Why Does My Shoulder Hurt When I Throw A Baseball?

Why Does My Shoulder Hurt When I Throw A Baseball?

The most common reason for this condition is due to overuse of the rotator cuff muscles and tendons. This can happen from playing baseball too often, or from incorrect pitching mechanics. Sometimes, the problem is due to an underlying condition such as arthritis.

Rotator Cuff Tears

One of the most common reasons for shoulder pain when throwing a baseball is due to a rotator cuff tear. The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and tendons that attach the humerus bone to the shoulder blade. These muscles and tendons help to lift your arm. A rotator cuff tear can occur due to overuse, trauma, or age.

Symptoms

Most people first feel pain from a rotator cuff tear when they try to lift their arm above their head or behind their back. The pain is often described as dull and achy. Some people feel pain all the time, even when they are not using the affected arm. Others have brief periods of intense pain followed by long periods of relief.

As the tear gets bigger, it becomes harder to lift the arm. The pain also gets worse at night, when you lie on the affected shoulder, and when you try to do things that require high arm motion, such as reaching into a high cupboard or throwing a ball.

Causes

There are several reasons why you might experience a rotator cuff tear when throwing a baseball. The most common cause is overuse, which can lead to micro-tears in the tendons of your shoulder. repetitive motions, such as pitching or throwing, can also irritate and inflame the rotator cuff muscles and tendons, eventually causing a tear.

Other causes of rotator cuff tears include:

-Injury or trauma to the shoulder, such as a fall
-Degenerative changes in the tissues of the rotator cuff, such as arthritis
-Certain medical conditions, such as diabetes or bone marrow cancer

If you think you have a rotator cuff tear, it’s important to see a doctor right away. They will be able to diagnose the problem and recommend treatment options.

Treatment

Most Tears Require Surgery

If the rotator cuff tear is large or if you have shoulder weakness and pain that limits your daily activities, you will probably need surgery to repair thetorn rotator cuff. However, nonsurgical treatments may help people with a small tear and little shoulder weakness.

The goal of rotator cuff surgery is to relieve shoulder pain and restore shoulder function. Smaller tears may be repaired by stitching the torn tendons back together (primary repair). Larger tears often require attaching the torn tendon to bone with sutures, anchors, or other devices (tendon transfer or tenodesis).

Bursitis

Bursitis is the inflammation of a bursa. The bursa is a small, jelly-like sac that contains a small amount of fluid. It is located between tissues, such as bone, muscle, and skin. Bursitis often occurs in the shoulder due to repetitive motions.

Symptoms

The most common symptom of shoulder bursitis is pain. You might feel pain in the shoulder when you move it, or when pressure is placed on the shoulder, such as when you lie on it. The pain might come on gradually or suddenly. In some cases, the pain might become so bad that it wakes you up at night. Other symptoms might include:
-Swelling
-Redness and warmth
-Stiffness
-Weakness

Causes

Bursitis is an inflammation of the bursa, a tiny sac designed to cushion and lubricate the joint. The shoulder has two bursas — one between the shoulder blade and upper chest muscles (subdeltoid bursa), and another large one over the front of the shoulder joint (subacromial bursa). Both can become irritated and inflamed.

The most common cause of shoulder bursitis is repetitive overhead motions of the arm, such as those often used in baseball pitching, or swimming. These activities put stress on the shoulder joint and can irritate the bursa.

Other causes include:
– direct blow or impact to the shoulder
– acute injury or trauma to the shoulder
– arthritis in the shoulder joint
– infection

Treatment

There are several things you can do at home to ease the pain of bursitis and help reduce inflammation.

Rest: This is probably the most important thing you can do. Avoid activities that aggravate the pain, such as throwing a baseball. static positions such as leaning on your elbows or sleeping on your side may also aggravate bursitis.

Ice: Apply an ice pack to the affected area for 20-30 minutes at a time, 3-4 times a day. Do not apply ice directly to the skin – wrap it in a thin towel first.

Compression: Use an elastic bandage to compress the affected area and help reduce swelling. Be sure not to wrap it too tightly, as this may restrict blood flow.

Elevation: Raise the affected limb above heart level to help reduce swelling.

Over-the-counter medications: These can be effective in reducing pain and inflammation. Try acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil). Be sure to follow the directions on the package and don’t take more than the recommended dose.

Impingement

The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint that is held together by muscles, tendons, and ligaments. When you throw a baseball, your arm rotates at a high speed. This puts a lot of stress on the muscles and tendons around the shoulder. If these muscles and tendons are not strong enough, they can become inflamed. This is called impingement.

Symptoms

Impingement syndrome is a condition that can cause pain in the shoulder. The condition occurs when the rotator cuff muscles and tendons become trapped or pinched in the shoulder joint. The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that attach the upper arm to the shoulder blade.

Impingement syndrome often occurs in people who regularly participate in overhead activities, such as throwing a baseball or swimming. The condition is also common in people who frequently lift heavy objects overhead.

Symptoms of impingement syndrome may include:

-Pain when lifting the arm above the head
-Pain when sleeping on the affected shoulder
-Weakness in the affected arm
-A popping or crackling sensation when moving the arm

Causes

The most common cause of shoulder impingement is the overuse of the rotator cuff muscles and tendons. These muscles and tendons attach the shoulder blade to the upper arm. The rotator cuff muscles help lift your arm. The tendons help hold the arm bone in the shoulder socket. The rotator cuff muscles and tendons pass through a narrow space between the shoulder blade and the upper arm bone. This space is called the subacromial space.

shoulder impingement happens when this space becomes too narrowed. This can happen because of:
-The overuse of these muscles and tendons
-The natural aging process, which causes changes in the bones, muscles, and tendons
-An injury to these structures

Shoulder impingement can also be caused by other conditions that make the subacromial space narrower, such as:
-A shoulder injury or surgery
-A growth or tumor in the shoulder
-Shoulder arthritis

Treatment

Physicians will often recommend a period of conservative treatment for shoulder impingement syndrome before considering surgery. During this time, patients may be asked to modify or stop any activity that may worsen the condition. A physical therapy program may also be recommended to stretch and strengthen the muscles and tendons around the shoulder joint. In some cases, a corticosteroid injection may be given to help reduce pain and inflammation.