There’s nothing quite like playing sports and being part of a team. Not only is staying active beneficial to your physical and mental health, the friendships you can form while enjoying team sports like baseball, softball, and football may last a lifetime. Still, participating in any type of athletic activity comes with some measure of risk, including sustaining uncomfortable throwing injuries.
Common Throwing Injuries Explained
Athletes in throwing sports are vulnerable to a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions. Some of the most common injuries related to throwing include:
Rotator Cuff Injuries
The rotator cuff is a group of tendons and muscles that surround and help stabilize the shoulder joint. Tears or tendinitis of the rotator cuff can occur when these muscles and tendons are overworked and become inflamed. An athlete with a rotator cuff injury may experience radiating pain that travels from the front of the shoulder to the side of the arm.
SLAP Tears
A superior labrum anterior and posterior (SLAP) tear occurs in the cup-shaped cartilage rim that lines and helps secure the shoulder joint. Often experienced by pitchers, SLAP tears cause symptoms that can include:
- A grinding, locking, or popping sensation in the shoulder
- Pain when moving the shoulder
- Reduced range of motion
- Joint weakness and difficulty lifting objects
Bicep Tendon Injuries
The biceps tendon runs from the scapula to the forearm. Biceps tendonitis—a condition in which frequent motion irritates and inflames the muscle—is a fairly common injury among throwing athletes. Less commonly, the biceps tendon can tear as a result of tendinitis and cause sharp, sudden pain.
Internal Impingement
Often referred to as “thrower’s shoulder,” internal impingement occurs when the rotator cuff tendons become pinched when passing through the shoulder joint. The most common symptom of internal impingement is shoulder pain that gradually worsens.
Shoulder Instability
Athletes can experience shoulder instability as a result of years of repetitive throwing. This injury occurs when the head of the arm bone (humerus) gradually slips out of the socket (glenoid). When the shoulder joint repeatedly loosens, it’s referred to as chronic instability.
Treatment for Throwing Injuries at Tampa Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine
A division of Florida Medical Clinic, Tampa Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Group is home to applauded orthopedic and sports medicine specialists who collaborate to help athletes efficiently recover from throwing injuries or avoid them altogether. Our team is led by orthopedic sports medicine surgeon Dr. Daniel Murphy and sports medicine specialist Dr. Arnold Ramirez—two board-certified physicians who also serve on the medical staffs of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Yankees. Working together, our specialists offer a full scope of sports medicine services to adolescent and adult athletes of all sports.
Sports injuries don’t have to keep you sidelined! To learn more about throwing injury prevention, treatment, or why so many athletes in the Tampa Bay area choose us for specialized care, contact Tampa Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Group today at (813) 253-2406 or schedule an appointment on our website.
