Thrower's shoulder & Physiotherapy Melbourne
By Claire Mc Guinness, Physiotherapist
Thrower's Shoulder
Thrower's Shoulder is common in cricket, baseball, tennis but it can also be caused by throwing the ball for the dog.
It is normally a result of increased load placed upon the rotator cuff tendons surrounding the shoulder joint. The increased load is as a result of the speed at which we move the arm when throwing or serving in tennis or smashing in badminton, and normally occurs with sudden increase in activity which causes overload.
It normally leads to pain on the front or outside of the shoulder and upper arm. This is due to inflammation of the subacromial bursa causing impingement in the shoulder when the arm is out to the side or above the head.
The glenohumeral joint exhibits more motion than any other articulation in the body, creating a tendency toward laxity and the potential for instability, both of which need to be balanced in the overhead throwing athlete. Wilk et al proposed the concept of the “thrower’s paradox,” in which the throwing shoulder must be sufficiently loose in order to throw but have enough stability in order to prevent symptoms. Glenohumeral stability comes from the continuous interplay and coordinated equilibrium between the capsuloligamentous structures of the shoulder and the combined neuromuscular control of the entire upper extremity. The repetitive forces and loads placed on the glenohumeral complex in combination with the excessive motion required for throwing necessitate challenging, dynamic, and specific rehabilitative interventions for successful functional restoration of the injured shoulder in the overhead throwing athlete.
The overhead throwing motion is a high-velocity, extremely stressful athletic movement. Its repetitive nature places tremendous demands on the entire body, frequently resulting in injury to the throwing shoulder. Such injuries, whether managed nonoperatively or surgically, require a multiphased approach beginning with exercises to restore muscular strength and proprioception, and advancing to more demanding exercises to improve power, endurance, and dynamic control.
To make a booking to see your local Melbourne sports physiotherapist for treatment of your dislocated shoulder, please call your local clinic or book online.
Reference:
Wilk KE, Meister K, Andrews JR. Current concepts in rehabilitation of the overhead throwing athlete. Am J Sports Med. 2002;30(1): 136–151.