Introduction
Shoulder injuries are a major concern for coaches, athletes, and sports enthusiasts. Shoulder injuries are common at the school, college, and professional levels. However, many sports injuries happen when people play at home or in their local parks. Fortunately, sports injuries are preventable with proper training and planning. Shoulder injuries are a serious problem but difficult to prevent for those who are not dedicated athletes. However, prepared athletes avoid many problems by following proper training and scheduling strategies.
It is important to note that not all sports cause shoulder injuries. In fact, many professional athletes never experience a single sports injury during their entire careers. This is because their coaches and trainers help them prepare for their daily routine. Some common causes of shoulder injuries include overuse, impact, weight training, falling, and collision with other players. Some common shoulder injuries are shoulder dislocation, labral muscle tears, tendonitis, fracture, and strains. Treating shoulder injuries includes physical therapy, steroid injections, and surgical intervention.
What Are the Different Shoulder Disorders in Sports Players?
Shoulder injuries are the most common type of sports injury. These injuries occur when the ligament and muscles of the shoulder fail to withstand the physical strain during sports. Most shoulder injuries happen while athletes play tennis, baseball, basketball, soccer, and golf, among other popular sports. Some common shoulder injuries are listed below
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Shoulder Dislocation - The shoulder joint is a ball and socket type of joint, and it is the most movable joint of the body. Shoulder dislocation is more common than any other joint dislocation. Shoulder dislocation can occur due to injury during sports or while doing household work. The dislocated shoulder should be treated to prevent further complications. Shoulder dislocation frequently reoccurs in younger people. It is a painful condition and affects the performances of athletes. It may cause restrictions from playing sports. Repeated dislocation injuries affect joint function. Surgical treatment is recommended to treat such injuries. Surgery should be performed through the Keyhole process as it is less painful and helps athletes return early to their respective sports.
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Acromioclavicular Joint Injury - A small tuberosity present over the shoulder is known as an acromioclavicular joint. This is an important feature for athletes who play baseball, basketball, javelin throw, and other overhead throw sports. A sprain in the acromioclavicular joint is very common during sports. Injury or falling while playing results in dislocation of the acromioclavicular joint. Strained joints cause excruciating pain. Treatment of this condition includes physical therapy and steroid injections. It will help to reduce pain, but surgical removal of the joint is recommended if the pain still persists. Arthroscopic surgery (Keyhole process) has the advantages of less pain and early return to sports, while open surgery causes weakness in the joints and muscles.
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Rotator Cuff Tendinitis - Other names for this condition are impingement syndrome, bursitis, and supraspinatus tendonitis. It is caused due to overuse injuries, overhead throws, and muscle weakness. It also occurs when the rotator cuff tendon gets trapped in bony enlargements. Steroid injection, physiotherapy, and surgery are recommended as a treatment. Surgical treatment involves spring cleaning (removal of bony parts from subacromial bursa, which is known as arthroscopic subacromial decompression).
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Superior Labral Anterior- Posterior Lesion (SLAP) - It is caused due to overhead throws during sports. The biceps anchor gets detached completely from the bones because of heavy forces. It occurs most commonly during weight lifting, falling, or forceful injury. Severe pain on the inner side of the shoulder can be felt while lifting weights or overthrows. Diagnosis of this condition is quite difficult. Keyhole surgery is recommended as a treatment.
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Biceps Injuries - Biceps injuries are more common at the elbow. A weak point is at the elbow, where bone and tendon get attached. The feeling of a pop-up sensation or a lump enlargement can be seen in the arm. Older people suffer biceps rupture at their shoulders also. Early treatment is recommended in case of bicep ruptures. Treatment includes tendinosis (attachment of tendons to humerus bone).
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Labral Tears - Labrum is present around the shoulder joints. It can get torn due to injury during sports. Overhead throw for falling injuries are mainly responsible for this condition. Diagnosis of labral tears can be made by injecting die in the injured area along with MR arthrograms. Treatment includes keyhole surgery. Long labral tears are known as bankart tears.
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Thrower Shoulder - Overuse or repetitive shoulder action can result in stretching. In this case, the shoulder glides abnormally over the labrum and rotator cuff muscles, resulting in the tearing of muscles. Proper diagnosis and some exercises are helpful in the treatment of thrower shoulders.
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Rugby Shoulder - It is a similar condition to thrower shoulders, commonly noticed in rugby players. But it is not as common as the thrower shoulder.
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Fracture Shoulder - The bone fracture is a common injury during sports. It can occur due to falling, forceful impact, or collision with other athletes. The clavicle or collarbone and humerus are the most common bone which gets fractured. It is a very painful condition, and bruises can be seen in the area of injury. A fractured collarbone causes a sagging shoulder and restricts the arm's lifting movement.
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Frozen Shoulder - This condition affects the movement of joints. The development of an abnormal band in the shoulder joint area causes the inability to move the shoulders. Severe pain can be felt, and surgical intervention is the only treatment for this condition.
Conclusion
Shoulder injuries are common during sports. It is caused due to injury, falling, or sprinting with other athletes. Shoulder injuries are more common in games like baseball, basketball, volleyball, javelin throw, and cricket. Because all these games involve overhead throws and repetitive motion of the shoulder joints. Usually, shoulder injuries are very painful and can cause the inability to lift the arm and perform during sports. Early treatment of shoulder injuries is recommended because it promotes healing and helps in returning back to sports. Steroid injections, some exercises, and surgical procedures are available to treat a shoulder injury. Proper diagnosis and early intervention help treat shoulder injuries and promote successful outcomes. Purchasing shoulder brace support has proved to be beneficial to many who used it.
