What causes shoulder tears?

If you’re reading this article, chances are you’ve experienced some level of shoulder pain. Whether it be a dull ache or a sharp shooting pain, shoulder tears can be incredibly debilitating. However, fear not dear reader! We’re here to take a humorous yet educated look at what exactly causes these pesky injuries.

First Things First: What is a Shoulder Tear?

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty details of why your shoulder hurts more than your last break-up, let’s first define what exactly a shoulder tear is. In layman’s terms, it’s when one or more of the tendons in your shoulder becomes damaged – usually resulting in inflammation and irritation. These tears can happen gradually over time or all at once due to an injury such as falling off your skateboard while attempting an ollie.

Understanding Your Anatomy

To truly comprehend what causes these tears, we need to get geeky for just a second and examine how the human body is set up. The rotator cuff (not to be confused with that thing leftover from Thanksgiving dinner) consists of five muscles that originate from different parts of your scapula (shoulder blade) and ultimately converge onto one common tendon which attaches onto the humerus bone in your upper arm(also known as chicken wings). This setup allows for maximum flexibility and mobility but unfortunately does leave us at risk for injuries such as those pesky tears we mentioned earlier.

So Why Do These Tears Happen Anyway?

We’ve established that our shoulders are inherently vulnerable due to their complex structure but there are several factors that increase our risk even further:

1. Age

As much as we hate admitting it, aging really does do us dirty sometimes(why couldn’t we have stayed young forever like vampires?). As we get older, our muscles naturally begin to weaken and lose the elasticity one would need to perform various tasks. This weakening leaves them more susceptible to injury or tear.

2. Overuse/Repetitive Motion

The human body is not meant for repetitive motion(sorry desk job folks). When we engage in activities such as throwing a baseball, lifting weights, or even typing on a keyboard for hours on end, we put significant strain on our rotator cuff muscles. This constant wear and tear eventually leads to tears that can range from small and barely noticeable to full-blown injuries that require medical attention.

3. Trauma

It should go without saying but sometimes accidents happen(looking at you skateboarders). Falls, car accidents, and other traumas apply sudden force to your shoulder which can cause immediate tearing of the tendons. Even if it’s just something as simple as running into a wall while dancing around your living room pretending you’re Beyonce, trauma of any kind is definitely not great for our poor shoulders.

Prevention is Key!

Now that we know what causes those darn tears, let’s briefly touch on how to prevent them (because let’s be honest – no one really wants an excuse for why they have “permanent duck wings”). Here are some tips:

1. Stretching

Take time out of your day (even just five minutes) to stretch your shoulders! Not only does stretching help prevent tears by increasing flexibility but it also feels pretty dang good too.

2. Limit Repetitive Motions

As previously mentioned, repetitive motions aren’t doing anyone any favors when it comes to their shoulder health(unless you enjoy experiencing pain every time you lift up anything including plain old air).

3.Exercise

Keeping active maintains muscle strength and supercharges the ability of each fiber group within the tissues in question

You’ve Got The Power!

While preventative measures are essential, sometimes life just happens and tears occur regardless(cue the dramatic music). However, all is not lost! With proper treatment, many people are able to recover almost fully from shoulder tears. Utilize your resources by seeking professional medical help if necessary or asking for assistance when needed allowing the body to heal through a healthy diet

Summing It Up

To wrap up our journey into shoulder tear territory, let’s summarize shall we? Shoulder tears can be caused by various factors including age, overuse/repetitive motion, and trauma. Prevention comes in the form of stretching, limiting repetitive motions and regular exercise (no excuses!) Treatment ranges from self-care measures such as simply resting it (woohoo Netflix binges) to physical therapy or even surgery. Remember that it takes time for our bodies to heal so be patient with yourself (before you know it you’ll be back lifting those “heavy” grocery bags like a pro!). Oh yeah and laugh whenever possible – because why not?

So goodbye dear reader! We hope this has provided some insight but also made you chuckle at least once during this read (if it didn’t then well… maybe next time?)

Random Posts