What is the Shoulder?

Shoulder pathologies generally fall into 4 categories: Inflammation of the tendon (bursitis'or'tendonitis), or'tearing of the tendon Joint dislocation Osteoarthritis Bone fracture Less frequent are tumours, infection, and nerve-related problems. The main shoulder pathologies are: Bursitis:'there are a number of small fluid-filled sacs located in the shoulder and in joints throughout the body. Overuse of the shoulder can sometimes lead to inflammation or swelling of the sac between the rotator cuff and the shoulder blade. Tendonitis:'the tendon is a kind of cord that connects muscle and bone. Most tendonitis is due to tendon wear. It can be acute, or chronic when caused by a degenerative disease. The most commonly affected tendons are the four rotator cuff tendons and one of the bicep tendons. Tendon tears:'these may result from acute injuries or degenerative changes due to ageing or prolonged overuse. They may be partial or complete. Rotator cuff and biceps tendon tears are the most common. Compression:'this occurs when the upper part of the shoulder blade presses on the underlying soft tissues when lifting the arm away from the body. As the arm is lifted, the part of the shoulder blade compresses the rotator cuff tendons and sac. This causes pain and may lead to tendonitis or bursitis. If left untreated, compression could lead to a torn rotator cuff. Dislocation:'this occurs when the head of the arm bone is forced out of the shoulder socket. It can be caused by sudden injury or overuse. A shoulder dislocation can be partial or complete.