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Rupture of the articular bag of the shoulder: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
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Usually, a rupture of the joint capsule occurs as a result of a specific injury, such as a fall on an outstretched arm. It causes pain when moving. Treatment is physical therapy and, in some cases, surgical methods.
The shoulder joint (unlike the hip or elbow) is essentially a congenitally unstable joint; it can be compared to a golf ball on a tee. To enhance structural stability, the glenoid cavity (anatomically shallow) is deepened by the lips, which are elastic fibrocartilaginous structures attached to the perimeter of the glenoid rim. This structure can be torn during athletic activity, especially throwing, or as a result of blunt trauma when falling or landing on an outstretched upper limb.
[ Diagnosis and symptoms of rupture of the shoulder joint capsule
The diagnosis is usually made by the presence of deep shoulder pain during movement, especially when throwing a ball. This discomfort may be accompanied by a painful clicking sensation and a feeling that “something is bothering” the shoulder. A thorough physical examination of the shoulder joint and neck area should be performed first, but it is better to consult a specialist, because in most cases more accurate diagnostic methods of examination (for example, MRI with contrast enhancement) are needed for final verification of the diagnosis.
If symptoms do not resolve after physical therapy and the diagnosis is confirmed by MRI, surgical treatment may be indicated. Surgery is usually performed using arthroscopy.