Are you dealing with new or worsening discomfort in your shoulder after athletic activity? Shoulder injuries are incredibly common during sporting activities, but because many shoulder issues present with the same symptoms, it can be difficult to know exactly what you’re dealing with. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at some of the most common shoulder injuries during athletics, and we discuss some treatment options so that you can get back on the field or court without pain.
Common Shoulder Injuries In Sports
When you consider that your shoulder is the most flexible (and least stable) or your large joints and that many sports ask athletes to put an immense amount of strain on their shoulders, it should come as no surprise that tens of thousands of athletes are felled by shoulder injuries each year. Here’s a look at some of the most common shoulder injuries that are suffered during athletics:
- Rotator Cuff Tears – Your rotator cuff is a collection of muscles and tendons that attach your shoulder blade to the upper arm bone. These soft tissues help when you lift and move your arm, and they are incredibly strong in order to help hold these bones in place. As a result of repetitive stress or acute trauma, these tissues can wear down or tear, which in turn makes it harder for them to stabilize your shoulder. This can lead to dull shoulder pain, muscle weakness, range of motion limitations or discomfort that increases with use. In many instances, rotator cuff tears can heal with the help of active conservative treatments like physical therapy and targeted exercises or stretches, but you’ll also need to protect the area and gradually ease back into athletics once cleared.
- SLAP Tears – SLAP stands for Superior Labral tear from Anterior to Posterior, and it describes the most common form of labrum tear. Your shoulder joints are connected by strong ligaments that attach bones to one another, and the superior labrum is the top part of a ring of cartilage that sits in the shoulder socket and acts as the anchoring point for the long head of the biceps tendon. Like a rotator cuff tear, this cartilage can be torn as a result of repetitive, cumulative or acute trauma to the shoulder region. It is categorized by pain, shoulder weakness, difficulty or the inability to perform overarm throwing motions and a clicking or popping sound when moving the shoulder. Mild SLAP tears may respond well to physical therapy, but if symptoms persist for longer than 6-12 weeks, a surgical correction is often recommended.
- Shoulder Dislocation – When excessive force is applied to the area, the humeral head can become disengaged from the shoulder socket, leading to significant discomfort. This is typically caused by a significant trauma to the area, like what you might experience if you tackle a running back, slide awkwardly into second base or try to brace yourself as you fall to the basketball court. When your shoulder dislocates, the strong soft tissues that hold the joint in place are damaged, so even after the shoulder is reset, it’s imperative that you work to strengthen the area so that you’re not at risk for repeated dislocations in the future. Treatment and recovery can typically be achieved by pursuing conservative methods, oftentimes involving a significant amount of physical therapy.
If you believe you have suffered one of these injuries, talk to your primary care physician or a shoulder specialist in your area. Although symptoms may start to fade with rest alone, you won’t get back to a pre-injury level of fitness without active interventions like physical therapy and strength training, so don’t let symptoms persist or remain at a heightened risk for reinjury. Instead, connect with a specialist like Dr. Holloway who can help you get the care you need to put a shoulder injury in the past once and for all. For help with a new or existing shoulder injury, connect with Dr. Holloway and his team today at (865) 410-7887.
