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Don’t Let Shoulder Pain Spoil Your Summer
Warmer temperatures and longer days make it easier to stay active. From gardening to baseball to weekend home projects, people tend to move a lot more this time of year — and that’s a great thing.
However, increased movement can bring some risks, especially if you tend to be sedentary during the cooler months. This is particularly true of the shoulder, as many popular summer activities tend to utilize it more than you might expect.
At Vibrant Health Solutions, our comprehensive approach starts by identifying the underlying cause of your pain — and for shoulder pain, repetitive motions or improper postures are often the culprit. Let’s explore the link between summertime activities and shoulder pain and examine how our clinicians can help.
Why Summer Activities Can Trigger Shoulder Pain
The shoulder is one of the most mobile joints in the body, and that mobility comes at a cost: instability. Many summer activities rely on repetitive overhead motion or load the shoulder with weight or force, leading to overuse injuries that can cause persistent pain and discomfort if not addressed immediately. Here are some examples:
Gardening and Yard Work
Pulling weeds, trimming hedges, or tidying up your lawn can seem low risk. However, these tasks often involve repetitive motions and awkward angles. Over time, this can lead to injuries such as:
Rotator Cuff Strain
- Irritation or small tears in the muscles and tendons that stabilize the shoulder
Bursitis
- Inflammation of the bursa, a small fluid-filled sac that cushions the joint
Baseball and Softball
Nothing says summer like baseball, but throwing sports place a high demand on the shoulder, especially in older adults or weekend athletes who don’t warm up properly. Injuries include:
Labral Tears
- Damage to the cartilage rim that helps stabilize the shoulder
Impingement Syndrome
- Occurs when tendons get pinched during overhead motion
Swimming
Although swimming is a great low-impact cardio exercise, it involves a repetitive overhead movement pattern that can overload shoulder stabilizers, potentially resulting in:
Tendonitis
- Irritation of the tendons, especially in the rotator cuff
Shoulder Instability
- Increased looseness in the joint from repetitive stress
Recreational Activities
Many popular outdoor summer activities, including tennis, kayaking, and pickleball, involve fast, repetitive shoulder movements. Without conditioning, these can lead to many of the injuries discussed above, including rotator cuff strains, tendinitis, and bursitis.
A Comprehensive Approach to Managing Shoulder Pain
The key to addressing the overuse injuries common in summer activities is identifying and correcting the root cause of your pain, such as poor posture, muscular imbalances, or improper biomechanics.
That’s why every patient who visits Vibrant Health Solutions starts with a comprehensive assessment performed by our nurse practitioner. That way, the different healthcare providers on our staff can work together to develop an integrated, whole-body approach to addressing shoulder pain.
While every plan is different, here are some of the techniques we might incorporate:
Injections of Saline-Based Products
- Injecting a saline-based product into your shoulder joint can release restrictions in the joint capsule, and calm irritated muscles.
Manual and Massage Therapy
- Hands-on techniques to reduce stiffness and improve shoulder mobility.
Laser Therapy
- Low-powered light waves help reduce inflammation in the shoulder tissue, reducing pain and swelling.
Ultrasound Therapy
- Directing sound waves to the affected area helps promote blood flow and facilitate your body’s natural healing processes.
Bracing
- A dynamic posture brace helps stabilize your shoulder, helping to minimize pain and prevent further injury as you work through your treatment program.
Postural Training
- We’ll ensure you’re recruiting the correct stabilizing and active muscles, so you are able to hold the correct posture during your dynamic summer activities, helping to reduce pain and increase proper shoulder movement.
Therapeutic Exercise
We’ll guide you through a personalized exercise program to strengthen your rotator cuff, upper back, and other key muscles to stabilize and support your shoulder.
Wave Goodbye to Shoulder Pain This Summer
Whether you’re an athlete, gardener, or just love hitting the pool, shoulder pain can stop you in your tracks. But it doesn’t have to.
If you’ve noticed any shoulder pain this summer, schedule an appointment with Vibrant Health Solutions. Our team of clinicians will develop a truly comprehensive care plan that focuses on resolving your pain, not simply masking the symptoms. That way, you can enjoy your summer to the fullest.
Call our clinic today to schedule your initial evaluation.
