Causes of the pain | Pain with shoulder arthrosis

Causes of the pain

The pain caused by shoulder arthrosis can be easily explained by understanding the processes that take place in the shoulder during the course of the disease. In a healthy shoulder, the joint cartilage serves as a buffer between the bones. It covers the surfaces of the joint bones and thus ensures smooth and pain-free mobility of the joint.

In shoulder arthrosis, the joint cartilage gradually recedes. At the onset of arthrosis, the cartilage itself is first changed in its structure. High water retention in the cartilage tissue itself leads to the cartilage becoming softer and no longer able to absorb shocks and other loads.

This can, for example, be a consequence of inflammatory processes in the shoulder. As a result, the joint cartilage is rubbed off more quickly. The resulting free cartilage pieces, which are then found in the tissue fluid, in turn cause further inflammatory processes to develop and are responsible for pain.

A vicious circle develops. When the abrasion of the cartilage finally exposes the joint surfaces, synovial fluid can penetrate into the bone tissue and form cysts, which can be painful. The friction of the free joint surfaces changes the shape of the bones, making the shoulder increasingly unstable and immobile, which also causes dull to stabbing pain.

Is it allowed to do sports despite pain?

Whether sport can be done despite pain in the shoulder depends on the trigger of the pain and the type of sport being practiced. If pain occurs due to a restricted range of motion as a result of prolonged rest periods, the sport or exercises should be continued under supervision, but never beyond the pain threshold. Exercises for shoulder arthrosis are particularly recommended here. It should be self-evident that team sports such as basketball or soccer, as well as sports that place a high load on the shoulder joint (e.g. tennis and badminton) are unsuitable.

How do I recognize shoulder arthrosis?

Although shoulder arthrosis is a slowly progressing disease, it can be easily recognized by trained specialists. Typical symptoms such as pain and limited mobility are the first signs. By means of various tests and an anamnesis (precise research of the disease history), the suspicion of shoulder arthrosis is established relatively quickly and then verified accordingly with diagnostic procedures.

A simple test to detect shoulder arthrosis is easy to perform by asking the person affected to extend their arms above their head. A crunch is often felt and movement is not possible without friction or causes pain. Other indicators for detection are pressure pain, swelling of the joint and restrictions in the external rotation of the shoulder. If the joint changes exist between the acromion, an extension of the shoulder blade, and the clavicle, the collarbone, it is called acromioclavicular joint arthrosis.