| I am on my high-school swim team. I have been swimming competitively since I was eight years old. Last season, I started to get shoulder pain doing freestyle. The pain is the worst when my hand goes into the water. Is there any kind of stretching or exercise program I can do for this?
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| You may be describing a problem called shoulder impingement. Impingement of a tendon causes pain for swimmers at the point of hand entry into the water. In this position, the arm is rotated inward with the hand turned palm and thumb down. The supraspinatus tendon of the shoulder rotator cuff may be getting pushed up against a ligament that crosses the tendon just above it.
Before starting any kind of exercise program, it is important to find out exactly what is causing your symptoms. There are a variety of specific tests that can be done by an orthopedic doctor. Early identification of the problem can help prevent small problems from getting worse. Treatment may involve anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy, or surgery. The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic. For more information on this subject, visit www.zehrcenter.com |
Naples Orthopedic Surgeon – Dr. Robert J. Zehr The Zehr Center
Shoulder Impingement May Be Causing Swimmer's Pain
August 21st — adminDoes Shoulder Injury Require X-ray or MRI?
August 20th — adminI started a weight-lifting program at home two weeks ago. When I increased to 20 pounds for shoulder movements, I felt a pop in my left shoulder. There was a twinge of pain at the time, and the next day I had extreme shoulder pain. I went to see the doctor, and she said I tore the supraspinatus tendon. There were no X-rays or other tests done. Shouldn’t I have X-rays or MRI?
X-rays have limited value in a case like this. Your doctor might have ordered an X-ray if she thought you could have fractured a bone. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is a useful test to identify damaged shoulder tendons. However, it is not always necessary to perform these studies. MRIs are very expensive, and most tendon tears can be accurately identified with a careful physical examination and history. An MRI is probably not necessary unless the doctor is considering surgery. If you do not get better after a program of physical therapy, the doctor may reconsider ordering an MRI. Getting a second opinion from another doctor may confirm the diagnosis at a lesser cost.
The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic. For more information on this subject, visit www.zehrcenter.com
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