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Rotator cuff injury


flubberghusted's picture

By flubberghusted - Posted on 26 October 2010

Havent gone to see a physio yet but seeing all the different injuries posted here, just wanted to know whether it is common for the rotator cuff to have slight tears from overexertion or holding on for dear life?

The pain only occurs when i raise my arm on a certain angle. But for all intensive purposes, I can still ride without a problem.
Strange thing is that I didnt injure myself or fall off and the other sports I play dont have much to do with my left shoulder (tennis/basketball)

Anybody else experience this same problem from riding and do I need to stay off the bike?

Hasbeen Racing's picture

Did mine from surfing and swimming. You need to see a physio, it won't get better without treatment. I was out of the water for a few weeks but I don't think riding would have to stop unless its a really bad tear.

HeezaGeeza's picture

Didn't get it riding my MTB but had an off on my scooter that left me with a torn AC ligament. Hurt to raise my arm above a certain position and definitely recommend physio. I didn't for a while and that led to tennis elbow where I compensated elsewhere in my arm.

Recovery involved taping up my back to stop shoulder moving forward, then strength exercises - internal and external rotator cuff pulls on a standing cable machine (possibly starting off with just exercise bands). Took me about 3 months because of the wrist too. If I had gone early probably would have been 4 weeks max.

thehairynurse's picture

get to the physio pronto. shoulders are a weak link for many and the sooner you go to the physio to sort it the better you will be in the long run. the longer you leave it the more chance you will have of a dislocation, esp if you have an otb , and that is a lot more painfull than a few trips to the physio

hawkeye's picture

... it depends on which dimensions your shoulder is unstable in. Go see the physio ASAP. The guys at Allambie Sports Physio are quite good with shoulders, with all the Manly Sea Eagles players they see.

the.flying.al's picture

not that this is anything different but see the physio. the first time I did mine I saw the physio about 4 weeks after doing it. She said 6 weeks, and I thought great its already been 4, but then she said 6 weeks after treatment starts.

Mine was from being a hockey full back. We smash our rotator cuffs from over extension, running into things and falling over. The only long term solution is going to the gym to bulk up in the shoulders.

flubberghusted's picture

So I'm guessin its not an MTB injury without stacking it. I may have thought it was from the constant jolts.

Any physio recommendations around the Epping area?
All the MBF referred ones have been pretty ordinary...

craigy's picture

Physio Effect. You want to see Singe or Christine.

http://www.truelocal.com.au/business/physio-effe...

Matt P's picture

"Bulking" up the deltoid muscles, upper chest etc won't be a particularly brilliant solution as these don't provide overall shoulder stability. A bit like running 2.5" Minions and Dee Maxs on a C-Dale Rush and hoping the 6 foot hucks will be soaked up.

Specific rotator cuff exercises are a good start but even these aren't going to stop damage in the event of a substantial crash. In that event, rolling through a stack (if possible) is a better option than sticking a limb out.

Strength and flexibility in the R-Cuff will be a good starting point.

FWIW, I'd see your doctor first to get a correct diagnosis. They'll be the ones to advise the correct course of action.

(Edit): Something like tennis could be a good way to cause impingement through exaggerated stroke movement. Once or twice may not be an issue, but may injuries tend to happen over time from repetition. If you are a right handed player, have a look at what your left arm is doing during the serve or as a part of your rotation through your other strokes.

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