Prevention Strategies of Shoulder Injuries

Major shoulder injuries, such as those to the labrum and to the rotator cuff, are a growing cause for concern. These injuries can have shown serious consequences for the athlete, in terms of treatment costs, time lost from sport, and increased risk of recurrence. Recent studies have shown that it might be possible to reduce the incidence of shoulder and upper quarter injuries in adults and adolescents by using various training programs. However, this work is multifaceted and must address all the aspects that could be related to the risk of injury (agility, balance, strength, proprioception, awareness of vulnerable shoulder and upper limb positions, and playing technique). A multifactorial approach should be used to account for all the variables involved, which are internal and external risk factor as well as the inciting event (the injury mechanism). Integrating shoulder and core exercises can address potential and present musculoskeletal dysfunction while serving as an effective program aimed at improving skill and preventing further recurrence or new trauma.