As mentioned in Shoulder pain Boxer & Martials artists: Part 1 – Identifying the Source, shoulder injuries are the second most common injury suffered by athletes such as boxers and MMA practitioners. Being the most mobile joint the human body possesses, almost a third of sports related injuries involve the shoulder. The causes, treatments and exercises shown in this blog could potentially assist in the recovery and management of pain in the shoulder.

The Rotator Cuff

By definition, the rotator cuff is a group of muscles that holds and supports the shoulder joint. Being the most mobile joint in the body, the shoulder joint is also the most vulnerable. Overtime, the rotator cuff can become compromised through factors such as accumulated strain and stress from prolonged use, or sudden trauma which leads to an injury. These injuries can present as tears in the soft tissue structures, impingement of the surrounding nerves or tendinopathy. This could lead to muscular imbalances resulting in limited flexibility and functional strength or the development of trigger points. This causes different areas of the rotator cuff to compensate for those affected areas, increasing the chances of an injury occurring unless proper care is carried out. The chances of injury also increases with a past history of injuries.

Treatment Plan for Injured Rotator Cuff

With a compromised rotator cuff, a treatment plan is required to prevent further damage from occurring, and to stimulate recovery of the structures associated with the shoulder. The treatment plan involves the management of symptoms such as pain or stiffness related to the shoulder, or the strength and conditioning of the muscles to regain stability. The treatment plan can involve the following modalities:

• Manual Therapy
• Mobilisation Techniques
• Dry Needling
• Shockwave Therapy
• Ultrasound Therapy
• Strength and Conditioning
• Electrotherapy

Exercises for the Rotator Cuff

Once strength or flexibility has been restored to the affected muscles related to the injury, exercises can be suggested or prescribed. These exercises are focused on increasing the stability of the shoulder joint and reducing compensating habits, resulting in the reduced risk
of re-injuring the joint. These exercises are also focused on bringing individuals back into their dedicated sports by exposing the body to the movements or activities associated with the sport to allow the body to adapt. These exercises can involve movements such as stretches or strengthening exercises using either resistant bands or free weights. A common example of an exercise that assists athletes with their shoulder strength involving resistant bands has been shown below.

Are you or someone else you know experiencing symptoms such as pain or stiffness in their shoulders. If so, feel free to book in a consultation with our team here at My Sports Chiropractor and get yourself on the path towards recovery and better movement.

Book your sports chiropractic session today!

Anthony Nguyen

References:

Martine Enger, Stein Skjaker, Lars Nordsletten, Are Pripp, Knut Melhuus, Stefan Moosmayer, Jens Brox, Sports-related acute shoulder injuries in an urban population, PMC PubMed Central, 10.1136/bmjsem-2019-000551

Behnam Liaghat, Julie Pedersen, Rasmus Husted, Lisbeth Pedersen, Kristian Thornborg, Carsten Juhl, Diagnosis, prevention and treatment of common shoujlderi njuries in sports: grading the evidence – a statement paper commissioned by Danish Society of Sports Physical Therapy (DSSF), BMJ Journals, https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2022-105674

Camille Tooth, Amandine Gofflot, Benedicte Forthomme, Risk Fasctors of Overuse Shoulder Injuries in Overhead Athletes: A Systematic Review, Sage Journals, https://doi.org/10.1177/1941738120931764