Getting Back in the Game: How to Best Recover From Sports Related Shoulder Injuries

Your shoulder is the most complex joint in your body. It’s also injury-prone.

As with any injury, you want to recover as quickly as possible to get back in the game. Lancaster County orthopedic surgeon Michael J. Bercik, MD, specializes in shoulder care and is your ideal partner in helping you return to the playing field. 

Common sports injuries affecting the shoulder

The type of shoulder injury you’re most at risk for depends on the sport and the position you play. Most shoulder injuries can be grouped into three categories: 

• Impact injuries, including fractures and dislocations
• Overexertion injuries, such as sprains, strains, and tissue tears
• Repetitive strain injuries, including bursitis and other inflammatory conditions

Impacts and overexertions can be acute, occurring during an isolated event, while repetitive strains usually develop over time due to overuse or issues with form and body mechanics. Some impact or overexertion injuries may emerge during an event after repeated strain weakens the shoulder. 

How to best recover from sports-related shoulder injuries

Your recovery depends on many factors, including the type and severity of the injury. Most orthopedic injuries progress through four stages: 

• Palliative care: treatment of symptoms
• Rest and recovery: discontinuing the sport and activities 
• Strengthening: stimulating natural healing and developing support muscles
• Optimizing: preparing for return to full-level participation

Palliative care relieves your initial discomfort and pain, and it may continue through other stages of recovery to keep you comfortable as you begin treatments like physical therapy. 

Rest and recovery can include immobilizing your arm and shoulder before beginning physical therapy. 

This stage progresses as your injury allows, regaining any lost flexibility and building strength in the joint by working the primary muscle groups needed to support your shoulder and the physical demands placed on it by your sport. 

The optimization stage focuses on your return to the game, making sure your body is ready. If you’re recovering from a repetitive strain issue, we may look at your form and performance to make sure your biomechanics don’t contribute to reinjury. An example could be a pitcher who throws mostly high-velocity pitches. In this case, they might need to mix in more off-speed pitch choices to reduce stress on their pitching shoulder. 

Regardless of your injury or its severity, you’ll need professional orthopedic care throughout the recovery process. Contact Dr. Bercik’s by phone or online to book your consultation today. Our staff is happy to answer any of your questions and discuss scheduling. We are here to help and want you to recover so you can get back in the game.