When to Become Concerned Regarding Shoulder Pain with Popping
Humans use their arms for a multitude of tasks every day. Most of the time, people are unaware of their shoulder activity unless something changes or causes discomfort in this area. As we age, our muscles, bones, tendons and ligaments tend to lose mobility and strength. Over time, repetitive shoulder motions might accelerate this declining process resulting in strange noises when the shoulder is moved. These noises can include popping sounds. In reality, this type of shoulder noise is fairly common especially in individuals that are older. A person that uses their shoulders repeatedly like in sports often note these symptoms for a variety of reasons.
While unusual noises seeming to come from the shoulder joint are often not serious, there are times that individuals should become concerned. In these situations, it is recommended that the individual contact their medical doctor. There are some easy ways that individuals can help assess and determine if their shoulder issue needs treatment. If the popping sound is not accompanied by pain, it could be a harmless occurrence. However, if there is significant pain and/or discomfort when this clicking sound is heard, it might be cause for concern. Rate any discomfort on a 1 to 10 scale to assess pain severity and to assess whether pain lessens or worsens.
Try to recall if these shoulder symptoms began after a bump, jostle or injury to the area. It doesn’t have to be a huge assault. Another thing to determine is to assess whether there is …