentle stretch in your shoulders, stop and hold your position for a count of twenty.
You can repeat this three times to get the full benefits.
Door Press
Another simple exercise that can be done anywhere, door presses can help you build shoulder strength without pain.
Step 1: In front of an open doorway, bend one elbow at a 90-degree angle. Your elbow should be at about waist height and your hand should be between the door frames, with your thumb facing the ceiling.
Step 2: Press the back of your wrist against the doorframe and hold for a count of ten.
Step 3: Do the same thing with the palm of the same hand, on the other side of the doorframe.
You can repeat this ten times for both arms, three times a day.
Pendulum Swings
The goal of pendulum swings is to help relax your shoulder muscles and relieve pain. Do the following motions gently, so they feel relaxing instead of out of control.
Crossover Arm Stretches
Exercises To Avoid Worsening Shoulder Impingement Pain
Our shoulders are one of the most complex joints in our body. For that reason they can be quite susceptible to injury and inflammation.
The definition of impingement is to have an impact, to encroach or to collide. Overuse of the shoulder leads to swelling of the tendons which consequently collide or encroach on the upper shoulder bone and make it considerably painful to move. Lets look at specific activities and 4 exercises to avoid worsening shoulder impingement pain.
Recommended Reading: What Helps Lower Back Arthritis
What Can I Do
Talk to your healthcare team. It is normal to worry about the cause of your pain and how it will affect you. Talking to your doctor or other health professional about your worries can be helpful. You will usually find there is no serious cause and there are ways you can deal with it.
Learn ways to manage pain. Talk to your healthcare team about ways to relieve your pain. For example, there are medicines that can help with shoulder pain. Always talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your medicines, as even natural or over-the-counter medicines can have side effects.
Stay active. Your shoulder is designed for movement. The sooner you get your movement and strength back, the sooner your shoulder will feel better. You may need to rest or reduce some activities when the pain is bad. But resting for more than a day or two usually does not help and may do more harm than good. See a physiotherapist or other health professional for advice about exercises to keep your shoulder moving.
Acknowledge your feelings and seek support.It is natural to feel scared, frustrated, sad and sometimes angry when you have pain. Be aware of these feelings and get help if they start affecting your daily life. There are many other treatments for shoulder pain that have not been well proven. Some unproven treatments may still be useful, however further research is needed.
These treatments include:
Nonsurgical Treatments Can Provide Pain Relief
There is currently no cure for OA, but nonsurgical treatments can slow its progress and help with pain management in the shoulder. These options include: activity modification, periodic rest, cold compresses, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, and steroid injections.
Some people never need to consult a surgeon, says Dr. Martin. We may start with injections, physical therapy, and anti-inflammatories. If their pain isnt effectively managed, we will do an MRI to assess the rotator cuff. If it looks like theyre developing more arthritis over time, then we would suggest that they be evaluated for surgery.
Dr. Martin reminds patients that the timing of surgery is important. The sooner a person is evaluated, the better we can guide them on their medical journey, she says.
Read Also: How To Avoid Getting Arthritis
The Normal Unaffected Shoulder
The shoulder is made up of a number or interconnected bones. The upper end of the humerus is a ball, called the humeral head, which rests against the socket, a part of the scapula called the glenoid. Unlike the hip, also a ball-socket joint but one with a deep socket made for stability, the shoulder is made not for stability but motion – and has the most motion of any joint in the body. The ball of the shoulder joint moves against the socket, but because it rests against the socket, rather than being well contained in it, it is reliant on the soft tissues for both its stability and motion. It is stabilized by both ligaments and tendons . The tendons of the shoulder rotate the ball in the socket, and are called the rotator cuff. The four rotator cuff tendons thus supply movement to the shoulder and stability, and can themselves be subject to injury, wear and tear, and degeneration .
Calcific Tendonitis And Calcific Periarthritis
Sometimes pain, swelling and difficulty moving your shoulder is caused by calcium crystals that form insidea tendon. Tendons are the strong cords that attach muscles to bones.
We all need the mineral calcium in the body, as it helps make bones and teeth strong. But sometimes, if you have too much of it in the body, sharp, tiny, crystals can form in the wrong places.
If they form in tendons, this is called calcific tendonitis.
This can happen at various places around the body, including the shoulder.
Calcium crystals can then shed from a tendon and cause pain and swelling around a joint. This is called calcific periarthritis.
Steroid injections often work well to reduce swelling. Butsometimes the calcium deposits mayneed to be removed by keyhole surgery.
Don’t Miss: Can Psoriasis Lead To Psoriatic Arthritis
What Causes Shoulder Arthritis
The end of the humerus, or upper arm bone, is shaped like a ball, which normally fits within a socket on the scapula, called the glenoid. The shoulder joint is stabilized by a set of muscles and tendons called the rotator cuff. Symptoms of shoulder arthritis can be felt throughout or stem from issues in these areas. Specific causes include osteoarthritis, injuries, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Shoulder Exercise: Wall Crawl
Improves range of motion and strengthens shoulder muscles
- Stand in front of a wall, about an arms reach away, so your fingers can just touch it.
- Using your affected arm, slowly crawl your fingers up the wall as high you can comfortably go.
- Hold for 15 to 30 seconds then crawl back down.
- Repeat one or two more times, trying to reach higher each time.
