|
What
is a rotator cuff injury?
How do rotator cuff injuries develop?
How do I prevent a rotator cuff injury?
Improving sports performance
Rotator cuff injury rehabilitation
for athletes
How do rotator
cuff injuries develop?
Rotator cuff
injuries can be caused by a direct blow to the shoulder or by excessive
rubbing of the rotator cuff and the top part of your shoulder blade (called
the acromion).
These types of injuries
can cause the rotator cuff to tear or develop impingement syndrome. Participating
in sports that require excessive overhead motion can cause impingement
problems. If you do not seek medical care for the inflammation in your
shoulder, it could eventually lead to a more serious injury.
Shoulder impingement
involves one or a combination of problems, including inflammation of the
lubricating sac (bursa) located just over the rotator cuff, a condition
called bursitis; inflammation of the rotator cuff tendons, called tendinitis;
and calcium deposits in tendons caused by wear and tear or injury. A torn
rotator cuff is also a potential outcome of shoulder impingement.
Types of impingement
include:
- Bursitis
Frequent extension of the arm at high speed under high load, such as
pitching a baseball or playing racquet sports, can cause bursitis. Medical
research shows that the older you get, the more likely you are to develop
bursitis.
- Tendinitis
Tendinitis develops over time and is likely to occur when a person whose
muscles are not in good condition starts an overly aggressive training
program. In younger athletes, the causes of tendinitis are similar to
those of bursitis.
How can I prevent
a rotator cuff injury?
While some rotator cuff problems are associated with direct blows or falls,
most are caused by overuse. One of the best ways to prevent these overuse
injuries from recurring is to listen to your body and take rest when you
need it, or seek medical care for your shoulder inflammation instead of
trying to "work through the pain."
Furthermore, the rehabilitation
exercises should be continued to ensure protective strength, range
of motion, and stability of the injured area.
Other preventive techniques
include:
- Don't play tennis
or golf in an attempt to "loosen up" tightness. When a shoulder
injury is ignored, it can become the source of chronic problems.
- If your shoulder
is sore after you use it actively, especially at the limits of your
reach, give it some rest. If pain persists or worsens, consult your
doctor.
- Do exercises to
strengthen arm, back, and chest muscles.
- Learn the proper
technique for exercise and sporting activities. This will decrease stress
on all your muscles, ligaments and tendons, including those around your
shoulder.
Improving sports
performance
The key to improving sports performance after recovering from a rotator
cuff injury is a proper rehabilitation program, and adhering to some of
those same principles after the injury is gone. Refer to the rehabilitation
exercises regularly.
Also, the single most
important aspect of improving performance is stretching before and after
you step onto the field, court, ice, or golf course.
Benefits derived from stretching include:
- increased physical
efficiency and performance
- decreased risk
of injury
- increased blood
supply and nutrients to joint structures
- increased coordination
- improved muscular
balance and postural awareness
- reduced stress
- enhanced enjoyment
|
