Pulled Shoulder Muscles

Anatomy and Description

When people talk about a pulled muscle in the shoulder, they are referring to the deltoid muscle, which is a huge three-headed muscle that covers the shoulder. The three heads can each be injured, or multiple heads can be damaged in an injury. The purpose of the deltoid as a whole is to allow movement of the arm away from the body, and the three heads work together to allow this to happen. The anterior head originates on the collarbone, and is responsible for raising the arm away from the body, in a forward motion toward the front of the body. The lateral head also originates from the collarbone, and is responsible for moving the arm away from the body and to the side. The posterior head originates on the scapula, and is responsible for moving the arm away from the body in a backwards motion toward the rear.

Causes of Injury

The development of an injury to the shoulder can be caused from an acute injury or action, or it can be chronic, a developing problem over time. Acute or immediate injury often results in tearing or snapping of one of the deltoid muscles, and injury can be quite severe in some cases. Rotator cuff injuries are also very common, as the muscles surrounding the rotator cuff weaken with age, and thus people are more susceptible to injury as they get older. Shoulder injuries are often found with repetitive motions, either through work, sports, or daily activities.

Common Activities Causing Injury

Extreme weight lifting is a very common activity that causes shoulder muscles to be pulled. The weight lifter often does not recognize that they are pulling their shoulder beyond a healthy range, and extreme tension can cause tearing and snapping of the shoulder. Sports that require repetitive usage and motion of the shoulder are also very common in shoulder injuries.

These include, but are not limited to swimming, baseball, volleyball and tennis. These activities are not bad for a person, but it is important to keep an eye on tenderness or loosening of the shoulder joint to avoid severe injury. Common household chores can also cause injuries to the shoulder, such as scrubbing floors and painting ceilings, as it can stretch the shoulder muscles, and often without warning, an injury can occur.

Treatment and Recovery

Various forms of treatment can be done to help heal a shoulder injury, some easier than others. The most commonly recommended course of treatment for a shoulder injury is the R.I.C.E method. It is a process of rest, ice, compression and elevation, and is considered to be very effective for reducing pain and increasing mobility. Heat and massage following the acute phase are also notorious for aiding in the healing process of a shoulder injury.

Resting the muscle without immobilizing it is very important for healing and reinforcement of functionality. Keeping movements small, gradual and purposeful is necessary to keep the muscle from freezing up, but grand movements can cause re-injury and should be avoided until more healing has occurred. If the injury is severe enough, seeking medical attention may be advised, especially if a serious tear has occurred. In most cases, physical therapy will help to rehabilitate the shoulder injury, but sometimes surgery may be required to restore proper function and usage of the shoulder muscle.

Prevention of Future Injury

Prevention of shoulder muscle injury cannot be guaranteed, but there are ways to reduce the likelihood of injuring the muscle in the future. Always stretching and warming up before doing any sort of strenuous activity is advised, as it allows the muscles to become fluid before adding weight or resistance. This will also aid in flexibility if stretching is done on a regular basis, which allows more elasticity and motion of muscles, making them less likely to snap or tear during activity.

During weight lifting, it is also important to build muscle gradually, starting with low weights and high repetitions and moving toward heavier weights and lower repetitions. The most important thing to do to avoid injuring the shoulder is to pay attention to the body’s signals when strain is felt in the muscle. It is important to stop the activity or motion before the pain begins, as pain is often the first sign of injury.