Physiotherapy Helps Sports Injuries
How Physiotherapy Can Help Sports related Shoulder Injuries
With the warmer weather approaching, more and more people will be getting out of the house and playing sports, and at Healthsure this means we will start to see an ever growing number of sports-related injuries.
When it comes to sports injuries, the shoulder is particularly vulnerable to damage because it is such a critical joint. If injured, it can not only affect your sporting performance, but can have larger implications on your lifestyle.
An enormously complex joint, the shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body according to medical research. It is crucial to a number of physical movements, but this flexibility also means that is it is especially prone to injuries.
The shoulder is critical to performance in virtually all sports, as it is the only joint in your body which can rotate 360 degrees. Indeed, it is the shoulder which allows you to swing a golf club, hit a tennis ball, and maintain balance when playing football.
The shoulder is made up of three bones:
- The Clavicle (collar bone)
- The Scapula (shoulder blade)
- The Humerus (upper arm bone)
These bones are connected by the Rotator Cuff, which is a group of four tendons which hold the entire shoulder together. They provide stability to the shoulder, and allow a full range of movement which allows it to rotate.
This wide range of movements which the shoulder provides also means that the ligaments and muscles around the joint are under a great deal of strain. This tension can lead to overexertion which causes the tendons to become inflamed or torn. When this happens, the other tendons have to work harder to keep the bone where it belongs, which can result in significant pain and strain as well as restricting the range of movement.
Shoulder pain is a common occurrence in virtually all sports, but is most common in those which require a great deal of repetitive movement, or overhead movements. For example, golfers are especially prone to shoulder injuries because of the amount of pressure they put on the joint.
In most cases, if you are experiencing shoulder pain, this means your shoulder muscles are uncoordinated and managing your shoulder pain with physiotherapy has been shown to be an extremely effective approach.
It’s important to make sure you see a physiotherapist as soon as you recognise the pain, as this could affect your future performance. Moreover, you don’t want an injury which should take six days to rehabilitate to take six months!
Ask yourself questions like: Is the pain lingering? Is my movement restricted? Is it affecting my performance?
If the answer is yes, it’s time to get it checked out by a specialist. Shoulder pain can be a long-term problem, and up to half of those who have shoulder injuries still report symptoms 18 months later if they don’t get the proper treatment, according to the NHS.
At Healthsure, we undertake a thorough assessment of shoulder injuries and your shoulder movements, identifying the source of the pain and giving you with an accurate diagnosis. From this, we can implement a personalised treatment plan to restore movement & function, strengthen your shoulder muscles, and get you back to your best.
Our physiotherapists will also offer a thorough explanation as to how the pain can be managed at home, and show you the best ways to prevent the recurrence of the injury.
When it comes your physical health, don’t be unsure — be Healthsure.
Book your appointment now:
✉️ info@healthsurephysio.co.uk
Also published on Medium.
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