Conditions Limiting Shoulder Mobility

What Is Shoulder Mobility?

The shoulder contains three bones; the humerus (upper arm bone), scapula (shoulder blade), and clavicle (collar bone). The head of the humerus bone attaches to the rounded socket of the scapula called the glenoid, resulting in a joint called the glenohumeral joint. The other shoulder joint is located where the collarbone meets the acromion (tip of the scapula). This joint is called the acromioclavicular joint. The other parts of the shoulders are the scapulothoracic joint, sternoclavicular joint, and cervical and thoracic spine.

Shoulder mobility can be defined as the ability of the shoulders to move through a full range of motion before being restricted with control. Shoulder mobility includes coordination, strength, and flexibility. If a person has shoulder problems due to injury and chronic disease, they may be unable to move their shoulders to perform daily activities.

Why Is Shoulder Mobility Important?

If the person has a problem, they find it difficult to do even a small thing in their everyday life.

• They find it difficult to comb their hair.

• They may not be able to reach height by climbing.

• They find it difficult to throw a ball etc.

• Pain in the shoulders due to shoulder problems may cause discomfort while walking.

How Does a Person Know if They Have Poor Shoulder Mobility?

Poor shoulder mobility may appear as:

• Pain in the shoulders, especially when the person moves shoulders overhead, and pain aggravated at night.

• Limited range of motion.

• Discomfort on lifting the arm.

• Inability to lift the arm above the shoulder.

• Weakness in the shoulders.

• Bruising on the shoulders.

• Grinding sound while moving the shoulders.

What Are the Conditions That Limit Shoulder Mobility?

Any injury to the parts of the shoulder and some chronic medical conditions cause degeneration in the shoulders that results in poor shoulder mobility. The conditions which limit shoulder mobility include:

• Shoulder Impingement - The shoulder tendon rubbing against surrounding soft tissue or bone is said to be shoulder impingement. When the tendons do so, the patient feels discomfort while lifting their arm over the head. The common symptoms of shoulder impingement are the pain that may be experienced on the top and outside of the shoulders, weakness of the arms, aching to feel on the shoulders at sleep, and pain while lifting the arm overhead. With the help of mobility exercises, the effects of shoulder impingement can be relieved in one to two weeks. The patient should avoid repetitive movement of raising the arm overhead.

• Shoulder Arthritis - The inflammation of joints of the shoulders that cause stiffness and pain results in shoulder arthritis. Shoulder arthritis is the most common cause of poor shoulder mobility. Shoulder arthritis causes the shoulder joints to stick, lock, or grind sounds while making a move. In severe cases, shoulder arthritis sometimes makes the affected individual unable to walk or bend. Physical therapy, medications, and surgery may be recommended for treating poor mobility caused by shoulder arthritis.

• Shoulder Bursitis - The painful inflammation of bursae (jelly-like fluid-filled sacs) around the shoulders results in shoulder bursitis. Bursae help to reduce joint friction during shoulder movements. Shoulder bursitis is caused by overstressing the shoulder areas and by doing more repetitive movements that affect the shoulder joints. It can also be due to infections or trauma. Shoulder bursitis usually goes away on its own while given rest. If bursitis does not go away, the healthcare providers may recommend physical therapy to relieve the pain and improve shoulder mobility. Bursitis can also be treated under surgery in severe cases.

• Frozen Shoulders - It is also known as adhesive capsulitis. Frozen shoulders are characterized by pain and stiffness in the joint of the shoulders. It begins slowly and gets worse over time. It comes in people who are recovering from medical conditions in which their arm movement is prevented. Usually, frozen shoulders are developed in three stages, and each stage lasts for several months. The symptoms also vary in different stages:

1. The first stage is the freezing stage, which appears as pain in the shoulder with any type of movement, and the shoulders become hard to move.

2. The next stage is the frozen stage. In this stage, the pain gets diminished, but the shoulder stiffness increases.

3. The last stage is the thawing stage, which allows the shoulders to move easily again.

• Rotator Cuff Injuries - The rotator cuff is a muscle group that surrounds the shoulder joints. This group of muscles helps to fix the humerus bone to the shoulder socket. Rotator cuff tears usually happen in persons whose occupational work makes them move their arm overhead repeatedly, such as carpenters, painters, and tennis players. The incision in the group of shoulder muscles may also occur in older individuals and people with familial history of rotator cuff injuries. A person with a rotator cuff tear may experience dull aching pain while walking, weakness, and difficulty moving their arms behind their back. If left untreated, these injuries may cause permanent limitation of movement and weakness, which may also lead the shoulder joints to degenerate. Physical therapy helps to restore the range of motion, coordination, and muscular strength. In severe cases, rotator cuff injuries are treated with surgeries.

How Is Poor Shoulder Mobility Treated?

Poor shoulder mobility is treated by improving the overall health of the shoulder joints. Maintaining the overall health of shoulder joints prevents conditions that limit shoulder mobility. Shoulder mobility can be improved by performing mobility exercises, strengthening, and stretching exercises. These exercises help to increase the joint's range of movements. In addition, the person should be well hydrated by drinking sufficient amounts of water to prevent joint health.

Physiotherapists play a vital role in improving the poor shoulder mobility of a person. They recommend mobility exercises and stretches to their patients. Some of the mobility exercises are:

• Standing arm swings.

• Shoulders pass through.

• Reverse fly.

• High to low rows.

• Rotation of arms with dumbbells.

Some mobility stretches include:

• Sleeper stretch.

• Cross-arm stretch.

• Chest expansion.

• Doorway stretch.

• Child's pose.

Conclusion

Shoulder mobility is an important factor in performing daily activities and maintaining an active lifestyle. Several factors can limit shoulder mobility that includes anatomy, muscle imbalance, arthralgia (joint stiffness), poor posture, and age-related degenerative conditions. The underlying cause that limits shoulder mobility should be treated accurately. Performing mobility exercises and mobility stretches under the supervision of a physiotherapist or physical therapist is the best choice for treating it.