We use our arms for countless tasks every day, but if we’re not careful how we perform some of these actions, we could be setting ourselves up for an injury or shoulder discomfort later in life. What’s worse is because these actions are rather innocuous, we may not realize how much harm we’re doing to our shoulders until it’s too late. To help bring attention to these habits and help you avoid a potential problem, we want to use today’s blog to highlight five everyday habits that could be harming your shoulder.
Bad Habits That Are Hurting Your Shoulder
If you do any of the following things, you’ll want to make a few simple adjustments to ensure you’re not exposing your shoulder to injury.
- Exercising Without Warming Up – This is an important tip for your whole body, but it’s especially important if you are going to participate in an athletic activity that involves forceful overhead arm motion. You need to do a thorough job warming up your neck, shoulders and arms if you’re going to be throwing a baseball or swinging a tennis racquet or golf club. These sports all place immense strain on your shoulder joint, and if it can’t adequately prepare for this stress, injuries can occur.
- Stretching To Reach Your Mouse – If you have a desktop computer at home or at the office, there’s a good chance you use a mouse on a regular basis. If you’re overstretching to reach your mouse, extra strain will be placed on the shoulder joint. It may not cause anything more than mild discomfort in the short-term, but over time it can lead to chronic shoulder pain. Keep your mouse closer to you so that you’re not overstretching your arm when using it.
- Poor Posture – You might think that you’re not putting much strain on your shoulders when you’re in a seated position, but if you have poor posture, your shoulders may be working harder than you realize. Slouching or hunching forward can strain the shoulders and increase your risk of nerve impingement in the area due to inflammation onset. Sit up straight and keep your head positioned directly over your shoulders.
- You Have A Heavy Purse – We understand that a purse can help you carry all of your everyday essentials, but if your overstocked purse weighs more than a pound or two, it can cause problems for your shoulders. If you regularly wear a heavy purse over the same shoulder, it can lead to muscle strain and joint pain. Remove unnecessary or heavy items and switch which shoulder you wear your purse on so that strain isn’t always placed on just one shoulder.
- Ignoring Your Shoulder Exercises – It’s easy to overlook your shoulders when developing an exercise routine. You may want to focus on your biceps, your calf muscles or your core, but don’t overlook the importance of strengthening your shoulders. Failing to target your shoulders can lead to muscular imbalances and decreased shoulder stability, increasing your risk of a dislocation during intense activity. Make sure that your gym routine doesn’t ignore your shoulder joints.
If you keep these tips in mind and reach out to a specialist if you develop a new or chronic pain in your shoulders, we’re confident that you’ll have healthy shoulders for years to come. For more information, or for help with a different shoulder issue, reach out to Dr. Holloway’s office today at (865) 410-7887.
