Shoulder Sprain
A shoulder sprain is damage to the shoulder ligaments or capsule which support the glenohumeral (shoulder) joint. This may be stretching of the fibres or partial to full tears of the ligaments or joint capsule.
Symptoms of a Shoulder Sprain
- Pain in the shoulder, usually at the front of the joint.
- Tenderness when touching this area.
- Pain on both active movements and passive (therapist moves the arm) movements.
- Swelling may appear.
- There may be some instability at the joint.
Causes
A sprained shoulder is caused by a force on the arm which stretches the shoulder ligaments. Usually this involves the arm being forced backwards when it is raised to 90 degrees at the shoulder. This causes stretching or tearing of the ligaments or capsule at the front of the shoulder.
This is not a perticularly common injury as the ligaments of the shoulder are very strong. Also the muscles at the front of the shoulder, such as the pectorals are more likely to be injured first.
Treatment
What can the Athlete do?
- Rest the arm - a sling may be useful to take the weight off the shoulder.
- Apply ice or cold therapy products to ease pain, bleeding, swelling and inflammation.
- See a sports injury specialist
What can a Sports Injury Specialist do?
- Assess the injury.
- Prescribe anti-inflammatory medication.
- Refer for investigations such as MRI scans if necessary.
- Use electrotherapy treatments such as ultrasound or laser.
- Advise on a rehabilitation programme to regain full movement and strength, once the shoulder is pain free.
