Physical Therapy Can Help Alleviate Shoulder Pain in Golfers

Physical Therapy Can Help Alleviate Shoulder Pain in Golfers

Have you noticed pain while swinging your golf clubs? Are you struggling to get a full swing due to pain or restrictions in motion? Maybe it’s time for you to get your shoulder looked at by one of our movement experts. At Vibrant Health Solutions/TherapyWorks, our physical therapists help golfers alleviate pain, recover lost motion, and get stronger so they can golf without limitations!

Shoulder pain can be a significant struggle for golfers of all ages and skill levels. Research has indicated that shoulder problems account for up to 18% of all golf-related injuries. Like most golf-related injuries, shoulder conditions are typically overuse injuries. They are typically the result of repetitive microtrauma, poor swing mechanics, or an aggravation of a previous condition. 

Caring for golfers requires comprehensive knowledge of the golf swing mechanics and musculoskeletal injuries specific to golfers. Ensuring the golfer optimizes their unique anatomy to create efficient motor patterns from address position to follow-through is the key to pain-free golfing. 

Our physical therapists will identify deficits such as weakness and/or tightness in the leg, pelvis/spine, shoulder joint, or shoulder blade that can lead to inefficient movement patterns and overuse injuries. At Vibrant Health Solutions/TherapyWorks, we will assess your whole body to determine what may be contributing to your pain/injury. We will identify your individual needs and help you resolve your problem once and for all!

Request an appointment today and let our team help guide you back to health! 

What Are The Main Types Of Shoulder Injuries From Golfing?

Although the temptation is often to rest or alter the painful swing movement, a better solution would be to see one of our highly trained physical therapists. Golf can be demanding due to the sheer volume of swings in a single round of golf. 

The shoulder is commonly affected by overuse and/or poor technique. The lead shoulder, or the left shoulder in the right-handed golfer, is particularly susceptible to injury. Most injuries can be treated or prevented through a thorough understanding of the biomechanics of the swing and how the entire body contributes to a successful swing.

The most common shoulder problems affecting golfers include:

Rotator cuff strains, tears and/or tendinopathy: The rotator cuff comprises four muscles that keep the humeral head (ball) centered in the socket when we move our arm. Injury or irritation of one or more tendons leads to shoulder pain, weakness, and loss of range of motion.

Shoulder impingement: Impingement is a common cause of shoulder pain, where a tendon rubs or catches on nearby tissue and/or bone as you move (lift) your arm. This problem is usually due to overuse and repetitive traumas and can have its root in poor shoulder blade stabilization from weak core muscles. 

The long head of the biceps tendon is particularly susceptible to impingement as it runs along the shoulder’s front (anterior) aspect through the area between the shoulder blade and arm bone (i.e., subacromial space). 

Acromioclavicular (AC) joint pain: The AC joint is on the very top of the shoulder. Research suggests that the AC joint is most stressed at the top of the backswing when the lead shoulder is in maximal horizontal abduction (reaching across the body). Degeneration, poor posture, and faulty shoulder blade movements can influence the AC joint and lead to pain or injury. 

Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis is a degenerative type of arthritis where the cartilage in the shoulder joint gradually wears away. As the cartilage wears away, the joint space decreases, resulting in pain and loss of motion. 

Shoulder joint instability: Instability is defined as the excess movement of the humeral head (ball) in relation to the socket. Essentially, the ball slides forward or backward in the socket and loses its ideal positioning within the socket. The rotator cuff’s primary function is to maintain the ball in the center of the socket, preventing excessive movement of the humeral head in any direction. 

At Vibrant Health Solutions/TherapyWorks, our team will help identify the most likely cause of your shoulder pain and create a plan to resolve it.