Sprains of the ligaments of the shoulder joint

One of the most common sports and domestic injuries is the stretching of the ligaments of the shoulder joint. Such an injury can occur due to severe physical exertion or inadvertent incorrect movement in the joint.

Pathology can accompany the development of inflammation (tendinitis) or partial damage to the tendons. To tighten with treatment it is not necessary, as the disease can be complicated by bursitis or tendinitis, which significantly worsens the further course of the pathology.

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The causes of sprain of the shoulder joint

The shoulder is a spherical joint, consisting of a semicircular head of the shoulder bone and a glenoid scapular cavity. This joint provides mobility of the shoulder. It is surrounded by tendons, cartilaginous tissue, muscles - they all support and complement each other.

Injury of the shoulder joint can be done in different ways, but more often it happens because of the following reasons:

• strong sharp movement (jerk) or turn of the hand to the outside;
• sharp impact on the anterior surface of the shoulder joint;
• fall with an emphasis on the elongated upper limb or on the back surface of the shoulder;
• visis on one hand, sharp extension of the arm;
• frequent lifting of heavy objects and loads, a sharp rise in gravity.

Athletes may be injured by the shoulder joint due to a bench press in the supine position or from the forearm, while performing exercises on the bars or horizontal bar.

In young children, stretching often occurs in cases when an adult lifts a baby with a pulling motion for one handle.

There are also a number of factors that lead to a weakening of the muscular and ligament apparatus of the shoulder girdle, which greatly increases the risk of sprain:

• disturbance of metabolic processes, insufficient trophism of tissues;
• age changes in joints, formation of osteophytes, loss of elasticity of tissues;
• hormonal therapy for a long period;
• Smoking and prolonged intoxication of the body.

Symptoms of sprain of the shoulder joint

When injuring the shoulder, the crucial point is the differentiation of stretching from the ligament rupture, since it is the correctness of the diagnosis that determines the prognosis and possible consequences of the trauma.

The main features can be:

• pain in the shoulder joint;
• severe pain with palpation of the shoulder;
• swelling (puffiness) of the shoulder region;
• redness and hyperthermia of the skin in the shoulder joint zone;
• hematomas of the shoulder;
• pain when trying to move with the shoulder.

Symptoms can build up within a few minutes of the injury. Pain becomes unbearable, muscle strength in the hand weakens.

Undoubtedly, the clinic for lesions of the shoulder joint may differ depending on the severity of the injury and the degree of damage to the ligaments.

Diagnosis of sprain of the shoulder joint

If you suspect a sprain of the ligament apparatus of the shoulder joint, you should immediately contact a traumatologist. The doctor will examine the patient, perform palpation, collect an objective and subjective anamnesis and, if necessary, assign a number of additional examinations:

• X-ray examination - is often used, mainly to differentiate the stretch from possible dislocation, rupture and tearing of ligaments, bone fracture;
• ultrasound method of research of the rotator cuff - allows to evaluate the integrity of the ligaments of the shoulder;
• the method of magnetic resonance imaging is rarely used, only in complex and non-standard cases, although it is sufficiently informative in terms of visualizing the degree of damage to the tissues of the shoulder joint;
• method of arthroscopy - allows you to analyze in detail the condition of the ligaments from the inside. It is used rarely, mainly in orthopedics.

Do not try to determine the nature of the shoulder injury yourself, let the doctor do it: the sooner the patient is diagnosed correctly, the earlier he will be provided with medical care and prescribed treatment.

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Treatment of sprain of the shoulder joint

When stretching ligaments, it is usually enough conservative treatment. Soreness in the joint is arrested by freezing the affected area with chloroethyl or novocaine, and by applying a pressure bandage (Dezo bandage). If the stretching is insignificant, you can limit the use of cold to the site of injury: this procedure should be repeated for two to three days, while providing peace for the injured limb.

To relieve pain, analgesics are used, mainly analgesic and paracetamol preparations: pentalgin, tempalgin, baralgin, effer langan, panadol. Further, usually prescribed drugs based on ibuprofen or diclofenac, butadione, naproxen, indomethacin, hlutazol, to relieve pain and swelling of the joint. One of these drugs take inside from one to two tablets up to three times a day. Restorative treatment should last about a month.

