Baseball Player? Do This to Avoid Shoulder Problems

Baseball may be America’s pastime, but it’s no friend of the shoulder. The constant throwing required to succeed in this sport puts strain on your shoulder joint and leaves you susceptible to a range of injuries.

That doesn’t mean you need to give the game up, though. Instead, making certain adjustments can help baseball players avoid shoulder problems. 

As an expert in shoulder pain, Karl Siebuhr, MD, has suggestions to help you protect the shoulder of your throwing arm throughout baseball season. And if you do run into any sports injuries, he and our team can treat them right here at Reconstructive Orthopaedics of Central Florida in Ocala, Florida. 

Throwing and shoulder strain

When you throw — and especially when you throw at high speeds — you put strain on your shoulder. Your shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint, which gives you the wide range of motion you need to make a fast pitch or a long throw. But with that throwing motion, your shoulder has to work hard to keep the ball of your shoulder joint properly centered in its socket. 

This can cause your ligaments to stretch and loosen while contributing to inflammation in your tendons. 

As a result, baseball players often encounter injuries like:

• Dislocation and chronic instability
• Glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD)
• Problems with the tendons in the bicep (tendonitis and tears)
• Rotator cuff problems (tendonitis and tears)
• Scapular (shoulder blade) rotation dysfunction
• Superior labrum anterior to posterior (SLAP) tears

In other words, as a baseball player, you’re susceptible to a number of different shoulder problems. Fortunately, you can take some steps to lower your risk.

Preventing shoulder injuries

The best way to prevent baseball-related shoulder injuries is to gradually, consistently condition your shoulder. This strengthens the muscles, ligaments, and tendons that support this ball-and-socket joint, making them better able to stand up to the strain of throwing.

Don’t launch straight into throwing as hard as you can. Give yourself a couple of weeks of gradually warming up and easing into your peak throwing potential. 

Focus on strengthening and stretching your shoulder. Including shoulder-targeting exercises into your workout routine helps here. 

If you notice any pain or discomfort in your shoulder, don’t push through it. That’s your body’s way of telling you that something’s wrong. The sooner you address it, the easier it will be to correct it. So if you feel a twinge in your shoulder, don’t hesitate to visit Dr. Siebuhr. 

At our office, he figures out precisely what’s going on with your shoulder, and then tailors a care program to help it. Dr. Siebuhr offers a range of shoulder treatments, from physical therapy to platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections.  

For all your shoulder care needs throughout the baseball season, call our office or request your appointment online.