Is clicking around Your shoulder always bad?

Let’s set the stage…

You’re just finishing a workout in the morning and you feel/hear a small “click” in your shoulder. The clicking doesn’t necessarily hurt… it’s just there. You don’t want anything to get in the way of the golf outing with your friends next weekend. Is the shoulder clicking bad and will it cause further injury?

The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint often compared to a golf ball sitting on a golf tee. The stability of the shoulder often depends on the dynamic (muscles, tendons) and static structures (bone, ligaments, labrum) for support. The shoulder architecture provides us with incredible ranges of motion that helps us manipulate things and perform daily activities. With so many factors, particularly the musculature, influencing how our shoulder moves, you begin to see how fatigue and poor activation patterns can change the mechanics when performing tasks.

The “click” you feel can be a variety of different issues. Arthritis, tightness in the Rotator Cuff, or overuse of the Upper Trapezius contribute to changes in movement patterns. Whenever the shoulder begins to move on a non-physiologic axis, structures begin to interact differently than they normally do. Tendons or ligaments moving over joint surfaces, or stiffness deep in the joint during ranges of motion, can produce that “click” many of us become aware of. 

we know something is going on… So now what?

We can generally lump approaches towards addressing shoulder dysfunction into two categories — mobility or stability. Some end-range limitations require specific mobility exercises to address the lack of range of motion needed for proper movement. Conversely, if there is excessive movement in the shoulder structurally, the surrounding musculature may not be able to account for the strength or endurance needs required for appropriate stabilization.

If you are feeling stiff and lacking range of motion, try this quick sequence:

If you seem to have excessive movement that requires stabilization, try these strengthening exercises:

Remember, your body has an innate ability to let you know when there is something wrong. View that click as your body’s way of letting you know that the mechanics are thrown off - a “check engine light” if you will. A trained Physical Therapist who is skilled in manual treatments and prescribing specific exercises is a great resource to help re-establish that correct movement pattern.

If you notice that “click” is starting to become a common occurrence, be proactive in addressing the issue. Contact MoveWell today to set up an evaluation, and let the experts guide you to maintain optimal shoulder health. Just shoot us a text at (205) 304-1181 or BOOK HERE.