Our Services / Shoulder Injuries

From lifting boxes to throwing a ball, you rely on your shoulders to manage many daily activities. The function and structure of your shoulder makes it vulnerable to shoulder injuries. Jacob Katz, MD, specializes in diagnosing and treating shoulder injuries at Katz Medical Group. Dr. Katz takes a holistic and collaborative approach to care, designing plans to heal your shoulder injury and improve your quality of life. Call the office nearest you or schedule an appointment online today.

What are the types of shoulder injuries?

There are many types of shoulder injuries. Because of the complexity and flexibility of the shoulder joint, anyone can develop a shoulder injury. However, athletes are especially vulnerable. 

Types of shoulder injuries include:

Shoulder instability

Shoulder instability occurs when the ball joint of your shoulder is forcefully moved out of place from the socket joint. You may have a partial or complete dislocation

The forceful movement of the shoulder joint stretches the ligaments and tendons that keep the joint in place, increasing your risk of a recurrence. 

Rotator cuff tears

The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons in your upper arm that give you the ability to raise and rotate your arm. These tendons attach the muscles to the bones.

Rotator cuff tears occur when there’s a partial or complete tear in one or more of these tendons. When you have a rotator cuff tear, you may lose arm and shoulder mobility. Rotator cuff tears may occur from an acute injury or from the degenerative changes that affect the tendons as you get older. 

Impingement

Impingement is excessive rubbing of the shoulder muscles against the shoulder blade, causing inflammation and pain. Repetitive activities that require you to raise your arm overhead cause this type of injury.

Arthritis

Arthritis is a shoulder injury that occurs over time. As you get older, the cartilage that separates the joint in the shoulder wears away, causing the bones to rub together resulting in pain and inflammation. 

What can I expect during an evaluation for shoulder injuries?

You can expect a patient-focused exam when you visit Katz Medical Group for help with your shoulder injury. Dr. Katz specializes in sports medicine and rheumatology and can help determine the severity of your shoulder injury and create an effective treatment plan. 

Dr. Katz reviews the details of your injury and symptoms, including the activities that worsen your pain. He examines your shoulder and performs testing to confirm or rule out a diagnosis. 

By utilizing ultrasound, Dr. Katz may look inside the shoulder without radiation or needing to go elsewhere. Testing might include blood work, an X-ray, a CT scan, or an MRI.

What are the treatments for shoulder injuries?

Before making any treatment recommendations, Dr. Katz spends time talking to you about your shoulder injury and the treatments that can help heal it. 

Together, you develop a plan to heal your shoulder injury, which might include:

• Activity modification
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Bracing
• Physical therapy
• Joint injections
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
• Posture modification 

Shoulder injuries make it hard for you to manage your day-to-day routine. To get help, call Katz Medical Group or schedule an appointment online today