Some Activities Can Cause Shoulder Injuries

• Impingement: Frequent overhead shoulder rotation can cause pinching between the upper arm bone and the roof of the shoulder joint. The repetitive pinching can result in swelling of the bursa (a lubricated sac of tissue that cuts down on the friction between two moving parts). The bursa protects the scapula and the rotator cuff muscles from grinding against each other. As the bursa swells, shoulder discomfort and pain increases. The pain may be constant and limit your ability to lift your arm overhead and it may interrupt sleep.
• Tendonitis: Rotator cuff tendonitis develops when the tendons attaching the rotator cuff muscles to the surrounding bones start to become injured or start to degenerate from overuse. Like many shoulder problems, it presents as shoulder pain, difficulty lifting your arm and difficulty sleeping. Continuing to play with tendonitis can result in progressive tearing or degeneration of the tendon.
• Rotator cuff tears. These occur when the tendons in the rotator cuff are torn or completely severed. They can occur through overuse of the shoulder, especially in sports that use a high degree of force during rotation (ex: baseball pitcher, tennis serve). Rotator cuff tears cause pain and weakness in the affected shoulder.
• Labral tears: The labrum is a layer of tissue that cushions the socket of the scapula from the humerus, the upper arm bone. Wear and tear from overhead sports can thin out the labrum, leading to a labral tear. Labral tears also occur with shoulder dislocation or excessive force on the joint (like during a fall). Signs and symptoms of a labral tear are pain and sharp pop or catching sensation in the shoulder during certain shoulder movements. The shoulder joint may feel loose, or feel like it slips with certain movements.

If your shoulder pain doesn’t resolve with two weeks of ice and rest, have your shoulder evaluated by your local physical therapist or primary care physician. Often, these injuries can improve without surgery through physical therapy and rehabilitation. The key is seeking treatment sooner rather than later so that you do not lose range of motion or develop compensatory problems.