Rotator Cuff Injury From Pitching: When Pain After Baseball Means Surgery

Take Me Back To The Ballgame

Baseball is a great American pastime. From Babe Ruth to the 7th inning stretch, people flock to fields across the country each season. Players of the game, however, are at risk for a shoulder injury. Continual stress on the shoulders, as found in repeated fastballs, raises the chance for a rotator cuff injury such as superior labrum anterior to posterior (SLAP) and biceps tendinitis. Although shoulder injuries occur in sports that require repetitive overhead motions, such as volleyball and tennis, injuries occur most commonly in baseball. Every year countless members of the American public experience symptoms related to decreased range of motion in the shoulder. While many patients can manage symptoms with physical therapy, surgical intervention may be necessary if the patient does not respond to a combination of stretching and medication.

Hitting all your bases

As shoulder structures, the rotator cuff and labrum are most vulnerable to throwing injuries. In rotator cuff tears, injuries are associated with overhead throwing found in American baseball games. In some cases, no surgery is needed to recover from a tear. To improve the range of motion in the shoulder and strengthen the muscles that support the joint, specific exercises can help improve shoulder mobility. Physical therapy can focus on muscles and ligament tightness in the back of the shoulder, helping to strengthen the structures in the front of the shoulder. Getting back to pitching after an injury takes consistency and a wide range of exercises for a full-body recovery. The stationary bike or elliptical in the gym helps maintain heart health and healthy circulation. Cardiovascular exercises are crucial to maintaining overall health and mobility, expediting recovery time with or without surgery.

Lacing up for surgery

If nonsurgical treatment doesn’t work, the next strategy centers around the surgical intervention in the shoulder joint. Surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff typically involves re-attaching the tendon to the head of the upper arm bone. For arthroscopic rotator cuff tear surgeries, a surgeon will insert a small camera known as an arthroscope to take photos of the injury. Using the photos to inform surgery, surgeons then stitch up the torn tendon. After 4-6 weeks of wearing a sling, most patients begin several months of physical therapy to regain shoulder strength and range of motion. A combination of both surgical techniques and physical therapy helps the patient achieve maximum mobility.

Head in the game

Compared to the average American, baseball players are more prone to SLAP tears and biceps tendinitis. A combination of surgical intervention and physical therapy allows many athletes to recover both mobility and an overall range of motion quickly. Daily stretching and activity modification before attempting surgical intervention allows patients to strengthen the surrounding muscles. In less extreme shoulder injuries, physical therapy is enough to restore upper arm and shoulder movement. Continuous shoulder pain should not be ignored. Don’t hesitate to consult a shoulder specialist when pain lasts more than a few days.