Repetitive movements like throwing or direct hits are common causes of injury. Next, we will look at common shoulder joint injuries caused by sports and talk about treatments.
Shoulder joint injuries may cause life-long problems if left untreated and could even lead to arthritis in your shoulder. So if you suffer from a sports-related shoulder injury, don’t hesitate to seek medical advice
Our shoulder specialists at Georgia Hand, Shoulder & Elbow, are here to help diagnose and cure your shoulder pain. We have convenient offices in Atlanta and Marietta, Georgia.
Give us a call to schedule an appointment today.
What Shoulder Sports Injuries Might I Suffer?
Particular injuries are associated with various activities. For example, repetitive movements like pitching and swinging will cause a different injury than a blunt force hit or fall. Here are some of the most common shoulder injuries and some possible causes.
Rotator Cuff Tears
Your rotator cuff is an amalgamation of muscles and tendons that anchor your upper arm bone into your shoulder socket. Therefore, a tear could be in any part of your rotator cuff tendons or muscles.
Rotator cuff injuries occur from both repetitive movement and blunt trauma. Like rotator cuff tendinitis, rotator cuff tears are common in sports like pickleball, tennis and swimming, which require repetitive shoulder motion. If minor, rotator cuff tears may be treated with ice and rest. However, surgery may be needed if your injury is more severe.
Bicep Tendon Tears
Your biceps muscle has two tendons that run from your elbow to the shoulder. These biceps tendons connect to your bones and control arm movement. If there is a bicep tendon tear, it can cause pain and weakness in your arm.
A common cause of a bicep tendon tear is lifting heavy weights. Treatment depends on whether the tear is partial or complete. Complete tears require surgical repair. Partial tears might heal without surgical intervention.
Labral Tears
Labral tears occur in the labrum. The labrum is a circle of cartilage that lines your shoulder socket. Labral tears may occur alongside a rotator cuff tear.
Like a rotator cuff tear, labral tears occur due to overuse and trauma. A tear in your labrum could heal with simple rest and time. However, surgery may be necessary for more extreme cases.
Joint Dislocation
Shoulder dislocations are painful, serious injuries. Your shoulder is a ball and socket joint, and when your shoulder is dislocated, your ball and socket bones become separated.
Usually, a joint dislocation occurs in full-contact sports like football or martial arts. Sometimes joint dislocations are accompanied by tissue trauma to the area surrounding the joint.
Treatment consists of reintroducing the shoulder into its socket within your shoulder blade and treating damaged tissue. Joint dislocations can vary in severity and should always be assessed by a certified health professional.
Shoulder Instability
Shoulder instability is exactly like it sounds. The shoulder becomes unstable in the joint and is more susceptible to a full or partial dislocation. This kind of injury is common among golfers. Frequently, shoulder instability occurs after a shoulder dislocation.
After dislocation, ligaments may stretch, or the labrum may disconnect from the bone. Both of these cause the shoulder to become unstable in the joint. Treatment may range from prolonged rest of the shoulder to surgery.
How Are Shoulder Injuries Treated?
Treatment for shoulder injuries will vary depending on the severity and type of injury. At Georgia Hand, Shoulder & Elbow, we’ll start with the most gentle form of treatment and keep working until you’re feeling your best again.
Treatments for shoulder injuries start with placing the offending arm in a brace. The brace can allow the joint to heal without interference. Bracing the shoulder is often accompanied by a regiment of ice packs and medicine for the pain.
If the shoulder injury doesn’t respond to the treatments listed above, your specialist might recommend a series of physical therapy exercises to strengthen your shoulder muscles.
For more severe inflammation, a corticosteroid injection may be necessary. Corticosteroids are a safe and immediate way to reduce pain and inflammation.
Injuries that persist past these forms of treatment might need surgical corrections. For example, surgery for shoulder injuries is usually arthroscopic, which is minimally invasive. However, in extreme cases, the shoulder may need a wider surgical incision to correct damaged tissues.
There’s no reason to continue suffering if you’ve experienced a sports-related shoulder injury. Our shoulder sports injuries specialists at Georgie Hand, Shoulder & Elbow are here to assist you.
Contact us to schedule your visit at one of our locations in Atlanta, or Marietta, GA today.
