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Types of Injuries From External Rotation of the Shoulder

Shoulder injuries are a common occurrence among athletes such as baseball players and weight lifters. However, like any other major joint of the body, there are many ways for the shoulder to be injured. One of the most common injuries is caused by external rotation of the shoulder.

  1. Rotator Cuff

    • A rotator cuff injury is one of the major types of injuries that external rotation of the shoulder can cause. The shoulder is a ball-in-socket joint similar to the hip and the ball of the bone is in held in place by muscle, ligaments and tendons. If a person moves his arm too quickly, then he could tear one of the muscles or other tissues that support the rotator cuff. This injury is common among athletes who do a lot of throwing, such as quarterbacks and pitchers. The shoulder will become painful and swollen and in severe cases surgery may be required to repair the torn rotator cuff.

    Dislocation

    • A dislocated joint is another injury that can happen due to external rotation of the shoulder. Again, imagine the ball in socket that makes up the shoulder joint. The ball is the end of the upper arm bone fit into the socket of the rib cage and held in place by muscles and ligaments. If pressure is put on the joint during external rotation then it could cause the joint to come apart, popping the ball out of the socket.

      This is extremely painful and often leads to damage to the socket as well as to the muscles, tendons and ligaments. The joint will need to be popped back in, forcing the ball back into the socket so that the injury can heal.

    Muscle Strain

    • The numerous muscles which are connected to the shoulder can be strained during external rotation. The deltoid, one of the largest muscles in the shoulder, can be strained without injuring the rest of the rotator cuff for instance. Additionally the biceps and triceps can be strained or sprained since they are connected to the shoulder as well. Lastly the muscles of the chest and back that connect to the shoulders can be injured due to external rotation. These strains and sprains can be mild or severe and will often cause pain and swelling.

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