A glenoid labral tear and a torn rotator cuff are just 2 common injuries that can go happen with your shoulders. Can you think of others? Find out how much you know about shoulders by taking this quiz.
1. The collarbone is part of the shoulder.
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The shoulder joint is a ball and socket joint made up of 3 bones: the collarbone (clavicle), the shoulder blade (scapula), and the upper arm bone (humerus).
2. The shoulder is one of the most movable joints in your body.
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The shoulder joint can also be unstable because it has such a wide range of motion. It is easily injured because the ball of the upper arm is larger than the shoulder socket that holds it.
3. A pain in and around the shoulder may mean your have a disease elsewhere in the body.
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Disease elsewhere in the body may cause pain to travel along nerves to the shoulder. Examples include gallbladder, liver, or heart disease, and disease of the cervical spine of the neck.
4. A shoulder is more likely to dislocate than other joints.
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Shoulder dislocations occur more often than dislocations in any other major joint. The shoulder can dislocate forward, backward, or downward. In a typical case of a dislocated shoulder, a strong force that pulls the shoulder outward (abduction) or extreme rotation of the joint pops the ball of the humerus out of the shoulder socket. Dislocation commonly occurs when there is a backward pull on the arm.
5. Swelling and numbness are 2 symptoms of a dislocated shoulder.
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Other symptoms include intense pain, weakness, and bruising. Muscle spasms can make the pain worse. Sometimes nerve damage occurs.
6. A dislocated shoulder must be kept immobile for 3 months.
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Experts advise that you not move the arm or shoulder for several weeks. Your healthcare provider may give you different instructions. Usually the healthcare provider tells you to rest the shoulder. They may tell you to put ice on it 3 or 4 times a day.
7. Jobs that require heavy lifting can lead to rotator cuff tears.
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Another cause is a sport that requires you to move your arm overhead over and over again. One or more rotator cuff tendons may also become inflamed from overuse, aging, a fall on an outstretched hand, or a collision.
A bone density study helps diagnose osteoporosis (bone thinning). Scans of your lower back, hip, or forearm are taken to measure the amount of calcium (density) in your bones. Calcium is the mineral that makes up your bones.
If a school screening or your healthcare provider finds signs of scoliosis, you’ll visit a special bone healthcare provider (orthopaedist) for an evaluation. This visit helps determine what treatment may be best for you now.
Arthroplasty is a surgical procedure to restore the function of a joint. A joint can be restored by resurfacing the bones. An artificial joint (called a prosthesis) may also be used.
