Golf is a very popular amateur sport, but it can lead to many types of injuries if you aren’t careful. A common type of injury that golfers are at risk of is a shoulder injury. One source even claims that up to 18% of all golf-related injuries happen to the shoulder. Using poor swing posture is especially likely to cause shoulder issues if you’re a golfer, and it could lead to these two common sources of shoulder pain from playing golf.
- Rotator cuff tear
One shoulder structure that plays a huge part in the golf swing is the rotator cuff. A tear in this structure can easily lead to golf-related shoulder pain. The rotator cuff is a set of four muscles and tendons in the shoulder, and its job is to help move the shoulder. It’s especially important for lifting your arm upward or above your head. The repetitive swinging movements of golf can easily result in a tear in the rotator cuff, and this could be the reason your shoulder hurts.
A rotator cuff tear can also lead to other troublesome symptoms besides shoulder pain. You might also have difficulty sleeping at night because of the pain, and you might have to change your sleeping position if you typically sleep on the painful shoulder. Weakness in the injured arm is a common symptom of a rotator cuff tear as well.
- Labral tear
Another issue that can be the source of golf-related shoulder pain is a labral tear. The labrum is a strip of cartilage that lines the outer rim of the shoulder socket, and its job is to help reduce friction as the ball of the humerus moves in the shoulder socket. This piece of cartilage also helps keeps the humeral ball firmly seated in the shoulder. With these jobs, you can understand how the labrum is important to a golfer’s swing.
Golfers who are using poor swing mechanics can be at higher risk of developing this sports injury, and this is especially true since golf requires repetitive shoulder movements. Shoulder pain is a common symptom of a labral tear. The pain is likely to be at its worst when moving the arm or if you try to lift or carry something. Also, a labral tear can cause popping, clicking or grinding sounds in the shoulder, and decreased shoulder range of motion and strength are common for patients with this issue.
Find help for your golf-related shoulder pain at Panther Physical Therapy
Panther Physical Therapy has three clinics located in the northern suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and our team is ready to help you treat shoulder pain from playing golf. We offer free screenings that can help you start your treatment with less hassle. Our team also builds personalized treatment plans for each patient, and we use many beneficial therapy methods in our plans, including:
Take the next step to begin getting our help for your shoulder pain. Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an appointment.