Excel PT: Shoulder and Elbow Pain

Excel PT: Shoulder and Elbow Pain

THE NEWSLETTER ABOUT YOUR HEALTH AND CARING FOR YOUR BODY Health Tips Newsletter

HOW TO TREAT SHOULDER & ELBOW PAIN AT ANY AGE

Shoulder and elbow injuries are common in baseball players of all ages, however this is increasingly common as youth players become more specialized and more competitive at earlier ages. Additionally, players may not have access to the same level of training that they usually would due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (continued inside)

By Daniel Johnson, PT, DPT

INSIDE : • How To Treat Shoulder & Elbow Pain At Any Age • Featured Physical Therapist

• Patient Success Spotlight • Complimentary Assessment

Visit: excelphysicaltherapy.com

HEALTH AND CARING FOR YOUR BODY Health Tips Newsletter

HOW TO TREAT SHOULDER & ELBOW PAIN AT ANY AGE

INSIDE :

• Featured Physical Therapist • Complimentary Assessment

• Exercise Of The Month • Patient Success Spotlight

to a player’s health when they are playing for multiple teams as coaches may not always be on the same page. MLB.com is a great resource with detailed pitch count limits for each age group.4 Allow for adequate warm up prior to any bout of pitching or throwing. This may include, but is not limited to, a cardiovascular warm up, dynamic mobility/stretching and use of light to moderate strength resistance bands to “prime” the musculature of the shoulder. To summarize, the number one reason for injury is fatigue and overuse. This can be too many pitches in one game, not enough days off between throwing or too many innings in one year. Additionally, while much of the focus lies on the shoulder and elbow in baseball players, it is also critically important to address deficiencies throughout the rest of the body. In addition to assessing for weakness or inadequate range of motion of the shoulder, players should be assessed for adequate mobility and strength of the spine, trunk, hips and ankles. If there are deficiencies in one or more areas of the body, they can contribute to pain, injury and reduced performance of the throwing shoulder and arm. Working on sound throwing mechanics is essential as well, but one should use caution when attempting to drastically change a player’s throwing mechanics in-season. Prior to the season, consulting with a physical therapist with knowledge of throwing mechanics may be beneficial. Additionally, if a player starts to feel pain that does not go away with rest, a physical therapist may be able to help not only reduce the pain but also determine the root cause of the injury in order to prevent recurrence or a new injury in the future.

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Shoulder and elbow injuries can occur in the beginning of a season due to inadequate preparation during pre-season training. More often, however, injuries occur later in the season simply due to too much throwing without enough rest. The most common throwing related injuries are muscle strains, biceps tendinopathies and labral tears of the shoulder, and ligament sprains or tears of the elbow (think Tommy John surgery). Increased injury risk in baseball players is associated with increased throwing volume, not enough rest, increased pitching velocity, poor throwing mechanics and poor conditioning. You can reduce your injury risk by keeping these general guidelines in mind. 1 Participate in an off- season training regimen: this may include cardiovascular conditioning, mobility training, core strengthening, and weight/resistance training with a focus on the musculature involved in throwing. Heavy weight training should be avoided in the upper extremities however, leaving the heavier weights for the legs.² If you are participating in a fall or winter baseball league, adequate time off from throwing between seasons is crucial to allow for the tendons, ligaments and muscles of the arm to fully recover. A minimum of 4 months off from throwing per year is recommended for youth players, with 2-3 of those months being consecutive (MLB. com).³ Monitor and limit pitch count. This becomes even more critical By Daniel Johnson, PT, DPT

Sources: 1 ASMI.org 2 www.mlb.com/pitch-smart/pitching-guidelines/ages-13-14 3 MikeReinold.com 4 Saper, M., Pierpoint, L. P., Liu, W., & Comstock, D. (2017, October). Epidemiology of Shoulder and Elbow Injuries Among US High School Baseball Players, 2005-2006 Through 2014-2015. Retrieved January, 2021, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319018752_Epidemiology_of_ Shoulder_and_Elbow_Injuries_Among_US_High_School_Baseball_Players_2005-2006_Through_2014-2015

STRUGGLING WITH AN INJURY OR PAIN? NO REFERRAL NEEDED - CALL 866-88-EXCEL TODAY!

Emily Ralen, PT, DPT, OCS NEW Assistant Cl inic Director at our Haver town Location FEATURED PT

Recover From A Rotator Cuff Injury With Physical Therapy

1. Where did you grow up?

I

I grew up in Wayland, MA. 2. Where did you attend school for your DPT? Drexel University class of 2016. Go Dragons!

