Vitamin B12 and Shoulder Injuries. Most shoulder injuries involve the muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Individuals that perform repetitive arm motions/movements constantly lift objects as part of their job, and athletes that use their arms repetitively have an increase in developing/experiencing shoulder injuries and problems. Shoulder injuries are commonly caused by physical activities that involve:
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There are a few ways to analyze the situation of discomfort and/or pain in and around the shoulder.
If yes was an answer to any of these questions, individuals should consult an orthopedic surgeon and/or chiropractor for assistance determining the problem and its severity.
Individuals often underestimate the extent of an injury and usually push/play through the discomfort and pain. This is how powerful the brain is as it ignores steady pain, weakness, or limitation of joint motion. Shoulder injuries and problems are grouped into the following categories.
This is when a shoulder joint moves/shifts or is forced out of its normal position. This is called instability and can result in the dislocation of the joints in the shoulder. Individuals will experience pain when raising their arms. It can feel as if the shoulder is slipping out.
Impingement is caused by excessive rubbing/friction of the muscles against the top part of the shoulder blade, known as the acromion. Impingement can happen during physical activities that require excessive overhead arm motion. Medical examination and care are recommended for inflammation, which could lead to a more serious injury.
The bursa is the fluid-filled sac that cushions the joints. These can become swollen and irritated from repetitive motions, falls, or other injuries. Individuals will notice the pain most when moving/rotating the shoulder.
The cartilage – the rubbery padding that goes around the rim of the shoulder joint can get damaged from repetitive motions, overextending, falls, or intense force to the shoulder. With this type of injury, individuals feel pain when reaching overhead, weakness, and/or catching, locking, and grinding feelings.
The rotator cuff consists of muscles and tendons that hold the arm in place and allow lifting the arm up and overhead. It can get damaged through overuse, falls, and regular wear and tear with age. Pain often presents at night when lifting objects, and there could be a cracking sound when trying to move or rotate.
This condition limits the joint’s movement. Abnormal bands of tissue called adhesions build up in the joint and restrict movement. The shoulder can freeze up from not using it. This could be because pain or surgery causes an individual to use it less. This is when adhesions begin to build up.
This injury affects the joint where the collarbone and shoulder blade join. It is known as the acromioclavicular or AC joint. A fall or hard impact can tear the ligaments that hold it together. If the collarbone gets pushed out of place, a bump forms/develops on top of the shoulder.
A bone can break or crack from a vehicle accident, fall, or takes a hard hit. The most common fractures are to the clavicle – collarbone and the humerus – arm bone closest to the shoulder. This type of injury causes a great deal of pain and bruising. If the collarbone is broken, the shoulder can sag with the inability to lift the arm.
Rotator cuff injuries involve dysfunctional and/or damaged connective tissue. This could be from impaired collagen synthesis. Vitamin B12 helps combat inflammation and plays a significant role in collagen formation. Low vitamin B12 status can be directly linked to pro-inflammatory cytokines. This means that a lack of vitamin B12 increases inflammation.
Researchers followed a group of individuals to determine if their vitamin B12 levels correlated with an increased risk of a rotator cuff tear. To begin the study, levels of vitamin B12 were measured along with other nutrients that included:
Homocysteine and blood sugar biomarkers were also measured, associated with B12 metabolism. Homocysteine is a metabolite that builds up in the blood when specific nutrients, like B12, folate, or B6, become deficient. Elevated levels of homocysteine can be harmful and cause damage to blood vessels and brain tissue when not detoxified properly. In the study, the homocysteine levels did not differ between the groups, but vitamin B12 levels were significantly different.
These subclinical deficiencies are usually missed with traditional serum testing, which is why functional nutritional testing is clinically recommended.
American Society for Surgery of the Hand: Shoulder Pain.
American Academy of Family Physicians: Shoulder Pain.
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, April 2021
Cleveland Clinic: Rotator Cuff Tendonitis Shoulder Tendinitis.
Monica, James, et al. Acute Shoulder Injuries in Adults. American family physician vol. 94,2 (2016): 119-27.
OrthoInfo: Shoulder Pain and Common Shoulder Problems, Rotator Cuff and Shoulder Conditioning Program.
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The information herein on "Vitamin B12 and Shoulder Injuries" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.
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Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.
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Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*
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