Shoulder pain is common among active sports individuals that involve repetitive arm motions. Injuries to the shoulder are most likely to happen in athletes such as baseball pitchers who continuously strain their shoulder ligaments. One of the most common reasons for shoulder pain (in athletes and non-athletes alike) is the injury of the rotator cuff ligaments, which allow the arms complete range of motion. Injury to this area can result in bruising, aches and pains, reduced arm movement, and sometimes even bleeding, making some form of pain relief essential.
Many individuals with shoulder pain tend to acquire it over an extended time of stress; however, a lot of times, it is from a sudden onset due to a hit or a blow to the region. There are several ways the ligaments in the shoulder can be torn; most commonly, the overextension or hyperextension of a ligament causes it to tear. Baseball pitchers and other athletes who suffer from shoulder injuries or rotator cuff injuries suffer from these tears due to extreme strains on the shoulder joint in athletic practice or play.
Even before a tear to the joint occurs, players and athletes can become very sore just from the repetitive stress. This is why you frequently see baseball pitchers ice their shoulders after baseball practice or games. Irritated shoulder ligaments and joint pain can significantly affect athletic performance, so many athletes need to recover quickly and efficiently from shoulder injuries. Most pitchers ice their throwing shoulders. This is so common that many athletes and trainers have specialized shoulder ice wraps for these types of injuries to aid in their shoulder rehabilitation because ice is the best method of recovery. Shoulder ice wraps are great for pain and swelling in the area, keeping cold compression on the injury. See more about ways to reduce shoulder pain.
Another common shoulder injury that some people get is a dislocated shoulder. Less severe than a tear to the rotator cuff ligaments, some people think that a shoulder dislocation isn't as damaging to the area. However, it can still be quite painful. A dislocated shoulder can come from many activities where a jerk of the arm occurs. Some everyday activities this might happen are biking, riding a personal watercraft, or other water sports like skiing or wakeboarding. Biking or riding personal watercraft can cause dislocation where the thrust and momentum pull your body forward, putting stress on your arms. Other water sports such as waterskiing or wakeboarding put extreme stress as your whole body is being jolted out of the water using your arms and shoulders. For shoulder dislocations, recovery is mostly a matter of popping the arm back into the shoulder socket. Unfortunately, this can be as painful as the shoulder popping out of the socket, depending on the injury's severity.
Whichever type of shoulder pain is encountered, whether it's a dislocated shoulder, a rotator cuff tear, or any other ligament injury, there are many reasons these injuries can occur. Take precautions to avoid shoulder damage and talk to a professional medical practitioner for more information about shoulder pain and how to best recover from any shoulder injury. If you have already suffered a rotator cuff or shoulder injury, apply an ice pack for the pain and swelling!
Depending on the injury's severity or the pain level, many of these methods are accessible and affordable. If pain stems from a more severe injury such as a rotator cuff tear or a ligament injury, shoulder surgery is the most common and effective way to correct the problem. Because of the high level of shoulder injuries each year due to athletics and other similar activities, surgery on this area is typically a routine procedure. It can be somewhat invasive depending on how bad the injury is, but most often, it's simply a matter of time before recovery.
Surgery, however, is more of a drastic and permanent solution for severe injuries; in many situations, it simply takes some rest and ice. Suppose the shoulder joint and ligaments are sore from overuse or a temporary hyperextension. More transitory relief such as shoulder ice wraps or shoulder exercises can benefit enough to avoid a surgical procedure on the shoulder. Many ice wraps are made specifically for the rehabilitation of rotator cuff injuries. Some ice wraps have a soft blue gel conforming to the shoulder and molding to the injury. Blue gel ice packs are one type; another and more common type are ice wraps with custom-fitted segmented ice inserts. These ice inserts are designed to target cold therapy toward the source of the shoulder pain and drive cold deep into the injury. Also are ice packs for the shoulder containing ice bags that you can fill with ice cubes or ice water to fit over the injured area.
If heavy pressure or stressful activity involving the shoulder is imperative, purchasing a shoulder ice wrap for recovery after such events can be very beneficial. These ice wraps are less expensive than one would think and worth the benefit. The best way to use ice for the shoulder is to freeze one of these products and throw it in a gym bag or an athletic bag right after the event. Most cold packs stay cold for up to 2 hours, and you can even buy an ice pack cooler bag to keep them cold longer.
Other ways to relieve or reduce pain associated with the rotator cuff area without ice are simple exercises and stretches to help the joints and ligaments loosen up. There's a good reason why most, if not all, athletes perform a good amount of stretching before athletic events. Not just on the shoulder but all the joints and muscles in the body. This can significantly reduce the chances of pulling or straining a muscle.
If you have experienced shoulder pain or an injury in the rotator cuff area, like a dislocated shoulder, there are many ways to help reduce the pain and swelling. Don't worry, because it can quickly be helped. Ask your doctor or a physical therapist which recovery methods are best for you.
There are many ways to prevent shoulder pain and injury to the upper arm and Rotator Cuff area. It can be challenging if you are an athlete or have a career that involves heavy or physically stressful activity, but there are some ways of prevention. As with any heavy lifting or amount of stress on the body's joints and ligaments, it is best to stretch before the activity. Before subjecting yourself or your shoulder joints and ligaments to any amount of strain, perform a series of arm and shoulder stretches to loosen up the area. This will significantly reduce the chances of walking away from an event with an injury or other shoulder pain. There are several methods of stretching used by physical therapists or athletic trainers. Just do some research and find out which stretches are best for the activities you perform.
Another way and perhaps the most effective is removing oneself from the activity or reducing the amount of pressure on the joints. This can be hard if it is a career or other similar mandatory or essential training. However, if the activity is something like a hobby or even chores around the house, it may be best to get some help or, in other ways, keep from putting much pressure on the area. If possible, work in moderation; if the shoulder becomes sore or the joint starts to become painful, stop your activity and rest the joint before it becomes injured. This can benefit you because taking action in smaller parts can seriously reduce the chance of injuring your shoulder. For the best methods of prevention, recovery, and other information about shoulder pain, be sure to ask your healthcare provider what's right for you. If you have experienced shoulder pain, remember to use an ice wrap! Check out our shoulder ice wraps to help reduce pain and swelling and aid in a faster recovery! Check out these shoulder ice pack products!