Shoulder pain costs American health system $7 billion

25 out of 1,000 visits to the family doctor are related to shoulder pain. This is currently the cause of 13% of sick leaves, and it costs the American health system 7 billion dollars.

Researchers of the University of Granada, in collaboration with the Centre for Sensory-Motor Interaction of the University of Aalborg, Denmark, and the University Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, conducted a research on chronic impingement syndrome. The study revealed that excessive activation of specific neck and shoulder muscles during daily life or while playing sports -as swimming- is the cause of a high number of injury and shoulder

A Common Pain

The pattern of the pain originated in these muscles -sometimes in regions far from the shoulder- coincides with most of the symptoms suffered by patients attending health care centers for this type of problem. 25 out of 1,000 visits to the family doctor are related to shoulder pain, and the causes of this problem are several. The chronic impingement syndrome is considered the main cause for shoulder pain and disability.

The study conducted by Amparo Hidalgo-Lozano, Ph.D candidate of the department of Physiotherapy of the University of Granada, under the supervision of professor Manuel Arroyo Morales, opens the door to future tests to the efficacy of Physiotherapy as a non-invasive treatment for shoulder injury. Shoulder injury is the cause of 13% of sick leaves and implies a cost of 7 billion dollars in the USA.

This research was published in the last issue of the journal Experimental Brain Research.

http://canalugr.es/health-science-and-technology/item/43403