shoulder

In contrast to the lower extremity, the shoulder do not carry the entire burden of the human body. It is also exempt from movement. Because of this, she has a lot of freedom of movement. However, it is also affected by diseases more often than other joints.

What is the shoulder

The is defined shoulder as a large area around the four shoulder joints. The collarbone and shoulder blade form the bony basis of the shoulder.

In a broader sense, the so-called "caput humeri", the head of the humerus, is part of the shoulder. The shoulder girdle is made up of several bones. These include the collarbone and shoulder blade.

Anatomy & structure

In addition to the joint that connects the upper arm and collarbone, the shoulder three more joints.

Joints are movable connections between at least two bones. The middle collarbone joint connects the breastbone and collarbone. It is the only joint that connects the torso and shoulder girdle. As a result, the joint is responsible for the movement of the shoulder blade relative to the trunk. The lateral collarbone joint (known as the shoulder joint) connects the collarbone with the so-called acromion, a protruding bone on the shoulder blade.

This joint is often responsible for shoulder pain because it tends to wear out relatively quickly. The "shoulder blade-thorax joint", which by definition is not a real joint, allows the shoulder blade to slide on the rib cage.

The joints are secured with straps. This is to prevent the bone from slipping out of its socket. However, the tape backup is insufficient.

That is why the muscles of the shoulder region are of particular importance. They secure the shoulder joint as much as possible. But also the movements are only made possible by the muscles. The muscles also play an important role in supporting breathing.

Functions & tasks

In the course of development, the functions of the shoulder. The hand motor skills became more and more specialized, so that gripping movements became finer and finer.

Through the shoulder, the person is able to perform large-scale movements. The movements are not limited to the shoulder blade or shoulder girdle. The shoulder is also instrumental in the movement of the two upper arms. You can move the upper arm in the shoulder joint in all directions, since the shoulder joint is a so-called ball joint.

The shoulder joints enable many different types of movement. The shoulder can be raised up to 40 degrees. This movement is popularly known as "shrugging". The shoulder can be lowered up to 10 degrees. You can also move your shoulder up to 30 degrees forward, creating a "hump". People can pull their shoulders back up to 25 degrees. You make a "proud breast", so to speak. Another function of the shoulder is to help raise the arm. This is achieved through a rotation in the shoulder blade.

Illnesses & ailments

Due to the extremely large freedom of movement that the shoulder the shoulder is more affected by diseases. However, these are different from typical diseases of the knee and hip joint. The knee and hip joints, namely, bear the entire trunk load. For this reason, the most common disease is joint wear: osteoarthritis.

The shoulder, on the other hand, is often affected by so-called dislocations due to the comparatively weak joint securing. A dislocation is the loss of contact between two bones, which is popularly referred to as a "dislocated" or "dislocated" joint. In addition, in the event of falls or accidents, the shoulder area is easy to break. The most common fracture of the collarbone occurs.

Another typical symptom is shoulder pain due to changes in the soft tissue. Limescale deposits or small cracks can occur in muscles or tendons, causing pain, for example when moving the arm. However, causes of shoulder pain are often found outside the shoulder region.

Diseases of the abdominal or thoracic organs or changes in the cervical spine can also trigger shoulder pain. For this reason, you should definitely consult a specialist (e.g. orthopedist) in the event of long-term complaints in the shoulder area.

You can find your medication here