Shoulder pain, forehand and shoulder, diagnosis

[FlyingBoat]

I have developed a lot of shoulder pain and can particularly feel it when trying to drive a high forehand. Serve hurts too, but can feel better after warmed up.

Does this sound like rotator cuff? I have off and on through the years felt the pain in shoulder, like when the kids were younger and I would coach and throw pitching. Always felt a painfull kink that often just wouldn't go away like othe pains do.

I have been priimarily using a Head X1 OS lately because it didn't seem to hurt my elbow and felt decent. I had been using PK 5G as well. The heavier PK definetly hurts more now when trying to serve.

I don't feel it so much on low forehand groundstrokes, but on high ones I am just needing to slice now because it is too paindfull to try to drive through them.

I saw some of the links and they go into people not related tennis who are doing weight training and yada yada. I will look through them more closely.

I am just checking now with those with experience to see if they know about the pain particularly on high forehand would indicate. Thanks.

I have lately been using OG Sheep. Have had Wilson Sensation lately as well. I had dunlop synthetic gut that came in the PK. I go low to a bit below middle on the string tension for the rackets.

I don't think the particular racket or string at this juncture is the issue. More likely a tiring body at 47 and some vigorous serving practice a month or so ago.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

yes, it seems it could well be rotator cuff.

go to an orthopedic surgeon (MD) ASAP, who knows where you are .... you seem to have waited too much.

this is probably lack of shoulder conditioning, plus a heavy racket, plus some bad technique (btw, toss the ball more into the court on serve, use your legs and rotation, don't arm and shoulder the ball)

talk to a very good coach, you must make sure you're serving technique is sound

warm up your shoulder with simulated serves (no racket first, then with racket but no ball), something like 20 moves, and simulated butterfly swimming before any playing or training session

you should take a break, wait until the pain disappears, then start conditioning with light weights and surgical tubing.

but first go to a doctor.

search for other threads here with "shoulder" or "cuff", read them all.

also, check the Shoulder Pain links in my signature here:

 

[Marius_Hancu]

how about the Head X1, which stiffness, which weight it has? don't have the data here.

also, was it the racket used during that particular serving practice, or the PK?

 

[FlyingBoat]

Head X1 is 9.2 oz. It must be pretty flexy though. Heads power rackets that can be worse on the arm are in the high numbers, i.e. X12. I don't have much information either on the racket. Have been just trying out different types. Had this one for my daughter but found I could ground stroke and serve pretty good with this one and it was a little long for her at 27.5.

The harder serving session was with the PK.

I guess it could be doctor time, though I should probably rest it a few weeks first. My experience with injuries is that what the doctors tell you anyway.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

Head X1 is 9.2 oz.

get serious and use something over 320g (but not too much if you have probs with PK5 it means your shoulder is weak)
and under 65 in stiffness.

Volkl and PK should be the best.

I would stop any tennis (you might have a partial tear) and talk to that orthopedic doctor first. You may need MRI, etc. If you can find someone specializing in shoulders, so much the better.

 

[samster]

I have/had exactly the same thing, it is the rotator cuff, probably not a tear but impingement or tendinitis. I really feel it on high forehands and on the serves. Like above posts said, probably worthwhile to see a doctor about this and see if physical therapy can help strengthen the rotator cuff muscles. Also, stopping play and ice it and antiinflammatories would probably help a lot.

I stopped playing for about 6 years also; thought I had to quit. Finally, I stopped being an idiot and stopped using the Prostaff 6.0 85 rackets and faced the fact that I am not qualified to use such an instrument. Warming up the shoulders also helped. Using more shoulder friendly rackets (larger headsize, more headlight) helped also. Head heavy and Near neutral balance rackets are no good. I found using natural gut strings helped a lot as well. Anyway, I would have it checked out and rest a while before playing again.

 

[BabolatFan]

I'd go to your ortho specialist immediately. The doctor will check it out. X-ray or MRI if necessary. Do not wait whenever u develope pain like that. Nip it in the bud.