From pitching a fastball and swinging a golf club to swimming, lifting and tackling, athletes rely on the shoulder for power, speed and an extraordinary range of motion. Those demands leave athletes vulnerable both to sudden sports injuries in the shoulder and damage that develops gradually from repetitive stress.
Understanding the most common shoulder injuries in sports can help athletes at every level reduce their risk, protect their performance and stay in the game.
Key Takeaways
- Common sports related shoulder problems include rotator cuff injuries, shoulder dislocations and subluxations, SLAP tears, shoulder impingement and AC joint injuries..
- Athletes can reduce injury risk by ensuring their technique is correct, building shoulder strength, gradually increasing training and prioritizing adequate recovery.
- Signs and symptoms to watch for: Persistent pain, weakness, instability or loss of motion should be evaluated before returning to play.
- Early diagnosis and appropriate shoulder treatment help athletes recover from shoulder injuries and protect long-term function.
Why Shoulder Injuries Are Common in Athletes
The shoulder is the body's most mobile joint, its extraordinary range of motion driven by a complex system of muscles and tendons without the protection and stabilization of deep bone structure.
Athletes continually push that remarkable mobility further. Shoulder injuries in sports result from repetitive overuse, high-velocity stress and sudden impact or wrenching. Without sufficient strength in the supporting muscles, proper conditioning and adequate recovery, those demands can lead to acute or overuse injuries.
Most Common Shoulder Injuries in Sports
The most common shoulder injuries in sports occur across more disciplines than you might expect, not just those dominated by throwing or overhead motion.
Rotator Cuff Injuries
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that stabilize the shoulder, and repetitive overhead motion can strain, inflame or tear these tissues. One of the most common shoulder problems in sports is related to this structure and occurs in athletes who repeatedly throw or lift overhead, including baseball pitchers, tennis players, swimmers and weightlifters, but also can be from acute injuries. Most of the time this is pain related to tendinopathy but may go on to partial or complete rotator cuff tears.
Shoulder Dislocations and Subluxations
A shoulder dislocation occurs when the ball of the arm bone comes completely out of its socket, while a subluxation is a partial dislocation. Falls and collisions put wrestlers, gymnasts and football players at risk, along with athletes in less obvious shoulder-risk sports such as cycling and soccer. Any sport that pushes the shoulder to its limit of range of motion has the potential to cause a dislocation.
SLAP Tears
A superior labrum anterior to posterior (SLAP) tear is typically located where the biceps tendon attaches onto the labrum at the top of the glenoid. Repetitive overhead motion makes SLAP tears particularly common in baseball pitchers, volleyball players and tennis players.
Subacromial Pain (sometimes referred to as impingement)
Subacromial pain is pain that occurs with lifting the arm overhead and can be related to problems with the rotator cuff or bursa. Repetitive overhead motion makes it a common shoulder ailment among swimmers, baseball pitchers, tennis players and volleyball players.
AC Joint Injuries
Acromioclavicular (AC) joint injuries occur when a direct impact or fall damages the ligaments connecting the collarbone to the shoulder blade. Common in football, hockey, rugby and spills when cycling, these injuries can range from a mild sprain to complete separation of the joint.
Signs and Symptoms to Watch For
Sports-related shoulder pain can range from a deep ache or throbbing to sharp, stabbing or burning pain and may radiate into the upper arm. A shoulder injury may cause pain with specific movements, weakness, instability or symptoms that worsen rather than improve with recovery.
Signs of a shoulder injury include:
- Pain during specific shoulder movements
- Weakness when lifting or rotating the arm
- Reduced range of motion
- Clicking, catching or popping-remove this line
- A loose or unstable feeling
- Swelling, bruising or visible deformity
- Pain that disrupts sleep
Preventing Shoulder Injuries in Sports
Athletes can reduce the risk of many shoulder injuries in sports by preparing their bodies for the specific demands of their sport, choosing appropriate equipment and allowing adequate recovery.
- Build strength and maintain mobility. Strong rotator cuff and shoulder-blade muscles help stabilize the joint, while adequate flexibility allows the shoulder to move efficiently through its full range of motion.
- Train the entire kinetic chain. Throwing, serving and swinging generate force through the legs, hips and core before transferring it through the shoulder and arm. Strength and coordination throughout that chain can reduce unnecessary stress on the shoulder.
- Match equipment to the athlete. Racquet weight, balance and grip size can change how forces travel through the arm during a swing or serve. Properly fitted equipment can reduce unnecessary stress throughout the kinetic chain.
- Increase training gradually. Sudden increases in the frequency, duration or intensity of training can overload shoulder tissues before they have time to adapt.
- Allow adequate recovery. Muscles and tendons need time between demanding training sessions to repair and adapt to increased loads.
When to See a Specialist
Treatment Pathway
Many overuse problems are treated with activity modification and rehabilitation. Surgery is considered when appropriate rather than a necessary solution and used only when absolutely necessary.
Urgent Evaluation
It is recommended that you get urgent evaluation when there is a suspected dislocation, obvious deformity, new numbness or weakness, or any change in circulation.
Young Throwers
If your child has pain in their shoulder, particularly while they are growing, this should not be dismissed as soreness. This possibly could be related to the physis or growth plate of the upper arm. A very important rule when it comes to these athletes is that they should never throw with pain in their elbow or shoulder.
About Hoag Orthopedic Institute Sports Medicine
The board-certified and fellowship-trained Sports Medicine or shoulder specialists at Hoag Orthopedic Institute provide advanced shoulder care for athletes with acute and overuse injuries. From diagnosis and nonsurgical treatment through rehabilitation and, when necessary, surgery, our team helps athletes recover, protect long-term shoulder function and return to the sports they love.
About the Author
David Gazzaniga, MD is the Division Chief of Sports Medicine at Hoag Orthopedic Institute and sports medicine surgeon with expertise in treating athletes of ages including professional and high school teams. See his bio for more information.
