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Whether throwing a ball, paddling a canoe, lifting boxes or pushing a lawn mower, we rely heavily upon our shoulders to perform a number of activities. Shoulder injuries may occur in active people of any age. To keep shoulders healthy and pain-free, it helps to know how to spot and avoid common injuries.
Although the shoulder is the most movable joint in the body, it is also an unstable joint because of its range of motion. Because the ball of the upper arm is larger than the socket of the shoulder, it is susceptible to injury. The shoulder joint must also be supported by soft tissues - muscles, tendons and ligaments - which are also subject to injury, overuse and under use. Shoulder pain may be localized in a specific area or may spread to areas around the shoulder or down the arm.
The shoulder may be injured by an impact or a fall or by overextending and tearing a tendon or ligament. The most common shoulder problems are due to overuse and age-related degeneration of the surrounding soft tissues, which may make us more prone to injury.
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speak with a Mercy Orthopedics representative at (916) 851-2110.
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