Is your child complaining of shoulder pain after activity? Do they seem to be favoring one arm more than others for simple daily tasks? Shoulder pain is never normal, but oftentimes it’s pretty easy to pinpoint, especially in older adults or following acute trauma to the area. But what if shoulder pain is developing in an otherwise healthy child or teen who hasn’t experienced direct trauma to the area? In today’s blog, we explore some of the common reasons for shoulder pain in young individuals without acute trauma.
Shoulder Pain Without Injury In Kids
Children and teens have a lot of things working in their favor when it comes to the health of their shoulders. Their shoulder joints and the supportive soft tissues are strong and haven’t felt the effects of decades of stress, so some of the issues that plague older adults aren’t typically an issue in our youth. For example, rotator cuff tears or bone spur formation aren’t very common in children and teens.
However, being young also means that certain issues are more likely to develop compared to older populations, which is why your primary care doctor or a shoulder specialist will hone in on a couple of potential issues that tend to impact younger groups. For example:
- Pinched Supraspinatus – Sometimes children have underdeveloped or unequally-developed muscles that can impact their shoulder health. Muscle tightness in the front of the chest can pull the shoulder area downward, in turn reducing the space for other structures to move freely. Tight chest muscles can reduce the space for the coracoid process, a small, hook shaped bony structure on the upper front part of the shoulder blade. This lack of space also causes problems for the supraspinatus muscle, sometimes pinching it during overhead or swinging motions. Oftentimes targeted physical therapy and strength training exercises can relax tight chest muscles and create more space for these structures to move without irritation.
- Shoulder Blade Misalignment – Your shoulder blades should appear symmetrical when viewed from behind, but sometimes one rests a little lower than the other. This can be the result of genetics or because of overuse during a period of growth, which again speaks to why this issue can appear during adolescence. Putting stress on the shoulders when the shoulder blades are misaligned oftentimes amplifies the strain on one area, which can further exacerbate this discrepancy. If you notice that your child’s shoulder blade appears misaligned or they become fatigued more quickly during sports that involve throwing or repetitive arm motions, talk to a doctor about working to realign their shoulder blades. Oftentimes weeks of physical therapy can reduce muscular imbalances and restore a more symmetrical appearance to the shoulder blades, which ensures stress is less likely to overwhelm one shoulder. Short-term rest from strenuous activities (like pitching or throwing) is also advised while pursuing PT.
- Poor Form/Overuse – Finally, many shoulder issues in young athletes are simply tied to overuse or poor mechanics. When we’re young and learning a sport, we’re more likely to have inefficient or downright poor mechanics, which places more stress on the shoulder during a period of rapid growth and development. Even if athletic movements are efficient, but especially if they aren’t, overuse can fatigue shoulders more quickly and increase their risk of strains or discomfort from the body’s natural inflammatory response to exertion. We see it all the time in young baseball players who play league games during the week and travel ball tournaments on the weekends, especially when teams aren’t great at coordinating pitch counts or days off. Shoulder fatigue and inflammation isn’t just something that your kid should push through because they love baseball, golf or volleyball, it’s a sign that you’re putting too much stress on the area. There doesn’t need to be an acute moment of injury to cause an overuse injury, so we simply talk to parents about the importance of rest between games. A smart recovery routine is just as important to youth shoulder development as practice, but many simply see games and practices as the only way to improve shoulder strength. Help your athlete recover with ice and gentle stretching exercises, and most of all coordinate with all coaches to ensure arms and shoulders aren’t overburdened when games and practices stack up. Some coaches only worry about winning or performing well in a tournament, but you have to think about the long-term health of your child’s shoulder.
We can help figure out what’s causing your child’s shoulder discomfort without an acute injury, whether it be from a problem under the surface or fatigue from overuse. We don’t want your child to end up on our operating table because you ignored a small shoulder issue in its infancy, so connect with Dr. Holloway and his team for more information on how to manage shoulder issues in your child or teen. Give our team a call today for more information or to schedule your first appointment. (865) 410-7887.
