Hurt Your Shoulder Playing Rugby League? Two Things You Need To Know About Rotator Cuff Tendonitis
Rugby league is a contact sport, and if you have injured your shoulder while playing this game, you are not alone. For every 100,000 rugby league players, 678 will receive some form of injury. As a person who has been diagnosed with rotator cuff tendonitis, you'll find more info here.
How Does Rotator Cuff Tendonitis Happen?
Unlike some rugby league injuries, rotator cuff tendonitis happens over a period of time. It happens because of overuse of the rotator cuff tendon.
These tendons and muscles are located in the shoulder, and they connect the shoulder blade to the upper arm. Their job is to help the shoulder to rotate.
Bad posture while playing rugby league is one way rotator cuff tendonitis can occur. If there is a reduction in the amount of the space where the tendons can move because of the way you position your body during a game, the tendons will rub against the shoulder joint. Repeated friction leads to a degeneration of the tendon, and it also leads to the shoulder pain that you are now experiencing.
Now that you are more aware of why you are in pain, you can look for ways to repair the damage.
How Can a Sports Injury Clinic Help?
When you make an appointment with a sports injury clinic, there are two parts to your recovery.
The first is official confirmation that rotator cuff tendonitis is the problem. There are two ways that the orthopaedic surgeon will do this:
- Have an x-ray done. This will show evidence of any bone fractures or injuries, including bone spurs.
- Arrange an ultrasound or MRI. These are a better way to to confirm tendonitis because they will indicate if there is inflammation. It will also show if there are any tears in the tendon.
Once the diagnosis has been confirmed, treatment can begin. The types of treatment you may experience include:
- Medication to reduce the inflammation, including NSAIDs.
- Cold packs applied to the shoulder up to four times a day. Cold packs also help to reduce inflammation.
- Resting the shoulder for some time, which means your days of playing rugby league are over temporarily.
- Sports massage to improve the blood flow through the nerves in the tendon. When the blood is flowing as it should, the nerve endings do not send as many pain messages to the brain.
Once you are aware you have a shoulder injury, it is important that you seek the help of a sports injury specialist so that you do not make the problem worse. Failure to have rotator cuff tendon injuries looked at could lead to an injury that spells the permanent end to your rugby league playing days. However, swift action combined with a knowledgeable therapist will have you back on the playing field in no time.
Share