Links to help with swimmer's shoulder injuries and related information.
Appropriate levels of flexibility in the rotator cuff and general shoulder region will promote a proper range of motion in all planes of movement to help decrease the likelihood of Swimmers Shoulder developing
There are many possible reasons for Swimmer's Shoulder (SS) to develop. SS injury and pain from impingement and other related issues seems to occur under one or more of the following circumstances...
To decrease instability issues and increase strength and muscle endurance that can result in impingement and Swimmers Shoulder, specific exercises can be performed to develop balanced-strength in the scapula’s stabilizers and the shoulder’s rotator cuff
A systematic process of rehabilitation and management for an impingement like Swimmer's Shoulder (SS)...
Identifying and employing methods to decrease the incidence, duration, or intensity of Swimmer's Shoulder (SS) episodes could allow an affected athlete to return to training or competition sooner, or could prevent an athlete from encountering a SS injury.
If Swimmer's Shoulder is ultimately an impingement problem related to overuse, and there are ways to decrease the probability of that impingement occurring, then it logically follows that SS could be made less probable to occur
This is a series of exercises for the uninjured athlete. Pain in the shoulder is common in swimmers. Shoulder function is highly dependent on the coordinated function of many muscle groups. These include the muscles around the shoulder, those that control the scapula or shoulder blade, muscles in the upper and lower back, as well as abdominal and pelvic muscles.
Upper extremity treatment and injury information is present with focus on shoulder dysfunction. Shoulder joint mechanics, anatomy, case studies and quizzes presented.
Shoulder Injuries are nearly as common as knee injuries. Learn about the most common shoulder injuries, treatments and prevention tips.
Swimmers Shoulder is frequently described as an impingement problem in the rotator cuff area, felt as anterior shoulder pain.
No one works hard, swimming lap after lap, just to get injured. But that may be the cause of swimmer's shoulder. Lap after lap - done the wrong way too often or too fast.
A swimmer’s stroke technique may be altered to reduce the likelihood or severity of a potential impingement between the rotator cuff and the coracoacromial arch and an episode of Swimmer's Shoulder.
Several different training items should be considered when dealing with Swimmers Shoulder
Information about sports-related upper extremity injuries, including frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, and rotator cuff injuries.
Employ a 3-step approach to eliminating shoulder problems: (1) correct technique; (2) strengthen (in and out of the water); (3) learn to relax while swimming.
NISMAT demonstrates some good stretches and techniques to help prevent swimmer's shoulder
Overuse injuries to the rotator cuff muscles (surrounding the shoulder blade - see above) are common in racquet, throwing and hitting sports and swimming. These muscles are specifically involved in motions used in these sports and also in helping to hold the upper arm bone in the shoulder socket. Rotator cuff injuries often involve muscle strength and flexibility imbalances. (UIUC - Mckinley)
Emmett Hines explain a plan to keep shoulder injuries at bay - he calls them "shoulder thangs".
Some general suggestions on swimmer's shoulder from Mark Jenkins. This is very basic, but offers a simple explanation of this too-common ailment.
Swim coaches frequently encounter swimmers complaining of pain in one or both of their shoulders. This pain (and its underlying cause) is often associated with swimming freestyle, and seems to occur most often in the swimmer%u2019s anterior shoulder region, but could also occur in other shoulder regions.
The exercises described on the next two pages are to help you strengthen the muscles in your shoulder (especially the rotator cuff muscles). These exercises should not cause you pain. If the exercise hurts, stop exercising.
Medline's guide to shoulder injury including an overview, symptoms, prevention, and rehabilitation.
The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons looks at shoulder injuries in layman's terms. This page offers some good rehab advice.
Alvin R. Loosli, MD and June Quick, RPT, ATC discuss the basics of shoulder injuries in swimming, from The Physician and Sports Medicine site.
"Tendinitis in the shoulder is a common enough injury in swimming that we call it 'Swimmer's Shoulder'" - this site goes on to examne three potential causes and ways to help prevent an occurence.
No swimmer works hard, swimming lap after lap, just to get injured. But that may be the cause of swimmer's shoulder. Lap after lap, done with the wrong swimming technique, too often or too fast.
From Jessica Seaton, this is a good look at symptoms, causes, and treatment for a tender shoulder.
The E-Medicine guide to swimmer's shoulder including an overview, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.
The Physician and Sports Medicine site explains swimmers's shoulder and how it happens.
Most sports come with injuries to accompany them. Although swimming is, by most standards, not a sport associated with high risk of injury, it does have it’s own problems. For swimmers, by far the biggest source of sidelining swimming injuries is the shoulder.
Scott Koehler and David Thomas (in The Physician and Sports Medicine) look at a case study of swimmer's shoulder and how it can be treated.
A very, very complete article from The Physician and Sportsmedicine site.
