The shoulder is comprised of four joints. The ball and socket glenohumeral joint play the most important role in the wide range of motion of the upper arm. However, this mobility comes at the cost of stability, which makes the shoulder a common source of injury.
Sometimes these injuries occur suddenly, and the pain and disability compel the patient to seek care. Many times, the injuries are microtraumas associated with overuse, excessive vibrations, or heavy lifting. Eventually, they build up over time and affect the motion of the joint ever so slightly. The combination of inflammation and improper joint motion can place added stress on hyaline cartilage. Hyaline cartilage covers the bones and reduces friction during movement. The erosion of this cartilage leads to the condition called osteoarthrosis. In fact, about 30% of adults over age 60 develop arthritis in the ball and socket glenohumeral joint.
Osteoarthrosis
Early in the disease, the pain may be mild. If left untreated, it can gradually become discomforting until the patient feels as though they have to see a doctor. Chiropractors will typically approach glenohumeral joint pain with a combination of manual therapies, soft tissue work, and specific exercise instruction. Since the condition may be more advanced, it may take time for the patient to experience satisfactory improvements. Performing home exercises are extremely important when it comes to rehabilitating a shoulder injury.
If the cartilage has mostly worn away and there is bone-on-bone contact, the patient may need a glenohumeral joint replacement. There are several options, depending on the patient’s unique case. You could undergo anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty, hemiarthroplasty, and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. To increase the odds of a successful recovery, the patient may be advised to eat a healthy diet, exercise, avoid excessive alcohol consumption, and stop smoking. The patient will also receive post-surgical care instruction on exercises to perform and limit activity for the healing process. One study found it can take as long as 15 weeks for the tendons to fully heal.
Osteoarthrosis Prevention
But it’s best not to get to the step in which surgery is the only available option, so let’s talk about preventing osteoarthritis of the shoulder. The first thing we can do is eat an anti-inflammatory diet, such as the Mediterranean diet. We can also get regular exercise. If your job involves a lot of overhead activity, consider ways to reduce stress on the shoulders such as frequent breaks or different tools. If there is pain or discomfort in the shoulder, don’t wait to seek care. Schedule an appointment with a chiropractor near you as soon as possible to have the shoulder checked out. In many cases, you are well in a short time frame. Delaying treatment may allow the injury to worsen, which can negatively affect the health of the joint and increase the chance for osteoarthritis to develop.
