I have been playing tennis for many years, but over the past six months, my right shoulder has begun to hurt. It happens every time I raise my arm up. I can barely put my shirts on in the morning. What do you thnk this is, and what should I do?
Shoulder injuries are very common. There are four tendons in the shoulder which form a cuff around the shoulder joint; this is called the rotator cuff. Either a fall or trauma to the arm, or more commonly a repetitive overhead motion of the arm, such as tennis in your case, can cause injury to the rotator cuff. The initial treatment for this is stopping the repetitive motion that caused it, as well as local therapy with a heating pad, and anti-inflammatory medication, such as motrin. Some people will need a steroid injection for pain, and others surgery. You should see an orthopedic surgeon to figure out if this is your problem.
Expert: Beth Israel NY
To learn more about torn rotator cuffs, watch this video from VideoMD.com.
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