Causes of shoulder pain

The shoulders of models, athletes, and others with good posture can seem so regal but shoulders can also be a source of much pain. Most shoulder pain stems from these culprits: tendinitis, bursitis, injury and arthritis.

The complex shoulder joint forms the junction of the arm bone with the shoulder blade. Add the rotator cuff, four muscles surrounding the arm bone, and now a pitcher can wind up for the throw, a driver can reach into the back seat, a ballerina can circle her arms. However, all that wonderful movement is what can leave you feeling locked up as tight as a vice. Here's why:

1. Tendinitis results from overuse of your shoulder tendons, the cords that connect muscle to bone. The tendons lodge their complaint, first with inflammation and pain, then by fraying like a used rope.
2. Bursitis, often the sidekick of tendinitis, is the inflammation of the bursae, small fluid-filled sacs around your joints that normally cushion your shoulder from the friction that all those reaching, swinging, circling movements cause.
3. Injuries, of course, are wild cards that can cause a bone in the shoulder joint to move, dislocating a joint. Although joints can be put back into place, dislocations can recur.
4. Osteoarthritis, too, sneaks up on our shoulders, the result of wear and tear on the joint surface, or cartilage, that leads to joint inflammation, swelling, pain, and stiffness. Fortunately, the pain is rarely uncontrollable. With rest, medication, exercise, or, in some cases, surgery, you can pitch the pain out.

The good news is that 90% of shoulder pain resolves with rest, exercise, and medication. If your pain doesn't subside after a day or two of rest, then your doctor can help. The worst case scenario is shoulder pain that stems from repeated dislocation involving a torn ligament, rotator cuff tears, or arthritis, and that may require surgery.