Question regarding shoulder pain

[Tharnid]

I recently switched to a poly/syn gut string combination and my deltoid is hurting especially on serves (Deltoid is the muscle in the upper arm that goes around the socket...attaches to the clavicle on top and attaches to the Trapezius in the middle of the back). I don't know if this is caused by the change in string, muscle imbalance, or bad technique on my serve. Any suggestions?

 

[saram]

I switched to poly and my shoulder injuries returned. I have since opted for softer poly's if I use them at all and the pain has decreased. I have used Spinfire which is nice, but loses its tension quickly.

I have had to return to synthetic gut strings because of this.

 

[themitchmann]

Without seeing your serve, I can't comment on technique. I have shoulder issues as well, but I don't attribute them simply to poly strings. I suffer from a muscle imbalance, which is common if you play a lot of tennis and/or only work the "beach muscles." My new therapy routine involves strengthening my shoulder stabilizing muscles in the around my shoulder blade on my back. You too, may need to address this issue with therapy or simply strengthening your back. Only you doctor/physical therapist will be able to tell you that.

Also, some of my shoulder pain was from biceps tendonitis. The tendons from your biceps run up towards you shoulder, and you may experience pain on the front of the shoulder, near the joint.

Softer strings will help with the pain, but if you have either of these issues, you need to get them checked out. I play with poly mains and multi crosses, and I still have some shoulder pain. But ultimately, the pain is the residual effect from an injury/muscle imbalance, not the strings. I hope you are feeling better soon.

 

[Tharnid]

Three or more times a week, I go through a medicine ball workout to strengthen my core and I wonderer if that has anything to do with it. I have dialed down the workout (recently moved to a heavier ball), but the pain is still there.

I switched strings about two weeks ago and that is when I noticed the pain. This is the first time I have ever used poly normally just use syn gut.

My serving technique has not changed in years

The other thing is that I am not as young as I used to be

 

[dancraig]

Switch away from the poly and see if the pain stops.

 

[Valjean]

The traditional advice the USTA gives is to restring at once and drop tension five pounds at the first sign of pain that persists. Because of poly's properties and history, I'd also recommend you switch to another softer but more resilient tennis string type. When I tried several years ago to join a workout program to ongoing tennis play, it increased my soft tissue stress load enough to generate wrist/arm/shoulder strain; you need to re-examine what you are doing there.

 

[samster]

When you irritate the rotator cuffs, the pain can be in the deltoid area because that is where the rotator cuff muscle tendon is inserted (on the bone beneath the deltoid muscle).

 

[Seacoast Stringer]

I switched to poly and my shoulder injuries returned. I have since opted for softer poly's if I use them at all and the pain has decreased. I have used Spinfire which is nice, but loses its tension quickly.

I have had to return to synthetic gut strings because of this.

I had the same experience a few years ago. Although I usually I did not have pain with a poly and syn. gut or gut hybrid, a full poly job gave me some slight shoulder pain that I did not usually have - and it seemed to be exactly where the OP is having his issues. With my current sticks that hasn't been an issue as the arm comfort is great....but I don't want to risk any long term arm probs with a full poly setup nonetheless.