Shoulder pain is a symptom associated with sports people and those who engage in demanding manual labour. However, this is not true. Shoulder pain is common among the general population and is predominant in people aged 50 years or more.
The shoulder is a complex structure with a wide and versatile range of motion. It is a joint made up of three bones (the humerus bone of the arm, the collarbone and the shoulder blade). These are linked together with muscles through strap like structures known as tendons. The joint is lined with a special fluid that allows it to glide easily during motion. The shoulder joint is the most mobile in the body. If any of these structures are damaged, the outcome is almost invariably painful.
