Common Sports-Related Shoulder Injuries: Diagnosis and Treatment
You step up to the pitcher’s mound and give the ball a few experimental tosses. Then you wind up and let it fly–only to suffer excruciating shoulder pain. A shoulder injury is a baseball pitcher’s worst nightmare, but baseball players are not the only ones at risk. Shoulder diagnosis and treatment are frequent in a range of different sports.
Sports-related shoulder injuries are quite common, particularly among “overhead athletes,” who regularly perform intense movements above their heads. However, you can injure their shoulder in several ways, and ultimately, any athlete is at risk.
At Helix Physical Therapy & Chiropractic, our sports medicine specialists have in-depth experience addressing shoulder injuries in athletes. Our team can evaluate your symptoms, identify the exact type of injury you have, and provide customized treatment to get you back in the game as quickly and safely as possible.
Keep reading to learn more about sports-related shoulder diagnosis and treatment. Or, if you’ve suffered a shoulder injury, request an appointment at our Lakeway, TX clinic today!
Who’s At Risk?
Understanding the Role the Shoulder Plays in Sports
The shoulder has a starring role in many of our favorite sports. It’s why baseball players throw those lightning-fast pitches, swimmers glide through the water like a shark on the hunt, and football players pull off stunning Hail Mary passes. Part of the reason for this is the shoulder’s unique anatomy.
Your shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint in which three bones, four ligaments, and eight muscles come together so you can move your arm in different directions–not just side to side but up and down and in circles, too. But the shoulder’s complexity also means a lot can go wrong, from minor strains and sprains to severe bone fractures or dislocations.
While shoulder injuries are often associated with throwing movements, that’s far from the only way an athlete can injure their shoulder. Here are some additional sports movements that can pose a risk to your shoulder
- Swinging a tennis racket or golf club
- Overhead strokes in swimming
- Collision injuries in rugby, football, or hockey
- Overuse injuries in weightlifting or gymnastics
No matter what sort of athlete you are, it’s important that you take care of your shoulder–and if you experience pain or immobility, seek treatment at Helix Physical Therapy & Chiropractic!
Common Sports-Related Shoulder Injuries We Can Diagnose and Treat
So many different sports-related movements can injure your shoulder because there are actually many different ways to injure your shoulder, period. Here are some of the most common:
- Rotator Cuff Tendonitis and Tears: Your rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that wrap, support, and stabilize your shoulder joint. If your tendons become inflamed, overstretched, or torn, it can lead to pain, immobility, and/or weakness in the shoulder.
- Labral Tears: The soft tissue in your rotator cuff isn’t the only thing at risk. Your labrum is a rim of cartilage that reinforces the shoulder’s ball-and-socket joint. If it tears, you’ll experience pain, shoulder instability, and a grinding or locking sensation.
- Shoulder Fractures: A shoulder fracture is a break in one of the three bones that make up your shoulder, particularly your shoulder blade and collarbone. You’ll notice pain, swelling, bruising, shoulder immobility–and most likely, your shoulder won’t look right.
- Shoulder Dislocations: This injury occurs when the bones in the shoulder joint no longer line up as they should. Symptoms are similar to a shoulder fracture, but you may also notice a bump in the front of your shoulder or that your arm is rotated outward.
- Sprains and Strains: These injuries are often less serious than some of the others, but they still cause pain and restricted mobility. A sprain occurs when the shoulder’s ligaments become overstretched, and a strain occurs when the shoulder’s muscles or tendons become overstretched.
Shoulder Diagnosis and Treatment
What to Expect at Helix Physical Therapy & Chiropractic:
Our providers are experts in sports medicine and can help you manage your sports injury every step of the way, from diagnosis to acute treatment to rehabilitation, with a focus on minimally invasive procedures. We’ll carefully evaluate your injury and pinpoint the exact nature of your injury, then provide you with the treatment necessary to get you back on the field.
Here’s all that we can offer in our Lakeway, TX clinic:
- Fracture Repair: We can get you situated with a sling to immobilize your shoulder as you wait for the bones to heal. Some fractures require surgery; if that’s the case for you, we’ll be here to help with rehabilitation afterward!
- Rehab and Return-to-Sport: Our office can recommend a rehabilitation program, especially if your shoulder injury is severe enough to require surgery. We’ll also let you know when it’s safe to return to the game!
Our sports medicine specialists understand the needs of athletes because we’re athletes ourselves. We’ll work closely with you to address your injury and ensure you have the shoulder strength and mobility necessary to avoid another one.
Find Shoulder Injury Relief Today
Whether you pursue your passion on the baseball field or in the pool, Helix Physical Therapy & Chiropractic will help you manage your sports-related shoulder injuries. Our extensive experience with all the ways an athlete can hurt themselves mean that you know you’re in good hands.
Your Next Steps…
Request An Appointment
Receive A Custom Treatment Plan
Work Hard and Progress In Your Recovery
Recover & Enjoy Life Pain-Free!