SOMA Living June 2022

FROM THE DOCTOR

Do I Have a Throwers Shoulder?

Baseball, Tennis, Golf, Pickleball season is in full swing and you or a family member may be a competitive player and uses a shoulder excessively. There is a lot of stress placed on this joint as the shoulder is asked to do a lot during sports play. A shoulder must be lax enough to allow a lot of external rotation but stable enough to prevent the head of the humerus from popping out of the joint, so therefore it requires a delicate balance between mobility and functional stability. When this doesn’t happen injuries can occur. Injuries to the shoulder of a throwing athlete can typically present with one or more of the following findings due to the inability to maintain functional stability and/or movement throughout the throwing motion: increased shoulder external rotation passive range of motion, decreased shoulder external rotator strength, bony adaptations, scapular muscle imbalances, poor posture, change in shoulder mechanics and working through fatigue. The shoulder motion can be broken down to different phases and from there you can find out what is injured based on the phase. Each phase brings with it different possible tissues that are injured as well as how likely they are to be injured There can be multiple paths for treatment of the different shoulder injuries that throwers sustain. It can be anywhere from surgery to conservative treatment. First method of treatment is activity modification. A simple changing your daily routine and avoiding activities that cause symptoms can go a long way. Next is ice. Applying icepacks to the shoulder can reduce any swelling. Most doctors will prescribe Anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen to help relieve pain and inflammation. A course of physical therapy is warranted to improve the range of motion in your shoulder and strengthen the muscles that support the joint. Physical therapy can focus on muscles and ligament tightness in the back of the shoulder and help to strengthen the structures in the front of the shoulder. This can relieve some stress on any injured structures, such as the labrum or rotator cuff tendon. Throwing mechanics can be evaluated to correct body positioning that puts excessive stress on injured shoulder structures. Although a change of position or even a change in sport can eliminate repetitive stresses on the shoulder and provide lasting relief, this is often undesirable, especially in high level athletes. If rest, medications, and physical therapy do not relieve your pain, an injection of a local anesthetic and a cortisone preparation may be helpful. Cortisone is a very effective anti-inflammatory medicine. Injecting it into the bursa beneath the acromion can provide pain relief for tears or other structural damage. Conservative care is always a best first start before doing anything invasive. An evaluation from an experienced Doctor of Physical Therapy is best.

South Orange Rehabilitation & Wellness We provide professional, individualized and effective physical therapy. Our health and wellness interventions promote healthy living and enhanced quality of life for all athletes and patients.

Specializing in: • Post Surgical Knee & Shoulder • Spinal Decompression for Herniated and Bulging Discs • Cold Laser to Increase Healing

SouthOrangeRehab.com (973) 761-0077 177 Valley Street, South Orange, New Jersey 07079

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15 Scotland Road in South Orange, NJ

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