Calcified shoulder

The arms and the shoulders are articularly connected to the torso only via the collar bone (clavicle), otherwise exclusively via the muscles of the pectoral girdle.  The shoulders are fixed between 3 muscle groups, specifically the posterior, anterior and upper pectoral girdle fixators.  A balanced combination of stretching, strengthening and movement is thus particularly important for the prevention and treatment of shoulder pain. A focused training program such as that described in the DKB book Body Control System is thus the most important step towards the restoration of freedom from symptoms and improved performance.

The smooth sliding and functioning of the joints can be achieved through movement therapy, massage and physical measures. Dietary supplements containing glucosamine and chondroitin, such as ArthroDisc, which was developed by orthopedic surgeons and sports doctors, are especially important. Chondroitin absorbs water and glucosamine stores it in the articular cartilage. When placed under stress, water is squeezed out of the cartilage which forms a film of water enabling the joint surfaces to slide over each other without friction as in the aquaplaning effect. In view of this, alongside targeted exercise, we recommend, almost routinely, a course of ArthroDisc at regular intervals for adolescents undergoing a growth spurt and for athletes and patients with arthrosis.

Disturbance of the metabolism of the rotator cuff, the tendon plate which surrounds the humeral head, may lead to calcified shoulder. Calcium deposits can form here, where the muscles are attached to the tendons of the humeral head (calcifying tendinitis). This is located at the large movement radius that the shoulder joint must provide. Pressure on the tendons increases during the splaying of the upper arm and raising of the humeral head. This leads to a reduced perfusion of the tendon tissue, and finally to metabolic disturbance, in the course of which calcium is deposited in the tendon tissue. The tendon becomes thickened and may become pinched when the arm is lifted (impingement syndrome) possibly leading to an extremely painful bursal inflammation (subacromial bursitis). The pain when lifting the arm and especially during the nocturnal rest period  can be so bad that the removal or irrigation of the calcified deposit is required. The most accurate way to do this is by arthroscopy,  which is carried out in the context of a 2-3 day hospital stay. Under anesthesia, a probe (arthroscope) is introduced through a 5mm incision and the calcified deposit  flushed out through a second incision. As well as this, the inflamed bursa is removed and bony spurs possibly smoothed with the result that, under optimum conditions, the patient is symptom-free after only  a few days.  Whilst exercises are often necessary to regain freedom of movement, the nocturnal rest pain usually disappears immediately after the operation.  Two or three small 5mm scars remain in the shoulder area as a souvenir.