Help Diagnose my Shoulder Problem

[timmeh]

I've had a niggling shoulder pain while playing tennis for about 1 month now. I can still play at nearly 100%, but I'm trying to decide whether to take a break or not.

I mostly get pain during the hitting part of my single handed backhand (where I lift the racket from my pocket level upwards to get topspin). I also get pain when hitting high forehands.

It's hard to replicate the pain in everyday life, but I get pain when taking off a shirt by crossing my arms and pulling it up over my head.

Do you think this is a rotator cuff strain of some sort? Or a problem with my side shoulder muscle?

 

[charliefedererer]

Hard to say what is actually going on with your shoulder. From what you state an impingement syndrome seems like a possiblility. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/92974-overview

With the impressive outward forces generated from groundstokes and serves, the head of the humerus is thown out from the body. Normally the small muscles that make up the rotator cuff should resist this outward throwing motion. But with the repetition of strokes, these muscles are subject to getting stretched, with the non-elastic tendons and ligaments in the shoulder having to stop the forward motion.

But do yourself a favor and get examined by a sports medicine orthopod who treats a lot of shoulder problems. And rest until that appointment would be the safest course.

It is likely he will recommend some shoulder exercises to do to strengthen you rotator cuff and other shoulder muscles before you return to tennis. Then even after your return, it would be worthwhile to continue this regimen to prevent a recurrence.
www.asmi.org/SportsMed/media/thrower10.swf

 

[Caloi]

Hard to say what is actually going on with your shoulder. From what you state an impingement syndrome seems like a possiblility. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/92974-overview

With the impressive outward forces generated from groundstokes and serves, the head of the humerus is thown out from the body. Normally the small muscles that make up the rotator cuff should resist this outward throwing motion. But with the repetition of strokes, these muscles are subject to getting stretched, with the non-elastic tendons and ligaments in the shoulder having to stop the forward motion.

But do yourself a favor and get examined by a sports medicine orthopod who treats a lot of shoulder problems. And rest until that appointment would be the safest course.

It is likely he will recommend some shoulder exercises to do to strengthen you rotator cuff and other shoulder muscles before you return to tennis. Then even after your return, it would be worthwhile to continue this regimen to prevent a recurrence.www.asmi.org/SportsMed/media/thrower10.swf

Good advice. Best thing I did for my shoulders was to constantly do the rotator cuff exercises to keep them strong. I really like the cable pull where you keep your elbow next to your body and pull front then back. Seems to keep my shoulder from getting sore when I play tennis and keeps things feeling like they will stay in place.

 

[Slazenger07]

Sounds like your rotator cuff...it can get much worse quickly if you dont take the time to let it recover, believe me I had it pretty bad and was sidelined for 2 months.

I would take a week or two off of playing and see how it feels, if you dont have pain then you can start doing light weight exercises to help strengthen it. Aim for 12-15 reps with these.

 

[XFactorer]

Sounds like it's shin splints.