SWIMMER’S SHOULDER
What is Swimmer’s Shoulder?
Did you know that over 1/3 of top level swimmers suffer from swimmer’s shoulder, which causes them to miss normal training?
Swimmer’s shoulder covers a wide range of painful shoulder injuries that occur from overuse of the shoulder. This means that the injury stems from repeated trauma to the shoulder rather than one specific incident. The location of pain for those with swimmers shoulder can vary as they can be local, near the shoulder joint or it can be a spreading pain that moves up the shoulder and neck or down into the arm area.
How Does Swimmers Shoulder Occur?
Your shoulder is a ball and socket joint surrounded by a band of cartilage. A group of muscles and tendons, called the rotator cuff, support the shoulder joint and keep the shoulder ball centered in the socket. When these muscles are weak and underdeveloped, you run the risk of injuring your shoulder. Some activities that can overwork your muscles and lead to injury include:
- Muscle fatigue from overtraining
- Hypermobility
- Poor stroke technique
- Weak muscles or tightness
- Previous injury
- Use of hand paddles
Diagnosing Swimmers Shoulder
The most common sign of swimmer’s shoulder, other than pain, is a change in stroke pattern and reduced performance. Diagnoses of swimmer’s shoulder should be based on both physical assessments and subjective information. Subjective questions to the patients will help the physiotherapist find potential sources of symptoms and irritability. The physical assessment usually involves observation of posture, changes in shoulder position.
Treatment of Swimmers Shoulder
Treatment of swimmer’s shoulder is usually carried out in three phases: Acute Phase, Recovery
Acute Phase
The first goal of treatment is to relieve pain and involves resting the shoulder. You should decrease or stop swimming and other activities that put pressure on the shoulder. A physical therapist can guide you to do activities that will avoid re-aggravation of the rotator cuff. Anti-inflammatory treatment in the form of frequent icing and NSAIDs may be used until the pain is reduced.
The second goal is to get the rotator cuff to regain regular strength through a supervised exercise program. A physiotherapist specialized in swimming injuries can help you transition from dry land exercises to in water exercises. Ultrasound, phonophoresis, iontophoresis or electrical stimulation can help further reduce inflammation during the acute phase of injury. Surgery may be needed if the pain does not subside after 6 months of physiotherapy and rest.
Recovery Phase
If surgery is performed, an arm sling or immobilizer is needed for 4-6 weeks to allow the shoulder capsule to heal in its new tightened position. This will be followed by rotator cuff strengthening exercises. Passive range of motion is restricted during this time but the mobility will return with time and strengthening exercises. Typically 50-75% of
Maintenance Phase
The last part of your rehabilitation is the maintenance phase. An independent strengthening program should be implemented into your lifestyle with the help of your physiotherapist or personal trainer. You should work with your rehabilitation coach to reassess your swimming techniques to prevent further damage to your shoulder.
Information on this page was compiled from http://physioworks.com.ay/injuries-conditions-1/swimmer-shoulder and http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/93213-treatment
SWIMMER’S SHOULDER
What is Swimmer’s Shoulder?
Did you know that over 1/3 of top level swimmers suffer from swimmer’s shoulder, which causes them to miss normal training?
Swimmer’s shoulder covers a wide range of painful shoulder injuries that occur from overuse of the shoulder. This means that the injury stems from repeated trauma to the shoulder rather than one specific incident. The location of pain for those with swimmers shoulder can vary as they can be local, near the shoulder joint or it can be a spreading pain that moves up the shoulder and neck or down into the arm area.
How Does Swimmers Shoulder Occur?
Your shoulder is a ball and socket joint surrounded by a band of cartilage. A group of muscles and tendons, called the rotator cuff, support the shoulder joint and keep the shoulder ball centered in the socket. When these muscles are weak and underdeveloped, you run the risk of injuring your shoulder. Some activities that can overwork your muscles and lead to injury include:
- Muscle fatigue from overtraining
- Hypermobility
- Poor stroke technique
- Weak muscles or tightness
- Previous injury
- Use of hand paddles
Diagnosing Swimmers Shoulder
The most common sign of swimmer’s shoulder, other than pain, is a change in stroke pattern and reduced performance. Diagnoses of swimmer’s shoulder should be based on both physical assessments and subjective information. Subjective questions to the patients will help the physiotherapist find potential sources of symptoms and irritability. The physical assessment usually involves observation of posture, changes in shoulder position.
Treatment of Swimmers Shoulder
Treatment of swimmer’s shoulder is usually carried out in three phases: Acute Phase, Recovery
Acute Phase
The first goal of treatment is to relieve pain and involves resting the shoulder. You should decrease or stop swimming and other activities that put pressure on the shoulder. A physical therapist can guide you to do activities that will avoid re-aggravation of the rotator cuff. Anti-inflammatory treatment in the form of frequent icing and NSAIDs may be used until the pain is reduced.
The second goal is to get the rotator cuff to regain regular strength through a supervised exercise program. A physiotherapist specialized in swimming injuries can help you transition from dry land exercises to in water exercises. Ultrasound, phonophoresis, iontophoresis or electrical stimulation can help further reduce inflammation during the acute phase of injury. Surgery may be needed if the pain does not subside after 6 months of physiotherapy and rest.
Recovery Phase
If surgery is performed, an arm sling or immobilizer is needed for 4-6 weeks to allow the shoulder capsule to heal in its new tightened position. This will be followed by rotator cuff strengthening exercises. Passive range of motion is restricted during this time but the mobility will return with time and strengthening exercises. Typically 50-75% of
Maintenance Phase
The last part of your rehabilitation is the maintenance phase. An independent strengthening program should be implemented into your lifestyle with the help of your physiotherapist or personal trainer. You should work with your rehabilitation coach to reassess your swimming techniques to prevent further damage to your shoulder.
Information on this page was compiled from http://physioworks.com.ay/injuries-conditions-1/swimmer-shoulder and http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/93213-treatment
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Contact Us
Our Location
100 Spy Court
Markham, ON L3R 5H6,
Canada