Common Shoulder Injuries in Athletes and Their Treatments

Shoulder pain is one of the most common complaints we see in athletes of all levels. Whether you're throwing a fastball, lifting weights, spiking a volleyball, or swimming laps, your shoulders are doing a lot of work. As the most mobile joint in the body, the shoulder is highly susceptible to injury—especially in sports that demand repetitive overhead motion, forceful impacts, or heavy lifting.

At Emery Physical Therapy, we specialize in helping athletes recover from shoulder injuries and get back to doing what they love. Understanding the most common shoulder injuries in sports—and how to treat them—is key to staying strong, mobile, and pain-free.

Why Are Shoulder Injuries So Common?

The shoulder joint is supported by a complex system of muscles, tendons, and ligaments that must work in harmony to allow full range of motion. When one part of that system becomes weak, tight, or injured, it can lead to pain, inflammation, and dysfunction. For athletes, this often results from overuse, poor mechanics, muscle imbalances, or direct trauma.

Common causes of shoulder injuries in athletes include repetitive movements (like throwing or swimming), improper lifting technique, lack of mobility work, or even falls during contact sports. Because the shoulder is so versatile, it's also vulnerable without strong support and consistent maintenance.

Rotator Cuff Strains and Tears

The rotator cuff is made up of four muscles and tendons that stabilize the shoulder and assist with arm movement. Repetitive overhead actions—like pitching, swimming, or serving in tennis—can strain or even tear the rotator cuff.

Athletes may experience a dull ache deep in the shoulder, pain when lifting the arm, weakness, or difficulty sleeping on the affected side. In mild cases, rest, manual therapy, and a targeted physical therapy program to strengthen the stabilizing muscles can help. Severe or full-thickness tears may require surgical repair followed by a carefully guided rehabilitation program to restore strength and mobility.

Shoulder Impingement Syndrome

Shoulder impingement occurs when the tendons of the rotator cuff are compressed between bones during shoulder movement, especially overhead. It often develops gradually and worsens with activity.

Symptoms can include sharp pain when lifting your arm, pain at night, reduced range of motion, or weakness. At Emery Physical Therapy, we treat shoulder impingement through postural training, scapular strengthening, stretching of tight tissues (especially in the chest and upper back), and improving shoulder mechanics through corrective exercises and manual therapy techniques.

SLAP Tears and Labral Injuries

The labrum is a ring of cartilage that helps stabilize the shoulder socket. A SLAP tear (superior labrum anterior and posterior) refers to a tear at the top of the labrum where the biceps tendon attaches. These injuries are common in athletes involved in overhead throwing sports, weightlifting, or traumatic falls.

Athletes with labral tears often report clicking, popping, instability, pain during overhead activity, or loss of strength. Depending on the severity, conservative care through physical therapy may be effective. We focus on strengthening the rotator cuff, restoring mobility, and improving neuromuscular control. In more serious cases, surgery may be recommended, followed by a progressive rehab plan.

Shoulder Dislocations and Instability

Shoulder dislocations occur when the head of the upper arm bone pops out of the shoulder socket. This is common in contact sports like football, wrestling, or basketball. A subluxation is a partial dislocation, where the shoulder shifts but returns to place on its own.

After a dislocation, symptoms often include visible deformity, swelling, weakness, and intense pain. Even after it’s been reduced (put back into place), the shoulder can remain unstable, increasing the risk of future dislocations. Physical therapy is crucial for rebuilding shoulder stability, strengthening the rotator cuff and scapular muscles, and improving joint position awareness (proprioception).

Bursitis and Tendinitis

Repetitive overhead activities or overuse can also lead to inflammation of the shoulder’s soft tissues, like the bursa (bursitis) or tendons (tendinitis). These conditions cause pain during movement, tenderness around the shoulder, and sometimes swelling.

Early intervention with physical therapy, activity modification, and inflammation control techniques can prevent these issues from becoming chronic. At Emery Physical Therapy, we use a combination of therapeutic exercises, manual therapy, modalities like e-stim or ultrasound, and ergonomic education to help athletes recover and avoid re-injury.

Treatments We Offer at Emery Physical Therapy

Our approach to shoulder injuries is always personalized. We start with a detailed evaluation to identify the root cause, then develop a treatment plan based on your sport, position, goals, and recovery timeline.

Treatment options may include:

• Manual therapy and joint mobilization

• Dry needling and cupping therapy for pain relief

• E-stim and therapeutic ultrasound

• Strength and stability training

• Return-to-sport rehabilitation programs

• Home exercise programs to maintain progress

We also educate athletes on biomechanics and sport-specific movement patterns to reduce reinjury risk.

How to Prevent Shoulder Injuries in Athletes

While not all injuries can be prevented, you can significantly reduce your risk by:

• Warming up properly with dynamic stretches

• Building a strong foundation of rotator cuff and scapular strength

• Prioritizing shoulder mobility and flexibility

• Practicing proper lifting and throwing techniques

• Resting between high-intensity sessions

• Listening to your body and addressing small issues early

Shoulder maintenance should be part of every athlete’s training plan—just like strength, conditioning, and skill work.

Let Emery Physical Therapy Help You Recover and Perform

At Emery Physical Therapy, we help athletes across all levels—from youth sports to professional training—recover from shoulder injuries, improve performance, and return to action safely. If you're dealing with shoulder pain, stiffness, or instability, don’t wait until it becomes a major issue.

Visit us at 17W699 Roosevelt Rd, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181 or call 847-786-2014 to schedule an evaluation. Let’s work together to get your shoulder stronger, more mobile, and game-day ready.

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