Common Shoulder Injuries
Here are guidelines for the shoulder injuries doctors see most often:
Rotator cuff problems
What goes wrong: The four muscles that sit right above your shoulder joint can get caught between the bones in the shoulder and upper arm, causing tendinitis and eventually a tear.
Who gets it: Weight lifters, swimmers, tennis players, volleyball players, baseball pitchers
Ways to prevent it: Ask a trainer to make sure your weight routine works all the rotator cuff muscles, not just the front part.
How to fix it: Until it's healed, avoid aggravating it with repetitive motion or overhead weight lifting. If it doesn't get better with time, you may need surgery.
The latest treatment: Having blood drawn before surgery to isolate growth factor-containing platelets. Technicians then concentrate those platelets into something resembling a wad of chewing gum, which is put into the cuff to speed healing.
Click on the links below for guidelines on other common sports injuries:
Ankle Injuries • Back Injuries • Elbow Injuries • Hip Injuries • Knee Injuries