Re:Baseball Players - WEIGHTLIFTING - Anatomy of the Shoulder - Patients Guide

JT, what do you think?

Our shoulder is a very elegant yet complex work of art. The design of the shoulder gives us the ability to use our hands in many different positions.
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This design gives the shoulder muscles, tendons and joint connecting those muscles to provide a great range of motion but at a tradeoff, that being not much stability. As long as the shoulder is in good working order and taken care of, it will move freely and painlessly for a lifetime.
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All baseball players healthy rotator cuff tendons are one of the key reasons why the player's shoulder is so useful. The tendons can be subject to a considerable amount of wear and tear as the baseball players uses his arms. One extreme stress on the shoulder is from overhead lifting type of activity, such as a military press (so loved by knowledgeable HS football coaches). Such type of lifting activities can lead to weakening of the smallest of the rotator cuff tendons.

An injury to these small tendons may result in a weak painful, shoulder - leading to increased tearing and over time, unnoticeable and inrepairable rotator cuff tendons.

The anatomy of the shoulder is made up of three bones: the scapula (shoulder blade), the humerus (upper arm bone) and the clavicle (collarbone). The tendons of four muscles form the rotator cuff. The muscles are called the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis. Tendons attach muscles to bones. Muscles move these three bones by pulling on these tendons. This large tendon called the rotator cuff connects the humerus with the scapula (shoulder blade) and helps raise and rotate the arm. As the arm is raised, the rotator cuff also keeps the humerus tightly in the socket (glenoid) of the scapula. The part of the scapula that makes up the roof of the shoulder is called the acromion. Between the acromion and the rotator cuff tendons there is a bursa. There are many bursae all over the body where tissues must move against one another. The bursa is a lubricated sac of tissue that protects the muscles and tendons as they move against one another. The bursa simply allows the moving parts to slide against one another without too much friction.

When the tendons or muscles of the rotator cuff tear, the patient is no longer able to lift or rotate his or her arm with the same range of motion as before the injury or has significant pain associated with shoulder motion. The pain is also very common at night, often radiating down the arm.

Symptoms include weakness when lifting with the arm or shoulder Pain in shoulder, possibly extending down arm

Pain worsens when area is pressed upon or while lifting objects

Causes for injury include lifting or catch a heavy object, and overuse, especially after a period of inactivity
Risk factors include: poor blood supply to an area of the cuff. a fall on an outstretched arm, and a gradual weakening of the tendons of the shoulder, often associated with impingement are factors also.

Young and old age weak musculature is also of high risk.

If your shoulder seems weak or painful and “catches” while raising or rotating the upper arm, or if your range of motion suddenly lessens seek medical advice.

For some cases, arthroscopic surgery may be recommended by your physician to assess the extent of the injury and smooth the surface of the cartilage. In extreme rotator cuff repairs, a surgeon will suture the torn tendon together and anchor it to a part of the humerus through small drill holes.

Medications may include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin and ibuprofen. Cortisone injections may also be prescribed to help alleviate pain and have become controversial.

Check with your physician before beginning any sport or exercise routine. Also, work your way very slowly upwards in weight if doing any weight training. Maxing out in the bench w/o training creates a sudden jump in load & is very typical in leading to a small tear and sometimes without pain in the rotator cuff.