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Do You Have a Rotator Cuff Tear?

If you’re over the age of 30, there is a greater than 30% chance that you have experienced some form of shoulder discomfort at some point. It’s a shared experience among all individuals, whether it’s a momentary twinge from a sudden pull or a fall, or a persistent, nagging ache that seems to linger. Shoulder pain isn’t limited to athletes; anyone can experience it. Following back pain, shoulder pain stands as the most prevalent musculoskeletal complaint seen by healthcare professionals in the U.S. Over 6 million individuals in the U.S. … Continue Reading

Shoulder Injuries in Gymnastics

Gymnastics require a combination of total body balance, flexibility, agility, strength, power, and endurance. The arms are crucial for executing almost all routines, highlighting the importance of having strong, flexible, and powerful shoulders to excel in any gymnastic movement. In gymnastics, the shoulders endure supraphysiologic loads during various maneuvers. These loads routinely go beyond mere body weight bearing forces, as the rapid body movements typically amplify the combined shoulder joint reactive forces up to three times the body weight. Approximately 30% of all competitive gymnasts have experienced shoulder ailments at … Continue Reading

Frozen Shoulder

Frozen shoulder, medically known as “adhesive capsulitis,” is a prevalent condition affecting approximately 3 to 5 percent of the general population. Its main characteristics include shoulder pain accompanied by limited range of motion. The term “adhesive” refers to stickiness, while “capsulitis” signifies inflammation of the protective layer called the “capsule.” This capsule is a natural anatomical structure resembling a cellophane-like membrane. It serves as a thin, flexible, and spacious covering that envelops the shoulder joint for protection. Essentially, frozen shoulder occurs when this protective capsule surrounding the shoulder joint becomes … Continue Reading

What is the Growth Plate?

Anatomy Growth plates, referred to as physis or physeal plates, can be found at the ends of long bones in children and teenagers. These specialized regions of cartilage play a crucial role in the longitudinal growth and maturation of bones. Throughout childhood and adolescence, the lengthening of long bones occurs primarily through a gradual transformation process. Over the course of several years during adolescent growth, these cartilaginous regions undergo a gradual conversion into solid bone tissue, signifying the completion of the growth phase. The growth plate is composed of multiple … Continue Reading

Little League Elbow

Throwing athletes place significant stress on the throwing arm, affecting both adults and younger players. In adults, this stress is primarily absorbed by the ligaments and tendons, often resulting in tendinitis or ligament strain. However, in growing children, the stress is concentrated on the vulnerable areas of the bones, specifically the cartilage at the ends of the bones known as growth plates. Unlike the ligaments and tendons that attach to them, the cartilage of the growth plates is relatively weaker. Consequently, during the throwing motion, the growth plates are the … Continue Reading

Little League Shoulder

Little League Shoulder, also known as “proximal humeral epiphysiolysis” in medical terms, refers to a stress injury that affects the growth plate of the shoulder in athletes who are still in the process of skeletal maturation. The closure of the shoulder’s growth plate usually takes place between the ages of 18 and 21. Little League Shoulder primarily affects young baseball players, especially pitchers between the ages of 11 and 16, when the growth plate is most vulnerable to injury. However, in theory, this injury can occur at any age until … Continue Reading

ShoulderSphere®: Revolutionizing Rotator Cuff Exercise for Optimal Shoulder Health and Performance

Shoulder well-being and strength hold immense significance in our everyday lives, especially for athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and individuals on the path to shoulder recovery. The introduction of ShoulderSphere in 2017 marked a groundbreaking milestone in rotator cuff exercise equipment, bringing forth a state-of-the-art, award-winning device. This innovation ushered in a new era of shoulder training and rehabilitation, gaining widespread recognition and support from physical therapists, athletes, athletic trainers, and fitness enthusiasts globally. Today, ShoulderSphere has emerged as the preferred training tool for attaining peak shoulder health and maximizing athletic performance. … Continue Reading

Preventing Shoulder Injuries: Effective Strategies for Throwing Athletes

Shoulder injuries are a common concern among throwing athletes and can be attributed to various factors. However, the most significant predictor of these injuries is dysfunction in the rotator cuff. Therefore, the foundation of any effective shoulder injury prevention program revolves around focusing on the rotator cuff. While traditional methods such as elastic bands or dumbbell exercises can strengthen the rotator cuff muscles, they do not adequately train the rotator cuff for the functional demands of multiple planes of motion involved in throwing sports. It is important to train the … Continue Reading

Biomechanics of Throwing and Shoulder Injury in Baseball Pitchers

MLB pitchers strive relentlessly for the prestigious achievement of a 100 mph pitch. Once deemed a mere luxury, it has evolved into an indispensable element of the game. Nearly every MLB team now boasts a formidable fireballer, capable of captivating the crowd with this extraordinary feat. While home runs once held spectators spellbound, their focus now gravitates towards the stadium’s radar gun, eagerly awaiting the electrifying instant when a 100-mph pitch streaks across the plate—a genuine baseball grand slam that all enthusiasts long to behold. The toll of rigorous physical … Continue Reading

The Weakest Link in Baseball Pitcher’s Shoulder: Understanding the Risks and Prevention

Baseball pitchers place tremendous demands on their bodies, especially the shoulders. The repetitive and high-velocity motion involved in throwing a baseball can lead to various injuries, with rotator cuff injuries being among the most prevalent. Understanding these injuries and implementing preventive measures is crucial to ensure the long-term health and performance of baseball pitchers. Any chain is only as strong as its weakest link. The weakest link in anyone’s shoulder is the rotator cuff. 1) The Rotator Cuff and its Importance The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles … Continue Reading