shoulder impingement

Shoulder Impingement is a very common problem with baseball players due to the shoulder movements involved. It is crucial that it is treated properly, because shoulder impingement can lead to much more serious problems. I have found (and a research seminar put on by UConn's sports medicine department agrees) that Shoulder impingement can lead to anterior (front) shoulder pain, which can lead to a torn labrum, which is quite possibly the worst arm injury that a baseball player can have. The only problem is that much of the treatment programs used to treat impingement are outdated and less than optimal. Pick your physician wisely.

i was diagnosed with one when i was 16, was shutdown for a month, given some exercises. it still "pops" when i raise it, but the pain is gone (or at least I don't notice it anymore) played through college with little problem, 30 and still hummin BP. don't think mine was severe, definately see a sports physician.

Many thanks Gentlemen.

Mark

I developed severe shoulder impingements in HS from incorrect lifting protocols. I tried numerous methods for rehab, but nothing worked. My mother is a Physical therapist so I had as much ammo as I needed. Even so nothing worked.

Until I found Active Release Technique (ART). My impingements were gone in a few weeks. It really was a miracle to me!

Since then I have referred many individuals to health care professionals that provide ART and in every case the problem has been cured or significantly improved.

It works for most soft tissue injuries. You can find a practicioner in your area through their website, www.activerelease.com

I agree with Jon 100%. I have been trained in ART for the spine, lower extremity and upper extremity. I would say that the shoulder joint is hands down the area that responds to ART the best. I am not giving medical advice, but "If I were you", I would find a provider that utilizes ART. I would definitely also try to find a provider that will do some assisted stretching/PNF stretching, as well as joint mobilization to take the pressure off of the impinged joint. God willing you will be good as new in no time.

There are different levels of shoulder impingement.

Level I has the least impact. Rest and PT should take care of it.

Level II needs more rest and PT.

Level III would probably require surgery to shave the bone to reduce/elimnate the impingement.

Obviously each person's condition should be confirmed by an Orthopod as each person is unique and responds differently to treatment.

Thanks again guys.

This sounds very encouraging.

Mark

spinedoc, you have any experience or familiarity with cervical spinal stenosis? I have some serious issues going on in my neck....

Maxx
Yes I do, PM me your email address and we can "talk".

Thanks to slobintoronto for originally posting this. The player referred to is actually my 15-year-old son, a pitcher for Mark's team. My son and I went to the U.of Toronto Sports Medicine Clinic where he was diagnosed with Shoulder Impingement Syndrome after undergoing MRI examination as well. The doctor there seemed concerned to the extent that he implied that his pitching career may be in jeopardy. Part of the reason for the extra concern is that that there is evidence of bone loss and also a couple of cysts, very unusual in one so young. The doctor believes the problem stems from something being done incorrectly in his mechanics (arm moving back without shoulder accompaniment (but he doesn't "short arm")?) and that if this isn't found and corrected, the outlook is grim. It's a bit frustrating since my son appears to have very good mechanics. My son (yes me too) is semi devastated at the prospect of not pitching. He will of course follow the suggested physio-therapy and we are seeing an ortho surgeon for a second opinion. Not sure if this sheds any more light on his situation but I'd be grateful for any more opinions (especially encouraging ones!)...thanks all!

Richard K.

I was wondering if anyone has tried cold laser therapy or low level laser therapy (LLLT) to treat their shoulder problems. it is one of the therapies that I use in my clinics and it is quite effective. I was turned onto it by the team doc for the KC Chiefs, and I also read an article that talked about how Lance Armstrong had it done 2 times a day during his tour runs. It has FDA clearance to treat neck and shoulder pain. If anyone is intrigued to try it, feel free to PM with your zip code and the city you live in, and I will do my best to find a doc in your neighborhood. just another thought.

Back in the summer, my son was experiencing pain in the front of his shoulder. I got very concerned about a labrum tear. Got him checked out, and he was diagnosed with what the Dr. called GIRD(glenohumeral internal rotation deficit). He had apparently developed some scar tissue on some of the posterior ligaments, which put pressure on the front of the shoulder. He was told to shut down for 30 days, and perform "sleeper" stretches twice a day. It worked wonders. We also came to realize that he fell into a category of many a young pitcher, in that he is much weaker in the decelerator muscles than in the accelerator muscles.

Thanks very much.

Mark

Many thanks to all, especially to Mark for initiating this thread and to spinedoc for his PM encouragement. My son is now receiving appropriate (and consistent with your advice)PT and the outlook looks a little more promising.

SoutherNo1,

Be sure that your son stays with his treatment regimen even when he is no longer experiencing soreness. My son (now 17, RHP) has been through multiple GIRD shutdowns over the past three-four seasons. Once the pain goes away, he thinks he can stop the sleeper stretches and rubber tube exercises, then soon finds himself back in trouble again. The PT showed me the two rotator cuff sets of muscles on the back of the shoulder blade and it was freaky how his pitching side compared to his left side. His shoulder blade was convex (due to muscle development) on his left side and concave on the right side (oppposite of what you would expect). The rubber tube exercises are to strengthen those muscles on the right side to help keep everything in place when he throws. I've always felt that the core problem was that he doesn't allow his arm to decelerate by swinging it through past his knee. I think he tends to pull back on it to "brake" it -- which obviously is not a good thing.