With the 2014 Major League Baseball World Series beginning next week, the specialists at Southwest Spine and Pain Center would like to discuss an all-too-common injury that frequents these athletes: chronic shoulder pain.
Chronic shoulder pain can develop for those involved in “overhead throwing” sports like volleyball, tennis and swimming. The constant overhead motion, however, seems to have the greatest impact on baseball pitchers and throwers. Because each throw puts a significant amount of stress on rotator cuff muscles, baseball players can experience immobility and discomfort much quicker than other athletes.
So, when can this injury occur? In baseball, there are five phases associated with pitching or throwing: wind-up, early cocking, late cocking, acceleration, and follow-through. The “late cocking” and “follow-through” phases place the greatest physical pressure on the shoulder.
Now, how can a patient prevent this injury from occurring? Easy. It’s important to increase shoulder work steadily. Gradually boost your workload by 10% each practice and have your coach monitor your progress. You’ll also want to get frequent screenings, be evaluated for changes in technique, and meet with your Southwest Spine and Pain Centerphysician for signs of damage.
Weight training is another important component to preventing chronic shoulder pain. Isolated rotator-cuff strengthening exercises, like the ones seen here, can be incredibly beneficial.
If you’re already living with chronic shoulder pain, or you’re past the early intervention stage, you’ll want to make an appointment with a specialist at Southwest Spine and Pain Center. Here, we can eliminate pain with various injections and minimally invasive surgeries. You can visit our “treatments” page and learn more here: http://www.southwestspineandpain.com/treatments
If chronic pain is impacting your life, don't wait to schedule an appointment at Southwest Spine and Pain Center. With three locations and growing, the pain management specialists at Southwest Spine and Pain Center are dedicated to helping those who suffer from chronic pain live the life they want to! To schedule an appointment, visit our locations tab!
The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.
©Southwest Spine and Pain Center, 2014
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