Your shoulder is made up of the ball-and-socket joint, soft tissues, muscles, and tendons. Altogether, it’s one of the most complex and mobile joints in your body, enabling you to rotate and move your arm in various directions without pain.
You might experience shoulder pain from years of work or sports-related stressors. It’s also possible you suffered an acute trauma such as a fall or auto accident. Other types of shoulder pain might stem from tendinitis or fractures. Scapula (shoulder blade) fractures can be particularly painful.
Another problem is arthritis, most often in the form of osteoarthritis. In this condition, the articular cartilage that protects the ends of your bones wears away, allowing the bones to rub painfully together.
One of the most common shoulder problems is dislocation, where the humerus comes partially or entirely out of its socket.
No matter the cause, though, shoulder pain can significantly impact your quality of life.
