Library: Neck / Shoulder problems
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Back Strain
Your back is made up of a series of 33 bones (or vertebrae) stacked like poker chips, one on top of the other to form the spine. The spine sits on the sacrum, which in turn is attached to your pelvic bone. All of these are held together by a by a complex series of ligaments and muscles. The ligaments allow slight movement to occur at the joints, and when you over-stretch these ligaments and the joints become locked, it is called Back Strain.
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Tags: Back - Upper, Back - Lower, Ligaments, Spine, Tendons, Muscles, Back pain, Neck / Shoulder problems, Sports Injuries
Whiplash
In a rear-end collision your head is often thrown violently backwards in relation to your spine. There will be usually be damage to your muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones and other soft tissue. The amount of damage depends on how hard the impact was and the condition of your neck before the impact. Damage will happen too if the impact is from the front or side as your head tends to be thrown in the direction from which the blow came.
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Tags: Upper Body, Head, Neck, Neck & Shoulder, Muscles, Head - problems turning the head, Muscle sprain or strain, Neck / Shoulder problems, Whiplash
TB of the Spine
Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that attacks the lungs first but can also affect the spine. In the spine it attacks some of the bones in the middle or lower and sometimes upper back. The bones in the lower back are separated from each other by cushions (or discs) and the TB can eat into one of these causing the spine to bend sharply forward. When this happens it is called an angular Kyphosis.
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Tags: Upper Body, Neck, Back - Upper, Back - Lower, Spine, Neck / Shoulder problems
Osteoarthritis of the Acromioclavicular Joint - Shoulder
While Osteoarthritis is a condition most people are likely to suffer from if they live long enough, it is rare in the shoulder joint. As a “wear and tear” type illness it tends to affect weight bearing joints, (hips, spine and knees). But you may get it in the shoulder if you damaged it when you were younger. What happens is that the lining of your joints, once hard and shiny and an excellent gliding surface, begins to wear, crack and erode until the lining is gone and bone rubs directly off bone.
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Tags: Shoulder, Arthritis, Neck / Shoulder problems, Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis is a condition that causes the body to attack itself. The lining of the joints are the first to be affected becoming hot and swollen, with the protective coverings of the joints and ligaments being worn down. Usually, a number of joints are involved at the same time; most likely to suffer are the hands, wrists, feet, knees and elbows. It can also affect other parts of the body, including the heart. Nobody is sure what causes the disease, but it often comes in phases that can ease up after a few months or years.
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Tags: Whole Body, Shoulder, Arms, Hands, Wrists, Legs, Arthritis, Neck / Shoulder problems, Rheumatoid Arthritis
Supraspinatus Tendinitis
Tendinitis is very common at the shoulder. This tendon is involved in all shoulder movements. It prevents downward drag on the arm as in carrying. The most painful movement involves moving the straight arm out to the side and up over the head. The middle part of this movement causes pain; from 45 to 160 degrees and lowering the arm from this position is also extremely painful.
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Tags: Upper Body, Neck & Shoulder, Shoulder, Arms, Tendons, Muscles, Dislocation, Muscle sprain or strain, Neck / Shoulder problems, Sports Injuries, Sprain, Tendinitis