The “throwing shoulder” in sports such as tennis, golf, or baseball is subjected to continuous microtrauma often resulting in overuse injuries. This blog is about West Palm Beach Chiropractor: Throwing Shoulder Injuries.
A study on baseball pitching found two phases during the throw when injury to the shoulder was most likely to occur.
Firstly, during arm cocking, the arm will have to internally rotate before externally rotating. This internal rotation causes a compressive force at the anterior (front) portion of the shoulder.
Secondly, the arm is decelerating and the shoulder is internally rotating. Again, a compressive force achieved at the shoulder can cause injury.
Thirdly, even the short period between the above phases can cause injury due to repetitive movements over time.
West Palm Beach Chiropractic Care: Throwing Shoulder Injuries
Repetitive throwing, especially at the intense speed of motion per second performed by baseball pitchers eventually can result in shoulder impingement.
West Palm Beach Chiropractic Care: Subacromial impingement
Due to the (flexed, horizontally adducted and internally) rotated arm of the throwing shoulder, a superior (upward) translation of the humeral (upper arm bone) head occurs. This translation of the humerus impinges (pinches) on the rotator cuff and biceps brachi muscles. The muscles translate against the inferior surface of the acromion of the scapula (part of shoulder blade) or coracoacromial ligament.
Throwing sports activities that constantly stretch the shoulder capsule, such as in baseball causes instability. Therefore, an anterior (front) subtle or excessive laxity or looseness causes impingement on the anterior labrum (cartilage in shoulder joint).
As a result of the above, Arthritis/degeneration occurs when grinding of the labrum anteriorly occurs. And this is because of failure of the supportive musculature needed during the deceleration phases. For example, there is fatigue of rotator cuff, deltoids and latissimus dorsi resulting in diminished support to the glenohumeral joint by the muscles.
West Palm Beach Chiropractic Care: What is shoulder impingement syndrome?
A shoulder impingement syndrome is defined as a compromise of the space between the coracoacromial arch (portion of top outer edge of shoulder blade) and the proximal (situated nearer the center of the body) humerus (upper arm bone). So several structures may get impinged (pinched): The biceps tendon, superior labrum (cartilage in shoulder joint), supraspinatus (1 of the rotator cuff muscles) tendon, and the subacromial bursa (a fluid-filled sac for countering friction at a joint ) are all vulnerable to being impinged.
Causes for shoulder impingement include both structural and functional reasons:
Structural reasons:
-variant acromial types that are hooked or lengthened (top portion of shoulder blade developed/grew abnormal)
-degenerative (wear and tear arthritic) changes on the undersurface of the acromion
-an inflammatory process in the subacromial space (which could be due to i.e. bursitis, rotator cuff tear, or/and all of the above)
Functional reasons:
-abnormal position of your spine or scapula (ie. thoracic kyphosis)
-tightness of your shoulder capsule (membrane around shoulder joint),
-decrease in the space between the coracoaromial arch and proximal humerus due to past injuries
-abnormal motion due to nerve related problems (i.e. nerve palsy)
West Palm Beach Chiropractic Care: Throwing Shoulder Injury Treatment
Chiropractic adjustments/manipulation to the shoulder (e.g. glenohumeral), and associated regions. Associated regions may be the cervical (neck) and thoracic (mid back) spine. Additionally, soft tissue therapy (myofascial release, pressure point and various post isometric relaxation procedures) and modalities (cold/heat therapy and electric muscle stimulation) will be administered as needed. Finally, therapeutic exercises to continue treatment at home will be given.
The first goal is to get you out of pain. Next, restore normal range of motion to the shoulder. Finally, to strengthen the rotator cuff and scapulothoracic (mid back where the shoulder is attached) musculature. The long-range goal is to stabilize your shoulder with a progressive rehabilitation program. Also, recommendations for correction/modification of posture and/or occupational/daily lifestyle activities is important.
West Palm Beach Chiropractic Care: Throwing Shoulder Injuries
Meiri Chiropractic serving West Palm Beach, Jupiter, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens and the surrounding areas offers excellent chiropractic treatment for throwing shoulder injuries. Call 561-253-8984 today to schedule an appointment or to find out more about West Palm Beach Chiropractic Care: Throwing Shoulder Injuries.