Shoulder pain in an athlete is a very common malady. Pain in the
shoulder can be debilitating for athletes of all ages and
competition levels. One possible, but relatively uncommon cause
of shoulder pain is called a deltoid strain. What is the deltoid
muscle and what does it do? The deltoid muscle is a large muscle
that encompasses the shoulder joint. The deltoid is divided into
three different portions, or heads, the anterior (front),
middle, and posterior (back) portions of the deltoid. The
deltoid originates on the lateral aspect of the acromion and
clavicle and then inserts on the lateral aspect of the humerus.
Its major action is to abduct the arm (lift the arm out to the
side of the body) as well as assist in forward elevation
(lifting the arm out in front of the body). The deltoid is a
very powerful muscle and is needed for all types of athletic
endeavors. What is the difference between a strain and a sprain?
Strains are injuries to muscles or muscle tendon units. Sprains
are injuries to ligaments. Bec