To follow up on the prior blog relating to the recent increase in trail shoulder injuries due to changes in the golf swing there have been a couple of therapeutic approaches that have helped the golfer. A few golfers who have worked on the change began to have symptoms in their shoulders and neck areas. The swing change involved keeping the trail elbow closer to the body on the backswing and acceleration phases of the golf swing.
Although shoulder symptoms varied somewhat they were either localized to the anterior or posterior aspect of the right (trail) shoulder in right handed golfers. Clinical examination found the anterior shoulder pain to be from impingement of the supraspinatus tendon or strain to the biceps tendon. Posterior shoulder pain was found to be from infraspinatus and/or teres minor strain from eccentric stress.
So far most golfers have responded well to treatment that targeted:
- The specific muscle injuries with ART, soft tissue massage, active and passive stretches;
- Improving scapular mobility including cervical soft tissues;
- Concentric and eccentric clinical exercises for the involved musculature including golf specific motions.
Continued evaluations will be occurring to monitor progress but the initial approach has been promising to allow the golfer to implement these swing changes for performance enhancement. Very gratifying to help the body reach new levels of performance!
