In the event of an unexpected fall, you likely do what most people do in that short moment they have before they hit the ground – you stick out your arms in an attempt to brace for impact and reduce trauma to some more vital areas of your body like your head. Your arms can really do a great job at reducing trauma to other areas of your body during a fall, but they do this by absorbing the impact themselves, which can lead to additional injuries. Due to the nature of the joint and how stress is placed on the area when you catch yourself during a fall, it’s not uncommon for shoulder injuries to occur as a result of a fall.
In today’s blog, we take a closer look at three types of shoulder injuries that can commonly occur during a fall.
Fall-Related Shoulder Injuries
Falls are one of the leading causes of shoulder injuries, especially among older adults who are more likely to be dealing with balance and stability issues. Even a fall on the ground level can lead to serious shoulder injuries as you attempt to brace yourself with your arms. Here’s a closer look at three types of shoulder injuries we commonly treat as a result of a fall.
- Rotator Cuff Tears – One of the most common types of shoulder injuries that is suffered during a fall is a rotator cuff tear. As we’ve explained on the blog in the past, your rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that help keep the upper arm bone stabilized in the shoulder socket. The impact of the fall and the force expressed on these soft tissues as you attempt to brace yourself can easily cause the muscles and tendons to partially or fully tear. These muscles also tend to wear down gradually as you get older, so it will take less force for a tear to occur when you’re nearing and past retirement age. If you have significant shoulder pain and have difficulty lifting your arm over your head, you’re likely dealing with a rotator cuff tear.
- Dislocated Shoulder – Another common and serious injury associated with a traumatic fall is a shoulder dislocation. In a moment of acute force, the upper arm bone can pop out of the cup-shaped socket that makes up part of your shoulder blade. If you attempt to catch yourself during a fall, a lot of that energy will end up focused on the shoulder joint, which is the most mobile of all your joints, meaning it needs less trauma in order to shift out of place. Shoulder dislocations are typically quite painful and you may have difficulty moving the arm at all as it hangs down near your side. Resetting the shoulder in the right location can really help with symptoms, although you’ll still likely experience pain, swelling and bruising in the area.
- Clavicle Fractures – A clavicle fracture, also known as a broken collarbone, is another common injury that can occur during a fall. In fact, these fractures make up about five percent of all adult fractures. They tend to occur when you fall directly on your shoulder or onto an outstretched hand, which can put more than enough pressure on the bone to overstress it and cause a fracture. Again, these fractures are typically painful and may make it difficult to bend your arm. The good news is that for most clavicle fractures, surgery isn’t necessary so long as the patient keeps their arm in a sling and follows other conservative techniques. However, if the fracture is complex or the pieces of the bone are unlikely to heal correctly on their own, surgery may be recommended.
Dr. Holloway and his team have helped countless patients overcome each of these injuries, and we’d be more than happy to help you in the event you suffer one of these shoulder injuries during a fall or other traumatic event. For more information, or for help with your shoulder issue, give Dr. Holloway’s office a call today at (865) 410-7887.