3. Why did you decide to become a Physical Therapist? I have my mom to thank for suggesting I consider a physical therapy career. She is a speech therapist and suggested that I look into OT and PT, due to my background as a collegiate rower and biology major. I immediately loved the unique, flexible and creative environment. The best thing about being a PT is knowing that you helped your patient reduce their pain to make their daily lives better, but more importantly, that they no longer need you and can independently manage their condition. I really enjoy teaching my patients about their pain and helping to reduce their fear of movement. I also definitely could not sit at a desk all day! 4. What does patient centered treatment mean to you? We have a unique opportunity to get to know our patients well, since we see them much more frequently than almost all other healthcare providers. I really think this allows us to learn our patient’s whole story of why they have come to us for help. Our treatment model also allows us time to address every aspect of their care and healing. Excel’s model emphasizes the importance of one-on-one time with our patients. It is also about giving our patients the most appropriate treatments based on current research. We really don’t use a lot of passive modes of treatment and time is spent on manual therapy or some kind of exercise, which is shown to be the most beneficial to our patients! 5. What is your favorite patient experience? There are so many! One that comes to mind was in my first year with Excel, working with a patient who had severe complications following a spinal surgery. The patient had a lot of difficulty walking and activating the muscles in her one leg. She started with a walker and after many months, she was able to leave us without any assistive device. She would even do a little dance into or out of the clinic after our final sessions. It always makes it more enjoyable when the patients like coming in and can see that we will do whatever we can to get them to 100%. 6. What do you like to do outside of the clinic? Over the pandemic, my boyfriend and I got a puppy. We love taking him on long walks or with us camping. I also like to stay active with hiking, biking, weight lifting, and rowing! I am looking forward to being able to travel again soon as well.

Your rotator cuff is comprised of the muscles and tendons surrounding your shoulder joint. Sometimes, the rotator cuff can become torn or injured, due to repetitive overhead motions performed in sports (such as tennis) or jobs (such as carpentry.) Athletes are also at risk of developing a rotator cuff injury if they participate in rigorous activities, such as weight-lifting, swimming, or tennis. The active movements associated with sports and laborious work are undoubtedly impor tant factors to keep in mind; however, passive movements can also be contributing factors to an injury. Continuous poor posture and improper positioning of the shoulders can make your scapula, or shoulder blade, much more vulnerable to pain and rotator cuff injuries. Those who experience rotator cuff injuries or “torn shoulders” general ly repor t a dul l ache deep in their shoulder, arm weakness, difficulty reaching behind their back, and disturbed sleep due to pain. At Excel Physical Therapy, our natural and non-invasive methods can help relieve your shoulder pain and heal your rotator cuff injury.

CONTACT US TODAY TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT! TELEHEALTH APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE excelphysicaltherapy.com 866-88-EXCEL

Patient Success Spotlight “I’m happy to say the results were beyond what I thought was possible.”

Specialties Offered

• Balance & Vestibular Rehab • Concussion Rehab Program • Functional Movement Screens (FMS) • LSVT Big Therapy

• Manual Therapy – ART & Graston Techniques • McKenzie Method • Pelvic Health • Pre- & Post-Surgical Rehab • TMD (Temperalmandibular Dysfunction)

“After a successful outcome for my shoulder pain the previous year, a recurring back problem had me return to Excel. I knew from the pain I was experiencing this was going to be a bigger challenge, and it was. Add to that the concerns and restrictions COVID-19 had brought. Gratefully, Ian and his team in Lafayette Hill, were excellent. I always felt safe and it was obvious how much attention they paid to keeping the facility and equipment perpetually clean and sanitized. Each visit my limitations were pushed further and I was provided with strategies I continue to use all the time. I’m happy to say the results were beyond what I thought was possible. Physical therapy is not the quick fix, but if you do the work, the changes you incorporate into your life can be profound. Thanks for all that you did for me!” - R.F.

Common Conditions We Treat

Dizziness & Concussions

Neck Pain

Shoulder Pain

Back Pain

Elbow & Arm Pain Hand & Wrist Pain

Hip Pain

Knee Pain/ Arthritis

Don’t delay, contact us to get back to the activities you enjoy, pain-free!

Sit or stand with good posture. Execute the stretch by reaching across your chest until you start to feel tightness. Use your other arm to then pull a little bit further. Hold for 5 seconds and repeat 3-5 times. CROSS BODY SHOULDER STRETCH EXERCISE OF THE MONTH

COMPLIMENTARY ASSESSMENT

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Your complimentary pain assessment may be conducted via telephone or TeleHealth

Call to schedule. Expires 4-30-21

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