THE SHOULDER JOINT
The shoulder joint is complex, remarkable, and subject to injury. Shoulder dysfunction is caused by many variables: falls, overuse, misuse, and even disuse after an injury. Shoulder mobility can also be impaired after cancer treatments. One needs to be very careful to prevent injury to the shoulder. And this can be done by engaging in a proactive programme that has progressive strengthening and stretching of corrective exercises.
Often the onset of a shoulder problem manifests slowly over time, and if neglected, it impairs function or causes excessive pain. Shoulder pain is a common issue and more than 25% of the population struggles with it. Mostly, people hurt or strain their shoulder and dismiss the injury, and allow it to exacerbate to a significant issue till it gets alarming. The current belief is getting therapy and treatment early can prevent major problems in the future. The best idea is to be proactive about the care of your shoulder as a preventive method as soon as you experience discomfort, before it becomes too late or magnifies to a big injury.
Remember one thing TRAIN SMART, NOT HARD, because learning to listen to your body and heed what it says is the wisest thing you can do. Identifying a small shoulder issue and engaging in active rest along with performing corrective exercise can go a long way in keeping you in the game.
WHO GETS SHOULDER ISSUES?
As per many of the surveys conducted all over the world, it is recorded that a significant number of the adult population has or will suffer from a shoulder joint dysfunction that affects daily activities. This is not a small problem, and definitely not the one that should be ignored, as it can affect all physical activity, mobility, and can even disable you for a sustained period of time.
Other than trauma and repetitive chronic misuses, often postural deviations or muscle imbalances can contribute to shoulder issues. If one set of muscles gets too tight, the delicate balance of the space in the shoulder complex is upset, possibly throwing the alignment out of place. This is similar to the guide wires of a radio tower; if they’re too tight, they can cause misalignment. These misalignments set the stage for injury. With proper joint alignment, you can expect an ideal range of motion. Mark one thing strengthening what is weak and stretching what is tight, some of our shoulder issues will never occur.)According to some researchers shoulder dysfunction is caused by many situations, including falls and overuse from work or play.
Nowadays even the children are complaining of shoulder and neck pain. The reasons for this are
- Poor posture-
- Poor biomechanics-
- Increased Screen time-
- Back and shoulder strain from carrying heavy backpacks,-
- Overzealous coaches pushing them beyond their physical limits.-
- Incorrect posture while using the phone, the time for which is as much as 20 hours in a day.-
- No mobility exercises-
- No physical activity-
- Lack of strengthening exercises
Other than this the most common causes of shoulder issues include:
- Age-
- Falls-
- Improper body mechanics-
- Repetitive or prolonged overhead movements-
- Prolonged use of machinery that causes jarring/vibration of shoulder joint
DO I HAVE A SHOULDER ISSUE?
Unfortunately, many people wait too long before going to the doctor about their shoulder problem,assuming it will just get better on its own. Studies suggests that most people don’t go to the doctor until they’ve lost some level of range of motion or the pain is unbearable. Proactive steps such as medical care and gentle movement are the keys to recovering from shoulder issues. Ironically, the natural response to stop using the shoulder when it hurts may actually contribute to a condition called “frozen shoulder.”
If you suspect that you have a shoulder issue, get a diagnosis ASAP. An early intervention can keep a small issue from becoming a big one. Make an appointment with your primary care doctor, who’s usually the port of entry into the medical system. Your primary care doctor may then refer you to other health professionals. If you have pain or difficulty with any of the following, it’s a sign that you may have a shoulder problem and should seek medical advice.
- Putting on a coat-
- Sleeping on your side–
- Reaching behind you, as when grabbing something in the backseat of the car from the driver’s seat)
- Reaching up your back, as when zipping up a back zipper-
- Reaching to a high shelf-
- Throwing a ball overhand-
- Performing work duties, such as moving a computer mouse around on the desk-
- Participating in recreational pursuits, such as swimming the crawl stroke or playing tennis
If you have any of the above or hear a pop, get a diagnosis ASAP.
As mentioned, it is observed that most people don’t go to the doctor for a consultation till the time they can manage with painkillers, or local application of balms, and pain-relieving sprays. They often try conservative treatments as acupressure or acupuncture without getting to the core of the problem. Only when it surpasses their pain tolerance, do they get to the Doctor or get MRI done. In many cases, they are just weeks away from a surgery, and have already done much damage to the injury.
Once diagnosed, one must immediately start with physiotherapy, and strengthening exercises, as the muscles need to be strengthened, and re-educated.
