Here in Northern Virginia we do not get to experience snow storms very often however, when we do it is often all of it at once. With the snow we all get involved with multiple different activities whether it is sled riding, throwing snowballs around or doing one of our favorite things (not) which is shoveling the snow and unburying our cars. During some of these activities we can put a lot of stress through our shoulders and the musculature that helps support it.
Inside of the shoulder there are a key group of muscles known as your rotator cuff. These muscles are responsible for the stability of the shoulder through multiple motions. While these muscles have a lot of control of what your shoulder does they can also be injured very easily especially if the shoulder is placed in a compromised position.
When throwing a snowball the rotator cuff contracts, relaxes and contracts again very quickly as it goes through the various motions of throwing. This repeated motion over time can lead to tendinitis of the rotator cuff or even small tears.
When shoveling the snow there is also a lot of stress that goes through not only our shoulders but also our lower backs. The constant lifting action that we make when shoveling and moving snow can end up being detrimental to the small muscles of our shoulders. If trying to lift the shovel and your shoulder is in a compromised position it can cause damage and injury which can be due to weakness or chronic issues in the shoulder which can lead to long term impacts.
If you have been dealing with shoulder pain that has been aggravated by these activities or you have had a sudden new onset of shoulder pain you should give us a call so we can help you get to the root of your issue. With our team of physical therapists they will go through an evaluation with you to get to the root of your issue and get you on the path to recovery. We will thoroughly assess your issue and create a customized plan of care to help your needs.
