Everything You Need to Know About Sports Shoulder Injuries

Everything You Need to Know About Sports Shoulder Injuries

When you think about sports injuries, you generally think of football, basketball, or soccer. All three of these sports demand players to put their bodies on the line regularly. Contact is widespread, and tackling is an essential component of the game of football. 

However, when it comes to typical sports injuries, just one has a repair surgery named after a player. The Tommy John surgery, named after a Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher, is performed to treat one of the most common sports injuries: a ruptured ulnar collateral ligament in the elbow. 

When baseball players aren't having Tommy John surgery to heal their elbows, they're usually hurting somewhere else. Soft tissue injuries in the major leagues are on the rise and show no signs of abating. Baseball players put their bodies through a lot of abrupt activity –– pitchers whip balls at speeds of 90 miles per hour, and sluggers swing for the fences. Shoulder injuries are understandably common. 

Are you or someone in your family experiencing shoulder pain as a result of baseball or another sport? If this is the case, please consult your doctor as soon as possible.

Common sports shoulder injuries
SLAP tears
The abbreviation SLAP stands for superior labrum anterior and posterior. The labrum is a thick ring of tissue that provides support to the shoulder joint. It's located at the intersection of your upper arm bone, collar bone, and shoulder blade, and it performs an important function in connecting the arm bone and shoulder blade. SLAP rips are frequently associated with shoulder dislocation. 

Overuse can cause the labrum to tear, which can happen to baseball players in any position. Pitchers, on the other hand, are more prone to SLAP rips caused by quick or strong arm movement above the level of the shoulder.

Rotator cuff injuries
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surrounds the shoulder blade, effectively drawing the upper arm bone into the cup of the shoulder blade where the labrum rests between the upper arm bone and the shoulder blade. When you raise your arm above your head, this is the primary muscle group at work. 

When your rotator cuff tears, you may experience difficulty reaching behind your back and a dull soreness deep in your shoulder. Sleeping might be challenging due to the location and type of pain. Rotator cuff injuries, including SLAP tears, are frequently caused by repetitive shoulder motions. The rotator cuff deteriorates over time and affects senior league players more than small leaguers.

Shoulder tendonitis
Inflammation of the rotator cuff or biceps tendon causes shoulder tendonitis. When the rotator cuff or biceps tendons are frequently squeezed by other tissues in the shoulder, it causes mild to severe inflammation. Shoulder tendonitis, like SLAP rips and rotator cuff injuries, begins with and is often exacerbated by repetitive actions that place the arm above the shoulder. 

Shoulder tendonitis causes pain or tenderness in the shoulder and makes it difficult to hold one's arm in certain positions. Tendonitis is usually simple to cure, especially if detected early. Rest and steroid injections will help your shoulder feel better.

When you’ll feel better after a shoulder injury?
Injuries happen all the time; however, if ligaments, bones, and tendons are injured, some patients will find that they can heal naturally. Some people may require biologics, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. Other patients with severe injuries (dislocation, popping in and out, ruptured tendons) are advised to have surgery. In general, bone injuries recover slightly faster than soft tissue injuries. 

Patients with a normal collarbone fracture that requires plating, for example, feel much better fairly quickly. The healing process takes longer, but the bone will mend in two to four months. The patient may feel recovered and ready to go, but X-rays show that it takes longer to heal. Rotator cuff injuries take anywhere from six months to a year to fully heal.

If surgery is necessary, how long will take the recovery time?
Surgery is typically used as a last resort in treatment. Every patient has unique requirements. Once the doctor has determined the nature of the problem, they can determine whether surgical or nonsurgical treatment is preferable. 

Around 20% of people require surgery, and those who do, do it for a good reason. However, surgical outcomes vary depending on the problem. 

A common fixed fracture can feel better in days or weeks. A patient with a shoulder injury may see significant relief after three months, but a patient with a rotator cuff rupture may experience significant benefits after six months to a year.

How to speed up healing after surgery?
Rehabilitation is critical to the healing process. Recovery is delayed and unpredictable without it. Surgery moves things anatomically, but patients should take supplements, such as vitamin D, and adjust their diet to recuperate faster. Biologics and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, as well as other derived cells, may be prescribed by doctors on occasion to promote speedier healing.

Similar Articles

8 Facts About Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is a medical problem that affects many people around the world. Unlike acute pain, which is a short-term response of the body to tissue damage, chronic pain lasts longer, often without obvious physical damage. It can last from several months to several years, and its consequences can affect all aspects of a person's life

9 Reasons to Visit a Vein Doctor Before Your Legs Stage a Rebellion

When was the last time you gave your veins some love? These hardworking highways of blood don’t ask for much—just a little support and, occasionally, professional attention when they’re not performing at their peak.

pill bottles

These small plastic containers are a household staple, but disposing of them incorrectly only adds to the growing waste issue. Learning to eco-dispose pill bottles reduces your footprint and shows love and respect to the planet and future generations. 

7 Health Issues We Often Ignore and Why You Shouldn't

We often experience small discomforts or symptoms that seem insignificant, like headaches, fatigue, or brittle nails. Many times, we brush them off, thinking they’ll go away on their own. However, these minor issues might be your body’s way of telling you that something more serious is going on.

Is Your Neck Causing You a Headache?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), half to three-quarters of adult persons globally experienced a headache in the past year. Unfortunately, tension headaches are one of the most prevalent symptoms you can have. Furthermore, some tension headaches resemble migraine headaches, making matters worse.

fatty liver

The review of Yakrit Plihantak Churna is going to be amazing. You will know the facts, does it works along its benefits. The liver is the main engine of the body. It is the second largest gland in the body.

When Should You See a Podiatrist?

A podiatrist is a doctor who focuses on treating foot and ankle ailments. If you have specific medical issues, you may need to see a podiatrist for therapy that your primary doctor cannot offer. Don't overlook pain in your lower leg, foot, ankle, or toes. 

10 Causes to Visit a Podiatrist

A podiatrist is a medical expert who focuses on foot and ankle care. There are various reasons you may need to see one.

5 Common Causes of Leg Swelling and How to Manage Them

Swelling is a common issue that can strike anyone. Occasional leg swelling may occur after a long day on your feet or from sitting too long. However, if your legs are regularly swollen, it could indicate a serious underlying condition. Swelling can cause leg pain, loss of sensation, redness, and itching. If left unmanaged, it can lead to stiffness and difficulty walking.