To stimulate the regeneration of tissues, a doctor can prescribe glucosamine, chondroprotectors, hyaluronic acid. These drugs can be used either inward, or in the form of / m or intraarticular injections. The latter have a more pronounced effect, having an effect directly in the lesion. Sometimes they practice the injection of an artificial joint fluid, which not only stimulates the restoration of tissues, but also facilitates the mobility of the joint.

A few days after the injury, a course of physiotherapy (phonophoresis, electrophoresis, laser therapy), magnetotherapy, UHF, exercise therapy, massage is prescribed.

Effective is the use of ointment when stretching the ligaments of the shoulder joint. Ointments can be different in the nature of the effect:

• ointments homeopathic - improve the processes of local exchange, inhibit the destruction of tissues and restore them, have analgesic effect. These drugs include Objective T and Traumeel C.

The purpose of T - strengthens the ligamentous apparatus, restores bone and cartilaginous tissue. Ointment is rubbed up to 5 times a day, or applied as a compress.

Traumeel C - has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulating effect. Apply a thin layer up to 3 times a day for a month.

• ointments distracting or warming up - improve the nutrition of tissues, relieve pain, activate local blood circulation. To these ointments include finalgon (applied with the help of an applicator in an amount of up to 0.5 cm), capsicam (easily rubbed up to 3 times a day), nicoflex, efkamon, apizartron (contains bee venom), viprosal (contains snake venom).
• ointments-chondroprotectors - slow down the processes of degeneration in tissues, restore tissue metabolism. This ointment chondroitin, teraflex M, chondroxide. Apply chondroprotectors in a thin layer, lightly rub and leave until completely absorbed, up to 3 times a day.
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory ointments - reduce pain, relieve inflammation, but have the greatest number of adverse events and contraindications. Use these drugs for a long period of time is impossible. These ointments include ketoprofen, nise, nimesulide, diclofenac, pyroxecam, ibuprofen, phenylbutazone.
• ointments combined - possess to all else else and a resolving effect, reduce the risk of formation of thrombi. The well-known drug of this group is gel Dolobene. It removes inflammation, reduces puffiness, helps to restore tissues. The gel is applied to clean skin up to 4 times a day.

A definite analgesic effect is also possessed by medicinal plants, such as celery root, yarrow herb, tansy flowers. They pour boiling water at the rate of 1 tablespoon of raw materials per glass of water, taking 1/3 cup to 4 times a day before meals.

Prevention of sprains in the shoulder joint

In order to avoid stretching the ligaments, it is necessary to strengthen the ligament-muscular apparatus. To do this, you need to exercise regularly, do morning exercises, swim, and stick to an active lifestyle. When performing exercises, avoid sudden movements, especially if the muscles are not pre-heated. The load must be increased gradually.

If the joint is injured, do not rush to cure yourself - seek help from a trauma center or an orthopedic surgeon. Sometimes under the guise of stretching, a dislocation or rupture of the ligament can progress, which, in the absence of proper treatment, threatens with serious complications.

In order for the musculoskeletal system to be strong and invulnerable, it is necessary to pay attention to one's diet. The daily diet should be rich in calcium and vitamin D. An additional intake of a complex of vitamins and minerals is possible, as well as such drugs as chondroitin and glucosamine. Well, if the food you eat will be rich in collagen: this substance is found in jelly, marmalade, jellied meat and fish, bone broth. It is also necessary to drink enough water, this will ensure a good elasticity of tissues and improve metabolism.

Prognosis of sprain of the shoulder joint

The prognosis of stretching of the ligaments of the shoulder joint is favorable. Usually the patient is restored within a month, after which he can lead a normal life.

The stretching of the ligaments of the shoulder joint does not present difficulties in the treatment. However, the appointment of your doctor should not be ignored, they must be performed strictly throughout the course of therapy. Do not discontinue treatment without consulting the doctor, even if you feel relieved. Thus, you will protect yourself from relapses of articular pathology.