Overhead Athletes: We All Know One

As warmer days approach, student athletes are preparing for upcoming spring and summer sports/activities. Looking forward to the new season, Myrtue Physical Therapy would like to take a moment to discuss Overhead Athletes and emphasize the significance of recognizing the overall health and wellbeing of their bodies.

What is an Overhead Athlete?

An overhead athlete is an individual who participates in sports or activities that involve moving their upper arm and shoulder in throwing, hitting, or swinging motions, or in an overhead arc. Some of the most common overhead sports include:

• Baseball / Softball
• Swimmers
• Football
• Volleyball
• Basketball
• Tennis
• Soccer goal keepers
• Shotput, discus, and pole-vaulters
• And more

Overhead athletes often need additional training to improve their performance and to prevent injuries, as the repetitive nature of the over the shoulder motion can put significant stress on the shoulder and upper body. Proper conditioning, technique, and recovery strategies are essential for maintaining their athletic performance and overall health.

Anatomy of the Shoulder

The shoulder is a ball and socket joint that is formed of three bones; humerus (upper arm bone), scapula (shoulder blade), and clavicle (collarbone). The head of the upper arm bone fits into a rounded socket (the glenoid) in the shoulder blade (scapula). Surrounding the outside edge of the socket is a rim of tough tissue called the labrum that helps to deepen the socket and stabilize the shoulder joint. These bones are joined together by soft tissue (tendons, muscles, ligaments, and joint capsules) to form a platform for the arm to work.

Common Injuries for Overhead Athletes

Participating in overhead sports places athletes at increased risk of shoulder injury because they require rapid and repetitive overhead motion, placing stress on the shoulder joint. Not only can these injuries make continuing to play the sport difficult, but they may even affect a player’s ability to perform daily tasks like getting dressed.

Some common injuries that overhead athletes could face include:

• Bursitis: When the small, fluid-filled sacs that provide padding for the bones, tendons, and muscles near the joints become inflamed.
• Shoulder Impingement: When the tendons or nerves of the rotator cuff may become pinched as they pass between the top of the upper arm and the tip of the shoulder. This can cause numbness, pain, or muscle weakness.
• Tendonitis: When the area around the rotator cuff, muscles and tendons that connect the upper arm bone to the shoulder blade, develops inflammation.
• Rotator Cuff Injury: When the tendon comes either partially or completely detached from the upper arm.
• Strains and Sprains: Sprains develop when the ligaments of the shoulder overstretch or tear while strains happen when the fibers in the shoulder muscles or tendons overstretch or tear.

Treatment for Injuries in Overhead Athletes

If you or someone you know has already sustained a shoulder injury resulting from overhead activity, physical therapy may be your next step to healing and getting back to 100%. Talk to your primary care provider and see if Myrtue’s Rehabilitation Services is the right fit for you! If you have any additional questions, you can call Rehab Services at 712.755.4342 to speak to a Physical Therapist.

Eric Chipman, PT, DPT, ROACC (Rehabilitation Overhead Athlete Certified Clinician)