The shoulder joint is an integral part of performance for most athletes, especially if your sport involves any throwing or swinging. In sports like baseball, tennis, basketball and volleyball, shoulders are used constantly, so it’s imperative that you work to keep them strong and protect them from injury. Adults tend to have stronger shoulder joints and a better idea of how to protect them during activity, but the same can’t always be said for kids and teen athletes.
We want to ensure your young athlete develops healthy shoulders and protects them during athletic activity, so we wanted to compile some tips for helping young athletes avoid common sources of shoulder injury. In today’s blog, we share some ways young athletes can help protect their shoulders.
Shoulder Protection And Development For Young Athletes
Parents and teens would be smart to keep the following tips and common causes of shoulder injuries in mind if they want to help avoid shoulder injuries before, during or following an athletic season.
- Avoid Overuse – We’re starting to see some overuse protections be installed by athletic directors and recreational league organizers, and that’s a good thing. More baseball leagues are instituting pitch limits or mandatory rest days depending on how many pitches were thrown in an outing. Other shoulder-heavy sports like basketball or tennis don’t tend to have the same restrictions, so you need to be smart about how you approach the season. Your young athlete needs time off for their shoulder and whole body to recover from the rigors of sport, so don’t have them pursue one sport year round. Be mindful about their participation schedule and consider some other athletic activities that challenge other areas of the body and give their shoulders some much needed rest.
- Form – Mechanics among young athletes can be all over the board, so it’s important to work with your child to ensure they are using proper form to avoid putting excessive stress on their arm or shoulder. If you really want to ensure they develop proper form, consider having them connect with a physical therapist who can analyze their form and make subtle corrections to take stress off the shoulder joint.
- Weight Training – A lot of young athletes are starting to work to strengthen their bodies with a workout routine, but they can do more harm than good if they are performing ill-advised lifts with improper form. Parents or weight training coaches should help teach kids how to perform certain lifts or maneuvers to help get the most out of a workout without overstraining any area. The benchpress, dumbbell press or any overhead lift can lead to shoulder problems if the athlete isn’t using the right form, so make sure they understand how to do the lifts properly.
- Stop If Something Feels Off – If an athlete’s shoulder is bugging them or something doesn’t feel right, shut it down and consider consulting with a physical therapist, your primary care physician or a shoulder specialist like Dr. Holloway. Trying to play through discomfort or failing to heed the warning signs of a small problem can lead to significant tears or stability issues. Don’t let a small problem turn into a long-term issue because you kept playing through the pain.
- Warm Up – When you’re older, you understand the importance of stretching and warming up prior to activity. Kids and teens may not feel like they need to go through much of a warmup routine, but if they are going to be swinging their arm or throwing a ball as hard as they can, they need to let their shoulder and arm prepare for activity first. Talk to your young athlete about the importance of taking a stretching routine seriously and giving their body the time it needs to prepare for the rigors of athletic activity.
If you can keep the above tips in mind, we’re confident that you’ll have an increased likelihood of being able to prevent a painful shoulder injury from developing. A joint injury in their youth can cause problems for years to come, so work to prevent injuries from developing and actively treat them if they arise. For more information, or for help with your shoulder discomfort, reach out to Dr. Holloway’s office today at (865) 410-7887.
