Protecting Your Shoulder While Playing Sports

Your shoulders are one of the strongest assets you have, especially if you’re an athlete. Alas, while your shoulders provide an excellent range of motion, they’re also more susceptible to injury. They’re one of the most common injury locations for people that engage in competitive sports, which means that taking care of them should be of paramount importance. While this body part commonly experiences an injury, there are things you can do to protect your shoulders and prevent shoulder injuries. 

In this blog, we’ll look at just a few actions all athletes should take to ensure they spend as little time on the sidelines as possible. 

Stretch It Out

You may be eager to get out onto the field and begin having fun, but it’s important to make sure that your body is ready for action before you do so. It’s recommended to stretch all the key parts of your body, and that includes your shoulders. If you don’t, then you’ll be increasing the chances of experiencing a rotary cuff injury, which may require shoulder surgery to resolve. A few simple shoulder exercises will get the blood flowing and your connective tissue ready for action. 

Strengthen Your Shoulder Muscles

The stronger your shoulder muscles are, the more resilient they’ll be — and that’ll mean fewer injuries. When you’re not out on the field playing sports, look at spending some time at the gym. By lifting weights, you’ll be building up the muscles surrounding your vulnerable shoulder tendons. If you’re not experienced at the gym, be sure to spend some time with a personal trainer who can show you the correct way to lift weights, as incorrect lifting could also result in an injury. 

Avoid Overexertion

The more you use your shoulders, the more likely it is that you’ll experience an injury. The majority of shoulder injuries aren’t caused by a single, isolated incident — they occur because of repeated use, which results in overexertion and increases the likelihood of certain types of shoulder injuries, such as a rotator cuff tear. 

If you’re playing a shoulder-heavy sport multiple times a week, look at taking a break. It’s important to give your shoulders a break! In the meantime, you can always play a sport that uses other parts of your body, such as your legs. 

Pay Attention to Pain

If your shoulder experiences damage, then your body will likely communicate it to you — that’s what the feeling of pain is for! So listen to your body; if it tells you something is wrong, then stop playing immediately. 

Contact a Shoulder Pain Expert in Boise

If you do experience an injury, then it’s best to get in touch with a shoulder expert. The team at Idaho Shoulder to Hand has the best shoulder surgeon in Boise and will work with you to help you overcome your injury and get back to playing the sport you love as soon as possible. To make an appointment, give us a call at (208) 506 3665 or click the ‘Make Appointment’ button at the top of this page.