With summer in full swing, it’s finally perfect swimming weather again! Don’t let shoulder pain or discomfort stop you from enjoying your summer to the fullest. Our physiotherapists at Manotick PhysioWorks outline how they can help you prevent and/or manage the symptoms of swimmer’s shoulder.
What is Swimmer’s Shoulder?
The shoulder joint's remarkable mobility allows for a wide range of movements, but it also makes it susceptible to injuries, such as swimmer's shoulder. Swimmer's shoulder, also known as subacromial impingement syndrome, is a condition characterized by pain and inflammation in the shoulder joint. It occurs due to repetitive overhead motions, such as those involved in swimming strokes. These movements place excessive stress on the rotator cuff muscles and tendons in the shoulder. Swimmers of all levels, from beginners to professionals, can experience swimmer's shoulder.
What Causes Swimmer's Shoulder?
Several factors contribute to the development of swimmer's shoulder, including:
1. Overuse and Repetitive Motions
2. Poor Technique
3. Muscle Imbalances
4. Insufficient Warm-up or Cool-down
Common Signs and Symptoms of Swimmer’s Shoulder
Swimmer's shoulder manifests through a variety of signs and symptoms, including:
1. Shoulder Pain: Dull, aching pain in the shoulder joint, which may radiate down the arm.
2. Shoulder Weakness: Reduced strength and difficulty performing swimming strokes or everyday activities involving the shoulder.
3. Loss of Range of Motion: Difficulty reaching overhead, lifting objects, or performing daily tasks due to limited shoulder mobility.
4. Shoulder Instability: Feeling of shoulder joint "slipping" or "catching" during movements, indicating potential muscle imbalances or ligament damage.
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How Physiotherapy Can Help Swimmer’s Shoulder
Physiotherapy can play a vital role in diagnosing and treating swimmer's shoulder, helping you get back in the water pain-free! At Manotick PhysioWorks, we can help you treat or manage your swimmer's shoulder.
To begin, your physiotherapist will do an initial assessment of your condition, identify contributing factors, and create a personalized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs as a result of swimmer’s shoulder. The treatment plan typically includes pain management through the use of manual therapy, joint mobilization, and soft tissue release during your sessions with your physiotherapist. They will also create a custom exercise program for you to do in between sessions, to strengthen the rotator cuff muscles, improve shoulder stability, and correct muscle imbalances.
Your physiotherapist may also be able to offer tips regarding your form and can educate you on injury prevention techniques, warm-up and cool-down exercises, and proper body mechanics to reduce the risk of future shoulder injuries.