Whether throwing a ball, paddling a canoe, lifting boxes or pushing a lawn mower, we rely heavily upon our shoulders to perform a number of activities. To keep shoulders healthy and pain-free, it's important to know how to spot and avoid common injuries. Smith notes that for young people, this condition may be a normal part of the development process and that shoulders generally stiffen or tighten with age. In athletes, shoulder instability is caused by activities such as tackling or pitching that place extreme force upon the shoulder.
Sudden trauma can result in shoulder dislocation.
Dislocations are generally treated by using gentle traction to pull the shoulder back into place. When the shoulder pops out of the socket repeatedly the condition is called recurrent instability. Recurrent instability can be treated with surgery to repair the torn ligaments. Smith notes that swimming and other exercises that strengthen the rotator cuff can help increase shoulder stability. As a people age and their physical activity decreases, tendons begin to lose strength.