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Summer Shoulders With the summer upon us, so too are the aches associated with reawakening muscles as we return to summer activities. As physios, we commonly see shoulder injuries brought on by repeated overhead movements in summer sports such as tennis and swimming, or DIY jobs involving a paintbrush. Pain may be felt locally to the shoulder joint or spreading down the arm or up into the neck. The shoulder, being such a mobile joint, relies heavily on good muscle function. The joint that connects the collar bone to the shoulder blade (AC joint) is the only ‘true joint’ connection that the arm has to our central skeleton. All other articulations in the shoulder are reliant on muscles and ligaments to give control and stability. The main group of muscles around the shoulder are collectively known as the rotator cuff. When operating well, they keep the shoulder centred within its socket, as well as creating movement. When they go wrong, however, pain and loss of function occurs. Early intervention to correct abnormal movement patterns is essential, to prevent further damage to surrounding structures. Physio management will focus initially on managing pain and
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restoring lost motion. Shoulder blade control will be addressed, along with looking at how your spine and shoulder operate together. A rotator cuff-strengthening programme is often key, and your physio should tailor this to the daily demands of your shoulder. A swimmer, for instance, needs strength and stability in an overhead position. Technique and biomechanics of problematic activities will be addressed; so don’t be surprised to be asked to demonstrate your paddle-boarding technique. Like all good things, strengthening takes time – and it is much easier to influence a shoulder that has only been compensating short-term rather than long. So, in the words of a recent client: “When it comes to shoulders, you need to tell everyone how important it is to be seen sooner rather than later.” Melanie Bennett is a Physiotherapist & Pilates Instructor at Peak Pilates &Physiotherapy – Millwater. For more information you can contact Melanie on 09 959 0211.
