| Same athlete with shoulders "rolled back" in good position. Far less risk for Swimmer's Shoulder pain. Notice well defined back muscles- scapular stabilizing muscles after physical therapy. |
| What will make pain worse until treated Military Press and Bench Press Butterfly Swimming Rings in Gymnastics Tennis Serve |
| What to do Ice, non steroidal anti-inflammatories Physical Therapy Stretching Back exercises |
| Tests may include: Physician Exam- Neer sign, Hawkin sign Xray MRI Treatment may include: Physical Therapy, ice, NSAIDS Injection or surgery if an adult |
Swimmer's Shoulder
Almost every premier level swimmer, male or female, and almost every premier level male gymnast
has had shoulder pain at one time or another. Over the age of forty, you might think about a rotator cuff
tear, a labral tear, or a biceps tendon tear- but in adolescence it is almost always swimmer's
shoulder (impingement type pain).
This "imbalance" of muscles in the back compared to muscles in the front causes the shoulders to roll
forward or "slump". This is the easiest explanation of what causes the pain which is typically in the
front of the shoulder- similar to the place where adults have rotator cuff pain.
The simplest solution is physical therapy- involving scapular stabilizing exercises- strengthening the
back muscles and causing the shoulders to roll back.
The anatomic explanation is that the same muscles and tendons must fit into the small
area of the shoulder. When the shoulder is "slumped" forward, those muscles and
tendons are forced into an even smaller area. With repetitive exercise- they bump into each
other and eventually become irritated, inflamed, and "impinged". When the shoulders are pushed
back- that area becomes relatively larger- and the muscles and tendons have more room.
*Check with your physician if you have shoulder pain. It is important to get the correct diagnosis to
insure the treatment is best for your condition.
wellbody
Focused on the healthcare of athletes
Almost every premier level swimmer, male or female, and almost every premier level male gymnast
has had shoulder pain at one time or another. Over the age of forty, you might think about a rotator cuff
tear, a labral tear, or a biceps tendon tear- but in adolescence it is almost always swimmer's
shoulder (impingement type pain).
This "imbalance" of muscles in the back compared to muscles in the front causes the shoulders to roll
forward or "slump". This is the easiest explanation of what causes the pain which is typically in the
front of the shoulder- similar to the place where adults have rotator cuff pain.
The simplest solution is physical therapy- involving scapular stabilizing exercises- strengthening the
back muscles and causing the shoulders to roll back.
The anatomic explanation is that the same muscles and tendons must fit into the small
area of the shoulder. When the shoulder is "slumped" forward, those muscles and
tendons are forced into an even smaller area. With repetitive exercise- they bump into each
other and eventually become irritated, inflamed, and "impinged". When the shoulders are pushed
back- that area becomes relatively larger- and the muscles and tendons have more room.
*Check with your physician if you have shoulder pain. It is important to get the correct diagnosis to
insure the treatment is best for your condition.
wellbody
Focused on the healthcare of athletes
| Two athletes with Shoulders "rolled" forward increases risk for Swimmer's Shoulder. Notice back muscles are not well defined. |
Impingement syndrome is caused by several things occurring together:
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