Swimmers Shoulder

Do you have:

  • Pain on the front, side or posterior aspect of your shoulder?
  • Noticed a decrease in your swim time and endurance?

What is causing this?

  • Joint restrictions in the cervical, thoracic, low back or shoulder joints
  • Muscular imbalances (pecs vs mid-back muscles)
  • Over training
  • Improper swim mechanics

Swimmers shoulder is a repetitive stress injury, which is usually caused by poor swimming technique, muscle imbalance, mechanical restrictions, and scar tissue between muscles.  Other aggravating factors include increasing workout intensity or frequency too quickly.

Shoulder injuries are the 3rd most common musculoskeletal complaint in the U.S.  The shoulder has the greatest range of motion in the human body and is anchored only by muscles, tendons and ligaments.  The shoulder joint is surrounded by four muscles and their tendons, which are collectively referred to as the rotator cuff.  The rotator cuff is surrounded by an empty sac or bursa, which helps the tendons slide.  The rotator cuff is susceptible to many problems which can cause weakness, tenderness and pain. 

As you get older the rotator cuff tendons degenerate, weaken, and become more susceptible to injury. Therefore it is extremely important that you have appropriate levels of strength, flexibility and stability in the rotator cuff muscles and supporting structures.  An imbalance of any of these can lead to improper range of motion, pain or injury.  Many times there is an imbalance of the anterior muscles such as pecs and subscapularis muscles that pull the shoulder forward.  When this occurs, the rotator cuff and mid-back muscles begin to fatigue and weaken, due to trying to pull the shoulder back into its normal position.  These mechanical restrictions lead to friction and injury within the rotator cuff muscles and supporting shoulder structures.  With injury, scar tissue forms and soft tissue adhesions can result.  This may lead to more chronic symptoms if underlying biomechanical restrictions aren’t corrected.

When an injury is due to muscle or mechanical restrictions, the results are decreased range of motion and increased joint wear and tear.  When scar tissue or adhesions between muscles exist, there is also a decrease in blood flow, oxygen, and nutrients to these muscles.  The muscles then begin to shut down which usually causes a dull achy pain or a feeling of weakness.  This ‘tissue hypoxia’ leads to a decrease in endurance and stamina which increases the chance of injury or over-use syndromes.

At Cherry Creek Spine & Sport Clinic, your doctor will examine the overall functionality of the shoulder.  Joint range of motion will be assessed to correlate specific underlying muscle dysfunction.  A treatment plan will be developed to correct the underlying soft tissue condition, rehabilitate the shoulder to restore range of motion and increase endurance.  Your doctor will help educate on cause and recommend follow up exercises to prevent regression.

Call 720-974-0392 today to schedule your appointment

 

Why does Soft Tissue pain linger?

Doesn't your body have the ability to heal itself? When you cut yourself, or break a bone, the body will mend it. So what about the injured area that is affecting you now? Why hasn't it healed and why does your pain still linger? Read more about the most common reasons.

Active Release

ART has been developed, refined, and patented by P. Michael Leahy, DC, CCSP. Dr. Leahy noticed that his patients' symptoms seemed to be related to changes in their soft tissue that could be felt by hand. By observing how muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments and nerves responded to different types of work, Dr. Leahy was able to consistently resolve over 90% of his patients' problems. He now teaches and certifies health care providers all over the world to use ART. See the ART page for more details.