Adhesive capsulitis is a common cause of shoulder pain and loss of motion less commonly seen in athletes compared to the overall population. It can either be a primary problem, where there is no underlying structural damage causing the loss of motion, or it can be secondary to an injury such as a rotator cuff [...]
+Continue ReadingThe biceps muscle is attached on either end by tendons. On one side it is attached to the shoulder by two heads, and it is attached distally at the elbow. A proximal biceps tendon rupture is an injury to the tendon as it inserts into the shoulder. Typically proximal biceps injuries affect older patients. Usually [...]
+Continue ReadingA fracture of the clavicle (collarbone) is unfortunately a common injury in contact and collision sports, such as football. Typically the injury occurs when the athlete lands on his or her shoulder. An athletic trainer or physician on the field can usually make the diagnosis right away. The clavicle will show deformity at the fracture [...]
+Continue ReadingDistal clavicle osteolysis is a condition that affects mainly weightlifters, but it can affect athletes in sports that use the upper extremities. It is a painful condition that develops over time rather than with one specific injury. It occurs at the end of the clavicle (collarbone), as it joins with the tip of the shoulder [...]
+Continue ReadingGlenohumeral internal rotation deficit is a cause of shoulder pain in throwing athletes. It is most commonly seen in baseball players, although you can see it in high-level tennis players and other overhead athletes. Usually it is a problem that develops over time rather than following an acute injury. Most athletes with GIRD complain of [...]
+Continue ReadingInternal impingement is a spectrum of problems with the shoulder that usually only affects athletes involved in overhead sports. The findings in the shoulder of an athlete with internal impingement include partial tears of one of the rotator cuff tendons, a tear of the labrum, subtle anterior instability, and tightness of the posterior capsule. There [...]
+Continue ReadingLittle Leaguer’s shoulder is an unfortunately common cause of shoulder pain in young throwing athletes. It is a problem that results solely from overuse, and specifically, from too much throwing. It almost always develops over time, although the athlete might remember a specific throw that initiated the pain. In the office, a sports medicine physician [...]
+Continue ReadingA rupture of the pectoralis major tendon is an extremely painful injury to the chest wall and upper arm of athletes. It is typically seen in bodybuilders and weightlifters who notice severe pain and a tearing sensation during a bench press or other weightlifting motion. It can also be seen in athletes of contact and [...]
+Continue ReadingRotator cuff injuries are among the most common problems of the shoulder but are often among the most misunderstood as well. Athletic individuals often assume that any pain in the shoulder is related to the rotator cuff. While they are frequent in many older athletes, rotator cuff issues are not always the source of shoulder [...]
+Continue ReadingShoulder instability is an condition frequently seen in sports. Traumatic shoulder dislocations are common in contact and collision sports, such as football, rugby, lacrosse, and wrestling. These injuries are usually easy to diagnose, since the shoulder and arm look abnormal as the humeral head (or the “ball” of the ball-and-socket joint) slides partially or completely [...]
+Continue ReadingShoulder impingement is somewhat of a global term to describe problems with the rotator cuff. In the past, people with this type of problem were often given a diagnosis of “tendinitis” or “bursitis.” There are several types of shoulder impingement, and this post focuses on subacromial rotator cuff impingement. I discuss internal impingement, another common [...]
+Continue ReadingShoulder separations are common injuries in contact and collision sports. People often confuse shoulder separations with shoulder dislocations. In a shoulder dislocation, the ball pops out of the socket. In a shoulder separation, there is an injury to the joint between the tip of the shoulder blade and the collarbone. Shoulder separations, or more specifically [...]
+Continue ReadingThe labrum of the shoulder is a cartilage bumper along the glenoid (socket) that serves to deepen the socket and help provide stability to the shoulder. It is a common injury to the shoulder, and it is being recognized with more frequency in athletes. A tear of the superior labrum (the labrum at the top [...]
+Continue ReadingThe sternoclavicular joint is the joint between the clavicle (collarbone) and sternum (breast bone). It is an uncommon injury when you consider all shoulder injuries. It typically occurs in contact and collision sports, such as football and rugby. It is a very painful, and potentially dangerous, injury, and a sports medicine physician should see athletes [...]
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C. David Geier Jr., M.D.
