The Shoulder

The shoulder is a common injury site. There is so much movement in the joint, that as a result, it lacks stability. Broadly speaking, the most frequent types of shoulder issues will fall into one of three categories.

If you are suffering with a shoulder issue, ask yourself:

1. Is it weak?
2. Is it stiff?
3. Is it unstable?

Understanding this will help with the diagnosis, rehab and treatment and the exercise plan.

Weak shoulders can often be as a result of a rotator cuff injury or shoulder impingement. Picture your shoulder as a ball and socket joint made up of our clavicle (collar bone), shoulder blade (scapula) and humerus (upper arm bone). We need enough space for the ball to move around  – for when we reach our arm up in the air or behind our back. If the muscles that produce this movement get damaged or overused, they may not function the way we want them too. This can cause inflammation and pain resulting in a reduction in the space needed for our shoulder to move around freely. This can then cause pain with certain movements and lead to weakness through disuse. When this pattern continues, we can be left with a weak, painful shoulder that can really restrict us during the day.