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Arthritis of the Shoulder
The shoulder is a remarkable joint, and usually has the greatest range of motion of all the joints in your body. But when you have arthritis pain in your shoulder, it can make formerly easy tasks very uncomfortable or difficult to do. Your shoulder is formed by three joints which work together to allow you to move your arm, reach, lift, etc. The largest of the three (the glenohumeral joint) is the one most often affected by arthritis.
The most common kinds of arthritis to affect the shoulder is osteoarthritis, which usually affects the shoulder of the hand you use most. It can cause severe pain and dramatically limit your range of motion. While rheumatoid arthritis more typically affects the knees and hips, when the shoulder joints are affected by it, you are likely to experience both pain and weakness. The rotator cuff muscles surrounding the shoulder joints can be torn by the jagged outcroppings of bone characteristic of arthritis.
Be sure to see your Health Care Professional if you are experiencing serious shoulder discomfort of any kind. Daily shoulder exercises, aqua therapy, and pain management techniques are frequently recommended (as well as medications, in some cases). As is the proper use of heat, a positioning pillow to reduce discomfort, shoulder bags or backpacks that help redistribute weight evenly providing shoulder relief, and a well-designed work space that will help keep the stress off your shoulders.
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