Tip: If you feel a twinge of pain or your shoulder tightens as you crawl your fingers up, pause for a second and focus on relaxing the shoulder muscle, advises Shroyer. You may be able to go a little higher once your shoulder is relaxed. If you feel a twinge again, youve reached your max range of motion.
Also Check: Can Massage Help Arthritis Pain
Why Shoulder Arthritis Exercises And Home Treatment Methods Are Ideal
Many individuals who suffer from joint pain and discomfort as a result of shoulder arthritis find that exercises and other home treatment methods are the best ways to deal with this medical condition. Other individuals may find that NSAIDs, injections, or ultimately, surgery, are the only ways they wish to engage in the fight against osteoarthritis.
For the people who choose to perform the exercise for shoulder joint pain and other home treatment methods to deal with their upper extremity arthritis, they may do so for the following reasons:
- Shoulder muscle exercise and home treatment methods provide a noninvasive way to obtain pain relief
- Exercising at home, as well as other home treatment methods, is convenient
- Shoulder exercises have beneficial results
- Battling shoulder arthritis through exercise and additional home treatment methods is affordable
- Shoulder arthritis exercises can be completed at any time, day or night
- Exercises targeting the shoulder area help with mobility and pain relief in other parts of the body as well
Whether you choose to use shoulder exercises and additional home treatment methods as your sole way deal with shoulder arthritis or use it in conjunction with injections and NSAIDs, its an excellent idea to learn how to do these shoulder arthritis exercises properly.
READ ALSO
Osteoarthritis Of The Shoulder: Diagnosis And Treatment
Many have heard of arthritis. But despite its straightforward definition inflammation of a joint there are more than 100 types of arthritis, each with different causes and treatments. They all have the same symptoms, though: inflamed joints that can lead to pain and stiffness.
Osteoarthritis , the most common type of arthritis, is caused primarily by age-related wear-and-tear and can affect shoulders, knees, hips and other joints. Also known as wear-and-tear arthritis, OA is a condition that involves the deterioration of the smooth outer covering of bone .
If people lived forever, everyone would develop osteoarthritis, since the loss of cartilage occurs from simply using the joint. Shoulders are less susceptible to wear-and-tear compared to other weight-bearing joints, but longer lifespans and an increase in sports participation have contributed to rising numbers of shoulder problems earlier in life.
The shoulder consists of the upper arm bone , the shoulder blade , and the collarbone . The upper arm bone ends in what looks like a ball, which rests against a socket in the shoulder blade. Shoulder OA is the loss of the cartilage that allows this ball to glide smoothly against the socket, which can lead to the bones rubbing against each other.
Read Also: What Are Usually The First Signs Of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Preparing For Shoulder Exercises
An individual should always work with a health care provider to design an exercise plan that meets his or her specific needs and physical challenges. A well-tailored warm-up and post-workout routine will help maximize the benefits of stretching, strengthening and exercise while minimizing the possibility for pain or injury.
Warm up: Any exercise routine should typically be preceded by a 10-minute warm-up activity, which increases blood flow and literally warms up the body, making muscles more flexible. A walk or other slow-paced aerobic activity will help warm the body up. For those with more severe arthritis, gentle range-of-motion activities and a warm compress might also be sufficient.
Post workout: After a workout, some people may need to ice the shoulders and/or take an over-the counter NSAID medication to reduce swelling and relieve discomfort.
If any pain is felt during shoulder exercises, stop and seek advice from a healthcare professional or an appropriately qualified athletic trainer before continuing.
Should I See A Doctor
You should talk to your doctor or other health professional if your pain is bothering you. They will ask you about your symptoms and examine the movement of your shoulder. In most cases tests such as x-rays, ultrasounds and blood tests are not helpful in finding out the cause of shoulder pain unless there has been an obvious injury or strain. Your doctor may check for any serious medical problems that could be causing your pain, but these are rare. You should see your doctor if:
- you have shoulder pain after a fall or accident
- your pain does not settle down or starts getting worse, especially if you have pain when you are resting your shoulder
- you have symptoms such as losing weight, fever or night sweats.
Also Check: How Did I Get Arthritis In My Knee
Surgery To Repair Or Replace The Shoulder Joint
For those with shoulder arthritis that does not respond to other treatments, a physician may recommend surgery to repair or replace the shoulder joint. There are a number of surgical options for treating shoulder arthritis.
- Arthroscopy: Milder cases can be treated with shoulder arthroscopy, in which the surgeon uses small instruments to clean out the inside of the joint.
- Arthroplasty: More severe cases may need to be treated with shoulder joint replacement, or arthroplasty. In arthroplasty, part or all of the shoulder joint bones are removed and replaced with a prosthetic joint. After surgery, your physician will usually recommend a period of physical therapy to help in the recovery of function.
What Is The Ac Joint
The acromioclavicular, or AC, joint is a joint in the shoulder where two bones meet. One of these bones is the collarbone, or clavicle. The second bone is actually part of the shoulder blade , which is the big bone behind the shoulder that also forms part of the shoulder joint. The portion of the shoulder blade that meets the clavicle is called the acromion. As a result, where the clavicle meets the acromion is called the AC joint. Like most joints in the body where bones meet, there is cartilage between the two bones, which is the white tissue between bones that allows them to move on each other, like Teflon on two ball bearings.
Don’t Miss: Is Marijuana Good For Arthritis Pain