In order for proper treatments to be effective, it is very important to make a correct diagnosis of the cause of shoulder pain. Shoulder pain is a very common complaint, and is associated with many different underlying problems.

Back and shoulder pain can cause instability, which is a problem that causes loose joints. Instability may be caused by traumatic injuries (dislocation), or it may be a condition that develops. Shoulder dislocation is an injury that happens when the top of the arm bone gets disconnected from the scapula.

The shoulders and back are easily strained or sprained, and consequently prone to various kinds of pain. There are many other conditions that can result in back pain, particularly spinal injuries and disorders such as herniated discs or scoliosis. Similarly, common sources of pain in the neck or shoulders include muscle injuries and tendonitis.

Back and shoulder pain is among the most common medical complaints in the U.S. Between fifty and eighty percent of all adults in America suffer from back pain at one time or another, claims the Arthritis Foundation. It's the second most common neurological problem in the U.S., declares the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Headaches are the only ailment that is more common.

Some cases of back pain are acute, which means that they appear quickly and disappear within weeks or days. Other cases of back pain are chronic, meaning that they will last for a long time. Pain in any part of the shoulder or in any nearby area is considered shoulder pain. Shoulder pain can arise from many different sources, including bone or cartilage damage caused by traumatic injury, degeneration, excessive use, too little use, or simple aging. Many seemingly unrelated conditions, such as liver disease, can result in shoulder pain as a side effect.

Sometimes shoulder pain cannot be prevented. However, people can often reduce their risk with measures such as stretching and practicing good posture and following sound ergonomic principles. Ergonomic resources help you avoid shoulder and back pain. Diversity in better input devices has made life much better. Nearly everyone at some point has shoulder and back pain that interferes with work, routine daily activities, or recreation.

Shoulder and Back Pain are common because these areas are vulnerable to injury, such as sprains and strains. Other disorders that may cause back pain include herniated disc, degenerative disc disease, pinched nerves, scoliosis and sciatica. There is no way to avoid shoulder pain entirely. There are ways to make it less likely, though, such as regular stretching and taking proper advantage of ergonomically-designed furniture and office equipment.

- Frank Barnett

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 28th, 2008 at 3:08 pm and is filed under Business, Career. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.