Common shoulder injuries

Bursitis is the inflammation of a bursae, a fluid filled sac which rest between the tendons and the bone of a joint.  A healthy bursae creates a cushion making normal movement painless.  However when the  joints are in the wrong position bursitis occurs, making the movement becomes difficult and painful. Moreover, movement of tendons and muscles over the inflamed bursa aggravates its inflammation, perpetuating the problem.  Bursitis can also cause a snapping, grinding or popping sound.


Impingement is a painful trapping of the tendons between the collar bone and head of the arm bone.  Overhead reaching is particularly problematic.  Again this can be caused by poor posture or poor shoulder mechanics, asking the wrong muscles to do the wrong jobs


Frozen shoulder,   occurs when the shoulder capsule calcifies and thickens, tightens around the shoulder joint, restricting its movement.  The condition is characterised by stiffness, pain, and limited range of motion in the shoulder joint and a dull ache.

Why are these shoulder injuries are particularly prevalent when we age?.  

• Muscle Tone declines with age.   We lose 2-5% muscle mass every year after 30 unless we work to maintain it.  Declining oestrogen levels in women at menopause, and testosterone in men exacerbate muscle loss   Weakness or imbalance in the muscles supporting the shoulder may contribute to abnormal joint mechanics and increase the risk of shoulder injury.
• Elastictity declines with age.  Collagen in the connective tissue declines with age making them stiff and less elastic,  
• Reduction in synovial fluid in our joints.. This leads to increased stiffness and reduced flexibility
• inflammation increases with age, especially as oestrogen declines.  This increased inflammation means the bursae and tendons are larger, therefore more rubbing and more more impingement, leading to lack of tolerance within the shoulder joint  

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So whilst aging is unavoidable, correct posture on movement can help you to avoid injury and to rehabilitate from injuries.  Maintaining muscle tone  with weigh bearing and supporting with a protein rich and anti inflammatory diet is also important as we age

Any questions pop along to a class to find out more.  I can’t wait to see you