Athletes and Shoulder Pain

Among athletes, overhand throwing motions place very high stress on the shoulders, particularly on the parts that keep them stable. With repeated throwing motions, the risks for a wide range of overuse injuries increase until such time that surgery may be the only effective treatment left.

While baseball pitchers have the highest risks for shoulder pain, other athletes in volleyball, tennis, and swimming are also at risk. For as long as the sports require repetitive overhand motions, the shoulders are at higher risk for injuries.

The shoulder is a ball and socket joint consisting of three distinct bones, namely, the upper arm bone (humerus), the collarbone (clavicle), and the shoulder blade (scapula). The head of the humerus snugly fits into the shoulder blade’s rounded socket (glenoid). The labrum, a rim of strong fibrous tissue, surrounds the glenoid’s outside edge. It performs several important roles, such as helping in deepening the socket, stabilizing the shoulder joint, and serving as the attachment point for the ligaments and tendons in the shoulder and arm.

The shoulder capsule, a strong connective tissue, keeps the upper arm bone’s head centered in the glenoid and covers the shoulder joint. The shoulder also depends on the strong muscles and tendons, such as the rotator cuff and biceps muscles, to keep it stable. Even the upper back muscles, such as the rhomboids, trapezius, and levator scapulae, all play important roles in maintaining stability in the shoulder.

But with repetitive overhand motions resulting in high-speed throws, the shoulder is subjected to significant stresses that degrade the integrity of its parts. Shoulder injuries are one of the common reasons that athletes come to any of the Healthpointe clinics (such as the Long Beach clinic near Signal Hill, Carson, Seal Beach, Lakewood, Bellflower, Compton, Hawaiian Gardens, and Los Alamitos).

Come to any of the Healthpointe clinics (such as the Los Angeles clinic near Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Inglewood, Hawthorne, Huntington Park, South Gate, Lynwood, Montebello, Monterey Park, and Alhambra) for your sports injuries.

About Healthpointe:

Healthpointe is a leading multidisciplinary healthcare organization offering a full range of medical services in practice locations throughout Southern California (Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, and Riverside County). Healthpointe has locations situated in over 10 cities in Southern California including Los Angeles, which is conveniently located by Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Inglewood, Hawthorne, Huntington Park, South Gate, Lynwood, Montebello, Monterey Park, and Alhambra. As a highly regarded musculoskeletal group, we have a personal investment in the highest level of service, and we are proud of our record of excellence over the last four decades with private patients, injured workers, urgent care, personal injuries, and professional and non-professional athletes. Leading our organization is a dynamic team of healthcare professionals who continually strive to be at the forefront of medical innovation and healthcare service delivery. For more information, a complete list of services, and Healthpointe locations, visit Healthpointe.net.