Shoulder pain, weakness and instability in the shoulder joint are common symptoms of swimmer’s shoulder. Also known as impingement syndrome, this musculoskeletal condition usually affects swimmers and other people who frequently use their arms and shoulders in an overhead motion. Preventive measures and treatments such as physical therapy can help you get back to doing the sport you love.
Common causes of swimmer’s shoulder
Swimmer’s shoulder usually develops over time with repetitive motions that place stress on the shoulder joint. This can cause irritation, inflammation and micro-tears along the tissue in the shoulder joint, making it difficult to move the joint smoothly.
While competitive swimming is one of the most common causes of swimmer’s shoulder, other activities that include lots of over-the-head movements can also cause this condition. These include:
- Baseball
- Tennis and other racket sports
- Volleyball
- Manual labor, such as swinging a hammer
- Lifting heavy objects overhead
Any activity with repetitive movements that extend your arms above your shoulders can put you at risk for swimmer’s shoulder.
Treatments for swimmer’s shoulder
With the proper techniques, swimmer’s shoulder can be treated. Here are a few ways you can decrease pain in your shoulder joint and regain your mobility:
- Rest — If you’ve strained your shoulder joint with overuse, temporarily stopping activities that use the shoulder joint and resting may be enough to let your body heal.
- Physical therapy — To rebuild strength in your shoulder joint without straining the tissue, consider physical therapy treatments such as sports therapy and sports massage to help you regain your mobility.
- Posture correction — For long-term shoulder health, you may need to adjust your form while swimming or doing shoulder-related activities. Your physical therapist can show you how to properly use your shoulder joint so that you’re less likely to reinjure yourself.
- Surgery — In severe cases, more conservative treatments may not be effective enough to treat your injury. In that case, you may need surgery to treat swimmer’s shoulder.
A combination of PT therapies can address your swimmer’s shoulder and help you recover faster. Your physical therapist can work with you to determine how severe your shoulder injury is and the best treatment plan for you.
At REPAIR SI, we’re here to help you get back to doing the activities you love. Our team of experts can offer you a variety of tools and treatments to address your shoulder pain and help you heal. Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.