Introduction: The shoulder joint is a synovial joint that connects the humeral head and the glenoid cavity of the scapula. It is the most mobile joint in the human body and enables a wide range of movements of all kinds. It is also one of the most heavily stressed and most frequently injured joints, precisely because of its great mobility. Overuse or injury to the shoulder joint can lead to the development of pain, reduction in the stability and mobility of the joint and weakening of the muscles that move the joint, preventing the patient from performing normal activities of daily living. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to describe in detail the structure and function of the shoulder joint and to investigate how frequently nurses are confronted with disorders of the shoulder joint. Methods: The theoretical part of the thesis is supported by a systematic review of the literature searched in the Medline, Science Direct, Cinahl and PubMed databases. Results: The shape of the articular surfaces, the looseness of the joint capsule, makes it the most flexible joint in the body. The joint is stabilised by the ligament-cartilage ring and the glenohumeral ligament.In addition, there are other elements that influence the stability of the joint: the coracoacromial arch, the rotator cuff muscles and the long head of the biceps brachii. The joint is very fragile. The most common diagnoses in Slovenia are calcific tendinitis, rotator cuff syndrome, shoulder bursitis and biceps tendinitis. Diseases of the shoulder joint make it difficult to lead a normal life. As patients in hospital require constant attention, care is uninterrupted and puts both mental and physical strain on nursing staff. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are very common, especially among nurses who also spend the most time with a patient. The development of shoulder joint disorders can be due to inappropriate workplace conditions, poor work organisation and work structure. Of all reported injuries, 60% occur in nurses. Discussion and conclusion: Nurses, along with other healthcare workers, are highly exposed to the risk factors for developing work-related musculoskeletal disorders in their workplaces. Almost all nurses work overtime and put themselves last, which increases their workload. Given the global shortage of healthcare professionals, changes are urgently needed. Such changes that will keep healthcare workers on the job and prevent turnover in the workforce due to work-related musculoskeletal disorders.
|