Shoulder Bursitis (Bursitis of the Shoulder)

Shoulder Joint Overview

The shoulder joint involves bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments and synovial tissue. The shoulder joint is made up of three bones: the shoulder blade (scapula), the collarbone (clavicle) and the upper arm bone (humerus). The shoulder is one of the most mobile joints in the body. It is a "ball and socket" joint, which holds the ball (the top, rounded part of the humerus) in the socket (the shallow, depressed area called the glenoid cavity, located on the outer edge of the scapula)

The rotator cuff muscles (supraspinatus, subscapularis, infraspinatus and teres minor) are connected individually to a group of flat tendons, which fuse together and surround the front, the back, and the top of the shoulder joint like a cuff on a shirt. The tendons attach the muscles to the bone and allow movement in the shoulder, as well as providing strength to hold the ball in its socket. They are involved in all shoulder motions.

The rotator cuff ligaments attach bone to bone and provide stability to the shoulder joint bones.

Between the bones, muscle and other soft tissue there is the bursa (a fluid filled sac) and synovial fluid (lubricates your joint), which permit smooth gliding between the joint. They also protect the rotator cuff from the bony spurs or arches on the shoulder blade.

Shoulder Bursitis

Overstraining the rotator cuff can lead to inflammation in your joint, which can result in tendinitis and bursitis. You can experience these conditions independently or simultaneously. Failure to take action against the inflammation can cause an impingement (pinching of the soft tissue), and produce further degeneration which frequently results in a major rotator cuff strain and/or tear. These injuries can often lead to surgery.