Shoulder injuries are as common as biceps injuries; if you are in the bodybuilding world.
Why are shoulder injuries common? In case you haven't figured out, your shoulder is under a great amount of stress when you lift heavy weights.
When you do reps, the stress on your shoulders accumulates with every lift.
Basically, there are two types of shoulder injuries.
The first type is called instability problems.
This happens when the shoulder joints are forced out of its normal or original position.
The second type of shoulder injury is the result of impingement of the shoulder muscle against the shoulder bone.
Instability problems Injury may include: 1.
Dislocation When the shoulder is pulled very hard or twisted too hard, the ball at the top of the bone in your upper arms will pop out of its socket.
This is called dislocation of the shoulders.
Usually, to treat shoulder dislocation, doctors will push the ball of the upper arm back into its socket.
As a result, you might need to wear an arm sling to keep your shoulder in place.
You might also need a lot of rest as dislocation of the shoulder can be quite painful.
Be careful not to dislocate your shoulders again.
If it involves tissues or nerves, you might need a surgery, not a mere push the ball of the upper arm back in its place.
2.
Separation Shoulder separation happens when the ligaments between your collarbone and your shoulder blades are torn.
This injury is most likely caused by a blow to the shoulder (like when you are doing deadlifts without the proper technique) or when you fall on outstretched hands (this is more likely for American football athletes.
For mild cases, you only require ice treatment to take away the pain and swelling, plenty of rest and a sling to keep the injured shoulder in place.
However, surgery is needed for more extreme cases.
3.
Rotator cuff tears Rotator cuff tears can be caused by overuse or ageing.
Lifting weights overhead on a repeated basis can also be the cause of this particular injury.
Let us make this clear: rotator cuff tears can be excruciatingly painful.
You'll be very lucky if you tear your rotator cuff and not feel any pain.
If you are young, you might just need plenty of rest or pressing ice on the sore area to reduce the swelling.
Some believe that E-Stim (electrical stimulation) may be helpful to treat this injury.
If these treatments do not work, and you are over 45 years old, you might require a surgery.
Impingement-type symptoms, on the other hand, include: 1.
Bursitis &Tendinitis (Rotator cuff disease) As you might have figured out, tendinitis means inflammation of the tendons on your shoulder.
It may become red, sore and swollen.
Bursitis, on the other hand, occurs when the bursa is inflamed.
The bursa is a small sac which is filled by fluid.
Its function is to protect the shoulder joint.
Both injuries may happen simultaneously.
They are caused by frequent overhead reaching (we bet you are searching for the list of workouts that need you to reach overhead now).
If you placed ice on the sore area and it did not get better, you need corticosteroid injection.
If it still doesn't get better with the drug injection, you'll need a surgery.
Why are shoulder injuries common? In case you haven't figured out, your shoulder is under a great amount of stress when you lift heavy weights.
When you do reps, the stress on your shoulders accumulates with every lift.
Basically, there are two types of shoulder injuries.
The first type is called instability problems.
This happens when the shoulder joints are forced out of its normal or original position.
The second type of shoulder injury is the result of impingement of the shoulder muscle against the shoulder bone.
Instability problems Injury may include: 1.
Dislocation When the shoulder is pulled very hard or twisted too hard, the ball at the top of the bone in your upper arms will pop out of its socket.
This is called dislocation of the shoulders.
Usually, to treat shoulder dislocation, doctors will push the ball of the upper arm back into its socket.
As a result, you might need to wear an arm sling to keep your shoulder in place.
You might also need a lot of rest as dislocation of the shoulder can be quite painful.
Be careful not to dislocate your shoulders again.
If it involves tissues or nerves, you might need a surgery, not a mere push the ball of the upper arm back in its place.
2.
Separation Shoulder separation happens when the ligaments between your collarbone and your shoulder blades are torn.
This injury is most likely caused by a blow to the shoulder (like when you are doing deadlifts without the proper technique) or when you fall on outstretched hands (this is more likely for American football athletes.
For mild cases, you only require ice treatment to take away the pain and swelling, plenty of rest and a sling to keep the injured shoulder in place.
However, surgery is needed for more extreme cases.
3.
Rotator cuff tears Rotator cuff tears can be caused by overuse or ageing.
Lifting weights overhead on a repeated basis can also be the cause of this particular injury.
Let us make this clear: rotator cuff tears can be excruciatingly painful.
You'll be very lucky if you tear your rotator cuff and not feel any pain.
If you are young, you might just need plenty of rest or pressing ice on the sore area to reduce the swelling.
Some believe that E-Stim (electrical stimulation) may be helpful to treat this injury.
If these treatments do not work, and you are over 45 years old, you might require a surgery.
Impingement-type symptoms, on the other hand, include: 1.
Bursitis &Tendinitis (Rotator cuff disease) As you might have figured out, tendinitis means inflammation of the tendons on your shoulder.
It may become red, sore and swollen.
Bursitis, on the other hand, occurs when the bursa is inflamed.
The bursa is a small sac which is filled by fluid.
Its function is to protect the shoulder joint.
Both injuries may happen simultaneously.
They are caused by frequent overhead reaching (we bet you are searching for the list of workouts that need you to reach overhead now).
If you placed ice on the sore area and it did not get better, you need corticosteroid injection.
If it still doesn't get better with the drug injection, you'll need a surgery.
Source...