Patient Success Story
“Have had off and on back pain (upper back between my shoulder blades) for a number of years. It was persistent on a daily basis and would flare up when playing sports and reached its worst after golfing. I did an 8 week program that included adjustments, rehab, to injections. The program has been successful in severely minimizing my pain and allowed me to go about my day without thinking about my back. Ethan and Moshe’ were super helpful and professional! I would highly recommend these services to anyone!”
— 5-Star Google Review
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What’s Included?
Initial Consultation
Spine & Joint Check Up
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Written Report
Tips for Parents as School Ends and Summer Begins
As summer break approaches, parents can prepare for their kids being out of school with these practical tips:
- Plan Activities: Organize a list of summer activities to keep kids engaged, such as outdoor sports, art projects, or day trips to parks and museums.
- Set a Routine: Maintain a structured daily routine with regular wake-up times, meal schedules, and designated study or reading periods to promote consistency.
- Healthy Eating: Stock up on nutritious snacks and plan balanced meals to keep kids energized and healthy throughout the summer.
- Safety First: Ensure your home and outdoor play areas are safe and child-proofed. Discuss safety rules with your children, especially if they spend more time outside.
- Screen Time Limits: Set reasonable limits on screen time to encourage physical activity and reduce excessive device usage.
By following these tips, parents can create a balanced and enjoyable summer experience for their children, combining fun, learning, and safety throughout the break.
Ready to Make This Summer a Great One?
Start the season off right with simple steps that keep your kids active, healthy, and safe all summer long. If you’re looking for more guidance on keeping your family moving and injury-free, contact Vibrant Health Solutions today — we’re here to support a fun, balanced summer for the whole family!
Meet Nora
Nora Fulks, PTA
Nora is a dedicated Physical Therapist Assistant who brings five years of hands-on experience and a warm, personal approach to patient care in our clinic. She began her education at Benedictine College and later transferred to Washburn University in Topeka, where she earned her associates as a Physical Therapist Assistant and a Bachelor’s in Health Services Administration, graduating in 2020.
Nora’s favorite part of her job is building meaningful connections with her patients and helping them return to the activities they love. She has a special interest in treating pelvic floor patients and those experiencing hip pain, where she takes pride in helping them return to their everyday life.
Outside of work, Nora enjoys spending quality time outdoors with her amazing husband, Daniel, and their two young children. With twin girls on the way, her family is growing, and so is her love for baking, which she shares often with those around her!ies.
Feel Better by Eating Better!
Fettuccine With Vegetables and Goat Cheese
Celebrate fresh flavors with this vibrant pasta dish! Tender egg fettuccine is tossed with juicy yellow tomatoes, crisp wax beans, sweet yellow squash, and fragrant chives. A touch of lemon zest and creamy goat cheese create a light, luscious sauce, while a sprinkle of parmesan adds the perfect finish. It’s a colorful, easy-to-make meal that’s bursting with garden-fresh goodness.
Ingredients
- 1 large yellow tomato, seeded and diced
- 1 small yellow squash, finely diced
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh chives (about 1 small bunch)
- Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
- 3 tbsps. extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 ounces soft goat cheese, crumbled
- 12 ounces dried egg fettuccine
- 4 ounces wax beans (about 2 cups), trimmed and halved lengthwise
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/fettuccine-with-summer-vegetables-and-goat-cheese-recipe-2108863
Directions:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Toss the tomato, squash, chives, lemon zest and 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large bowl. Season with salt. Sprinkle in half of the goat cheese. Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook as the label directs, adding the wax beans to the pot during the last 3 minutes of cooking. Reserve 1/4 cup of the cooking water, then drain the pasta and beans and add to the bowl with the vegetables. Drizzle with the reserved cooking water and the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and toss until the goat cheese begins to melt. Add the parmesan and toss. Divide among bowls and top with the remaining goat cheese.
Exercise of the Month
Diagonal Trunk Rotation In Standing With Ball
Start in a standing position with the ball held in both hands. Twist your torso so that you are holding the ball down by one hip. Twist your torso the other direction as you raise the ball up diagonally across your body.
3 sets, 10 reps.
Let’s Get You Better ASAP!
Don’t let pain dictate your life. Take the first step towards reclaiming your mobility and well-being with our expert support. Start your journey to a healthier you today.
