| If you have pain in your shoulder, it is wise not to | | | | able to move the arm out to the side. Medical |
| try and self-diagnose; some shoulder pain can be | | | | attention is obviously paramount as an xray or |
| referred from the neck or back. Make an | | | | MRI scan may be necessary, but a dislocated |
| appointment with a physiotherapist if the pain | | | | shoulder is quite easily put back in. The danger |
| does not go away within a day or two. | | | | then is that it will happen again, as muscles may |
| If you are active and play sports regularly, you | | | | be damaged and ligaments torn, so shoulder |
| can sustain a rotator cuff injury. Tennis, golf and | | | | therapy needs to include strengthening exercises |
| basketball players are particularly susceptible to | | | | and careful rehabilitation before a sporting activity |
| this type of injury as they rely heavily on the | | | | is resumed. So many re-injuries are caused by |
| shoulder muscles - imagine the muscle power | | | | trying to do too much too soon! |
| needed to serve a tennis ball at the incredible | | | | Treatment will involve the shoulder being |
| speeds recorded at top level competition! | | | | immobilized for about one month with the arm in |
| The force of such actions can also cause | | | | a sling. After that, gentle movements with the |
| impingement, shoulder muscles swelling and | | | | shoulder girdle kept still until mobility is regained. |
| pinching the nerves on top of the shoulder. This | | | | Exercises with light weights can then be |
| causes "electric shock" jolts of pain all the way | | | | introduced, building up to full functional fitness. The |
| down the arm to the elbow (sometimes past it). | | | | golden rule in this case is that if an exercise hurts |
| Pins and needles and numbness in the fingers can | | | | - don't do it! |
| also happen. Any symptoms such as these should | | | | The danger position for dislocation of the shoulder |
| never be ignored as medical treatment may be | | | | is when the arm is held out at shoulder level, |
| necessary. Again, a physiotherapist is a good | | | | elbow bent - as if you are about to return a high |
| person to go to as he will refer you to a clinician if | | | | tennis serve. This is the point at which the joint is |
| needs be. | | | | most vulnerable. |
| The shoulder is a very mobile joint, but can be | | | | Athletes who rely on their shoulders in |
| unstable. Some people's shoulders dislocate very | | | | competition for throwing or racquet sports may |
| easily, as the shoulder socket is quite shallow. A | | | | require surgery to tighten the ligaments and |
| fall onto the arm can also cause the humerus | | | | muscles. |
| (upper arm bone) to slip out of the socket. If this | | | | The type of therapy will depend on the injury |
| happens to you, the pain will be considerable, the | | | | itself, but with care and common sense, most |
| shoulder will look misshapen and you will not be | | | | shoulder injuries can be successfully rehabilitated. |