"Light of Taiwan" Wang Jianmin suffered from shoulder and neck joint pain due to a sports injury, which aroused enthusiastic concern among fans. In fact, shoulder and neck joint pain is also a common symptom in orthopedic clinics. When it comes to shoulder pain, everyone’s first reaction must be to think of frozen shoulder. However, in fact, the pathological mechanism is mostly caused by the “rotator muscles”. Currently, injections of hyaluronic acid preparations can relieve long-term pain and allow patients to live a better life. Quality and care. Hyaluronic acid has the therapeutic effect of anti-inflammatory and pain relieving, promoting lubrication and preventing adhesion. It is also very safe. Long-term use will not cause side effects like steroids and anti-inflammatory analgesics. (Photography/Zhang Shijie)

Deng Xiuguo, chief physician of the Department of Orthopedics at Cathay Hospital, said that the shoulder joint is the most mobile joint in the human body. It must maintain a large range of motion and be able to perform heavy-loading movements. For example, throwing a 150-mile fastball requires a special tendon system called the shoulder rotators.

The shoulder rotator muscle group includes four intramuscular tissues, including supraspinalis, infraspinalis, subscapularis and teres minor. Because this muscle group tightly surrounds the shoulder joint, That’s why it’s also called “shoulder rotation sleeve”. The name "rotators" comes from the fact that the synergy of these four muscles allows the shoulder to make various complex movements and rotations, hence the name.

Deng Xiuguo, the attending physician of the Department of Orthopedics at Cathay Hospital, said that tendon ruptures in the elderly are mostly related to degeneration, often caused by years of overuse. Early symptoms of mild tendon rupture, such as pain and limited movement, are often ignored. Over time, as the tear expands, the mobility of the shoulder joint will become worse and worse, eventually leading to the complete inability to lift. (Photography/Zhang Shijie)

Tendon rupture in the elderly is mostly related to degeneration, which is often caused over many years. Early symptoms of mild tendon rupture, such as pain and limited movement, are often ignored. Over time, the tendon ruptures As it expands, the degree of mobility of the shoulder joint will become worse and worse, eventually leading to the complete inability to lift. Diagnosis of such diseases is clinically difficult because symptoms are often non-specific and tendon lesions cannot be seen with traditional X-ray examinations. In the past, arthrography was required, but it required injecting contrast agent into the joint cavity, which was an invasive examination.

Today, we mainly rely on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Although it can provide good visualization of tendons, it is relatively expensive and time-consuming. Fortunately, advances in soft tissue ultrasound allow clinicians to quickly and accurately diagnose this disease in the outpatient clinic and further determine treatment strategies.

Dr. Deng Xiuguo said that the treatment of rotator muscles in the early stages of compression or tendonitis is still based on conservative treatment, focusing on the reconstruction of range of motion, muscle strength and shoulder joint stability. Degree of training; if the symptoms are more severe, oral medications or intra-articular injections, such as hyaluronic acid preparations, can be used in conjunction with treatment. About 80% of patients can be cured by conservative treatment.

Hyaluronic acid has the therapeutic effect of anti-inflammatory and analgesic, promoting lubrication and preventing adhesion. It is also very safe. Long-term use will not cause side effects like steroids and anti-inflammatory analgesics. Nowadays, hyaluronic acid for use on shoulder joints has been approved for use by the Department of Health, which will relieve pain for patients with shoulder pain.