Shoulder pain exists in a wide variety of athletic populations and for a variety of causes. The CTPO medical team sees many athletes who are injured through repetitive motions—swimmers, throwers (baseball pitchers and softball players) and high-level volleyball athletes.
Overuse injuries can often be effectively managed through physical therapy. Shoulder pain may also stem from other issues such as neck injuries, fractures, or joint instability (subluxation or dislocation).
IS IT NORMAL FOR A CHILD TO HAVE SHOULDER PAIN?
Shoulder pain is unfortunately very common in overhead athletes, especially swimmers, volleyball players, and throwers. The repetitive nature of these sports, coupled with a long season, may predispose the athlete to suffer from either specific or generalized shoulder pain.
WHAT CAN CAUSE SHOULDER PAIN IN CHILDREN?
Shoulder pain can be caused by a variety of factors, such as throwing a ball repetitively or from landing directly on the shoulder. The most common injuries we see at CTPO are overuse injuries, where the athlete regularly participates in an overhead motion that stresses the tissues of the shoulder.
IS SHOULDER PAIN A SYMPTOM OF SOMETHING ELSE?
Shoulder pain can be a complex, multifaceted process that can involve both the cervical spine and/or the elbow joint, as well as systemic and medical issues.
Your provider will ask you a series of screening questions and perform a variety of examination techniques to rule out other pathology and ensure the shoulder pain is coming from the shoulder.
WHAT IS A REASON FOR SHOULDER PAIN WITHOUT INJURY?
Most of the shoulder pain we see at CTPO that presents without a known, specific injury is due to overuse.
Many times, athletes competing in overhead sports and activities swing their arm to throw, serve, or swim hundreds or thousands of times each practice.
This exerts a large force on the tissues and coupled with a long season, may eventually lead to shoulder aches and pains.