What is a shoulder sprain?

A shoulder sprain is a kind of injury that occurs when one or more of your shoulder joint ligaments are stretched or torn.

Your shoulder joint is a complex connection where your upper arm bone (humerus) connects to your shoulder blade (scapula) and your collarbone (clavicle). This shoulder joint enables you to lift your arm.

Ligaments are bands of tissue, like ropes, that connect your muscles and bones and keep them from moving too far. Ligaments also stabilize your joints, so they move only in the desired direction(s).

See a healthcare professional if you feel pain or swelling in your shoulder or if it's difficult to use or move it—at any time, but especially after an injury or fall.

What are the symptoms of a shoulder sprain?

The most common symptoms of a shoulder sprain include:

• Pain in your shoulder
• Swelling.
• Bruising or discoloration around your shoulder.
• Instability (your shoulder feels weaker than usual, less secure, or sliding out of place while using it).
• Limited mobility (painful or difficult to move your shoulder as far as you normally would).

What causes shoulder sprain?

Any force that moves your shoulder beyond its normal range can lead to a sprain. The most common types are:

• Sports and accident injuries.
• A fall.
• Repetitive strain injuries (overusing your shoulder or performing repetitive motions with your arms and shoulders for work, a sport, or a hobby).

Risk factors for a shoulder sprain:

Any person may develop a shoulder sprain, but it is common among athletes and people who exercise strenuously. The risk sports for shoulder sprains are those athletes who engage in sports that exert high stress on their shoulders, such as:

• Swimming.
• Baseball.
• Football.
• Rugby.
• Hockey.

Exercise habits that may put you at risk of shoulder sprain include:

• Sudden increase of intensity in workouts or activities.
• You are engaging in a new sport or activity without proper equipment or preparation, exercising with poor form, or starting a new contact sport before you have learned the safest way to play, for example.
• You are playing a sport that stresses your shoulder joint year-round with no off-season or time to rest and recover.

How is a shoulder sprain diagnosed?

A healthcare provider will diagnose a sprained shoulder with a physical exam. They'll examine your injured shoulder and check its range of motion (they may compare it to your other, uninjured shoulder).

Tell your provider when you first noticed symptoms, especially if you know exactly when your injury happened or what caused it.

What tests do providers use to diagnose shoulder sprains?

Your doctor may take imaging tests to obtain pictures of your shoulder joint and the tissues around it. Other conditions like fractures or dislocations may be diagnosed. Your doctor may order the following:

• Shoulder X-rays.
• Ultrasound
• Magnetic resonance imaging (M.R.I.).
• Shoulder sprain grades

Your healthcare professionals grade your shoulder sprain depending on the degree of tear in your ligaments as follows:

• Grade 1 sprain (mild): There is minor tearing in your ligaments.
• Grade 2 sprain (moderate): Ligaments are partially torn but not through.
• Grade 3 sprain (severe): Ligaments are torn completely.

What are treatments for a shoulder sprain?

You likely can manage symptoms of a sprained shoulder at home. First, though, seek a healthcare professional so they can make a diagnosis and inspect your shoulder for nothing other than broken things.

The most popular treatment for shoulder sprains is the R.I.C.E. method:

• Apply an ice compress to your shoulder for 15 minutes every few hours, several times per day. Wrap ice packs in a towel or thin cloth so they aren't directly on your skin. Avoid the activity that caused the injury. Try not to use your shoulder while it heals.
• Compression: To help reduce swelling, secure an elastic bandage around your shoulder. Your provider can show you how to apply a compression wrap safely.
• Elevation: Keep your shoulder higher than your heart as much as possible.
• Over-the-counter NSAIDs (such as aspirin or ibuprofen) or acetaminophen may ease pain and inflammation. Contact your provider before taking over-the-counter pain medication for more than 10 days.

You may need to wear a sling or a brace to hold your shoulder in place. Your provider may also prescribe physical therapy to avoid stiffness and improve your shoulder's motion.

Shoulder sprain surgery:

Surgery is not usually required following a shoulder sprain. You will, however, need to undergo surgery if there is a severe case of a sprain or other injuries like a fracture of your shoulder or a dislocated shoulder.

How soon after treatment will I start to feel better?

You can expect to feel better after you start treating the sprained shoulder. It could take a few days before you begin noticing improvement, but it might be longer, depending on the degree of the sprain.

Don't start using your shoulder again unless your provider says its okay, even if it feels fine. You'll probably overstretch or even further injure your ligaments if you stress them before they fully heal from the original injury. Ask your provider how much you can use your shoulder during your injury.

How can I prevent a shoulder sprain?

Not much can be done to prevent a shoulder sprain, especially if you're an athlete. But you can reduce the chances by doing a few things. In sports or other physically active activities:

• Do sport-specific conditioning exercises to strengthen your shoulder muscles.
• Wear appropriate protective equipment.
• Do not "play through the pain" if your shoulder hurts during or immediately after physical activity.
• Allow your shoulder to heal and rest after strenuous activity.
• Warm up and stretch before playing sports or exercising.
• Cool down and stretch after physical activity.

Follow these general safety tips to lower your chance of injury:

• Clear your home and work area of clutter that might cause you or others to fall.
• Use the right tools or equipment around the house to get things. Avoid standing on chairs, tables, or countertops.
• Use your cane or walker if you have difficulty walking or are at an increased risk for falls.

What can I expect if I have a sprained shoulder?

Sprains of the shoulder are usually temporary injuries, and once your shoulder ligaments have healed, you will have no long-term effects. Most sprains do not affect your ability to participate in sports or be active when your provider clears it safe to return to play or training.

Once you sprain a shoulder that will likely recur in the future, especially if you had a moderate or severe sprain. Pray your doctor what you can do to avoid doing it again.

How long does a shoulder sprain take to heal?

Recovery time from a shoulder sprain is usually a matter of weeks. More serious (grade 3) sprains can take weeks or even months to heal. Your healthcare professional will explain in more detail what you might expect.

Talk about your limitations in daily and sports activities or motions you can go back to safely and when it will be safe to return to strenuous exercise/activities with your shoulder with your healthcare provider.

When should I see my healthcare provider?

Seek medical care if you've had an injury and are experiencing shoulder sprain signs and symptoms. See your provider if your symptoms do not improve with a day or two of rest, treatment, and ice or if your symptoms worsen.

To seek an expert consultation for any orthopedic condition.

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