By Dr. Jonathan Brown
One of the main attractions of our beautiful Mississippi Gulf Coast is the water, giving coastal residents and visitors access to activities like boating, fishing, paddle boarding, kayaking and swimming — just to name a few. While water sports are fun, they also increase your risk of an orthopaedic injury. Shoulder pain is among the most common complaints we see during this time of year and usually can be attributed to instability, impingement or rotator cuff injuries.
Sometimes, one of the shoulder joints moves or is forced out of its normal position. This condition is called instability and can result in a dislocation of one of the joints in the shoulder. Those suffering from an instability problem will experience pain when raising their arm and may feel as if their shoulder is slipping out of place.
Impingement is caused by excessive rubbing of the shoulder muscles against the top part of the shoulder blade, called the acromion. Impingement problems can happen during activities that require excessive overhead arm motion. Seek medical care immediately for inflammation in the shoulder, as it eventually could lead to a more serious injury.
The rotator cuff is one of the most important shoulder components. It is composed of a group of muscles and tendons that hold the bones of the shoulder joint together. The rotator cuff muscles allow people to lift their arm and reach overhead. When the rotator cuff is injured, patients sometimes do not recover the full shoulder function needed to properly participate in an athletic activity.
IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING PAIN IN YOUR SHOULDER, ASK YOURSELF THESE QUESTIONS:
- Is your shoulder stiff? Can you rotate your arm in all the normal positions?
- Does it feel like your shoulder could pop or slide out of the socket?
- Do you lack the strength in your shoulder to carry out your daily activities?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you should consult an orthopaedic surgeon for help in determining the severity of the problem.
Dr. Jonathan Brown practices with Bienville Orthopaedic Specialists and specializes in arthroscopy, sports medicine and general orthopaedics. Reach him at him at (228) 230- BONE (2663) and learn more at https://www.bienvilleortho.com/.