Images Dated 30th January 1998

Woman touching her shoulder in pain

Shoulder pain. Artwork of a woman holding her shoulder in pain. The pain is represented by the split area glowing orange. Shoulder pain and stiffness may be caused by a variety of problems, including tendon inflammation (tendinitis), arthritis or a dislocation of the bones. In serious cases, a frozen shoulder can result, greatly reducing the movement of the shoulder. Milder forms of shoulder pain can be treated with painkilling drugs and massage. Pain in the neck is also very common, often without a specific cause. It can be caused by whiplash injuries (stretching of the neck muscles), osteoarthritis of the vertebrae in the neck, or nerve damage

© DAVID GIFFORD/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY