Crepitus Shoulder: Everything You Need To Know

Hello friends how are you all? Today we are going to talk about the Crepitus Shoulder: Everything You Need To Know. As we get older, our bones start creaking—literally! More often than not, we start hearing cracking, grinding, or squeaking sounds when we move around. This condition is called the crepitus shoulder. If you have been experiencing these sounds in your body or have come across a senior who has this condition, here is everything you need to know.

Crepitus Shoulder: Everything You Need To Know

Cause Of Crepitus Shoulder

The joint in your shoulder is complex, with several interconnected bones forming its structure. Therefore, there could be any number of reasons for the crepitus shoulder in seniors. Some of the most common reasons include,

• Cavitation: Cavitation is the most common type of joint sound and is quite harmless. It is caused when gas collects in your joints, creating a cracking sound when you move suddenly.
• Bursitis: Your joints are cushioned by bursae, which can swell up and cause a snapping sound when irritated.
• Arthritis: This condition causes your bones to touch each other because the cartilage is broken down, leading to grinding noise.
• Osteochondromas: Sometimes, your joints have a benign growth within them called Osteochondroma, which can create a popping or clicking sound.

Prevention Of Crepitus Shoulder

You can easily prevent crepitus shoulders if you notice your shoulders cracking often. Here is what you can do:

• Exercise: The importance of exercising in seniors cannot be overstated. Being active keeps your joints moving and strong, reducing the cracking sounds. However, make sure to choose an exercise like yoga that builds strength without stressing your body and joints much.
• Posture: Slouching causes your shoulders to misalign, causing gas bubbles to get stored in your joint, creating a popping sound when you move. Therefore, you can avoid crepitus shoulders by maintaining a good posture.
• Ice: If you have a shoulder injury that may be causing the popping and cracking noise, try putting some ice on the area. This will ensure you heal well and comfortably since even just 10-15 minutes of icing can cause the swelling to reduce significantly.

How Can The Crepitus Shoulder Affect Your Health?

For the most part, crepitus shoulders are nothing to worry about, but that is only if the sound is not accompanied by discomfort and pain. If you experience pain or warmth each time you hear the noise, you should reach out to your doctor. Don’t live with the pain or ignore it because doing so could lead to expensive treatments you could have avoided.

Treatment Options For Crepitus Shoulder

Treatment options for crepitus shoulders are many. Most commonly prescribed are the following:

• Anti-inflammatory medications: If osteoarthritis is causing the popping sounds, there is always inflammation involved, which requires medications like ibuprofen and aspirin to reduce the swelling and pain.
• Physical therapy: If the sounds are directly linked to a shoulder injury that is healing, your doctor will prescribe physical therapy. This will cause your muscles and joints to be less tight and painful.
• Corticosteroid shots: Once again, if arthritis or an injury is causing the cracking sound, your doctor will prescribe corticosteroid shots. This will ease the inflammation and promote healthier joint healing.
• Surgery: If a more serious injury is causing the noise, your doctor would advise you to go for surgery to reconstruct the joint and repair tendons.

Conclusion

Crepitus shoulder is common in older people, where their joints create a squeaking sound when there is movement. It can happen to you for reasons, including arthritis and fractures. While you may not notice the sounds in most cases, sometimes, the crepitus shoulder may be accompanied by discomfort. With the right medical help, gentle exercise and medications, you can better manage the condition or prevent it.