Every joint of the body is important but if you are an athlete, then the power of the musculoskeletal system gains more importance. But there are some sports that demand more force from some particular joints of the body. Today, we will be discussing some sports that require extra strength from shoulder joints.
Joints present in the shoulder- know their functions
The shoulder joint is a unique ball and socket due to its allowed range of motion and especially when it’s too fragile to move due to a smaller socket than the upper arm bone. Basically, it is formed by the attachment of the humerus and the scapula. Many ligaments and tissues engulf this joint to provide stability. But when we segregate the complete shoulder joint, then 4 distinct joints can be found in the shoulder that co-relate and co-depends on this single joint. These are the following:
- Sternoclavicular joint
This joint consists of the medial aspect of the clavicle (collarbone), the sternum manubrium (breastbone), and the articular disc. The disc acts as a protection and fractures before the joint gets dislocated. It facilitates many movements like axial rotation, protraction/retraction, and elevation/depression.
- Scapulothoracic joint
It is the anterior articulation between the thorax and scapula. This joint allows various movements like up/down rotation, elevation/depression, and protraction/retraction.
- Aromioclavicular joint
It is responsible to keep up the connection between the scapula and collarbone while suspending the upper portion of the shoulder. This joint allows rotation in 3 different planes and those are- up/down, internal/external, and anterior/posterior. Moreover, this joint is the only joint that can help in making the interaction between the scapula & posterior thorax.
- Glenohumeral joint
This joint holds the responsibility to keep the upper portion of the shoulder attached to the shoulder joint. Rotator cuff muscles play an important role in keeping this joint intact as it is too fragile to perform stable movements. It’s a structural weakness that makes it prone to dislocation. As it is the most flexible point, it helps in various movements like internal/external rotation, arms lifting, flexion, and many more.
Sports and the intensity of shoulder power
There are many sports that involve a high risk to the shoulder. Let’s list some of them.
- Baseball & cricketers
Baseball players and cricketers usually have the pressure to hit high and catch the ball by performing repetitive overhead movements. Can you imagine a helicopter shot in a cricket match with an injured shoulder? Obviously, it seems to be impossible. These sports include repetitive overhead movements. Over exhaustion can lead to shoulder instability or shoulder cuff injury.
- Tennis
Tennis is a game that is fully based on your arm and shoulder performance. With shoulder pain, Serena Williams would have not won so many tournaments. Swinging the racquet and hitting the ball is not an easy task. Hitting the racquet continuously for a long duration increases the risk of getting a SLAP tear which can affect the power of your shoulder.
- Swimming
A good swimmer needs to have good coordination arms and legs. When one strokes to swim ahead, then it puts intense force by repetitive overhead movements. Over-performing can lead to acute shoulder pain.
- Volleyball
This game completely depends on your arms and shoulders. Hitting the ball with bare hand to serve and hit it to the other counter. As the shoulder is overused, it can lead to various problems like SLAP tear, acute injuries, etc.
It is the list of some sports that require high shoulder power. But almost every outdoor sport requires the strength of the shoulder. If you are looking for an experienced shoulder specialist in Gurgaon, then you can consult Dr. Reetadyuti Mukhopadhyay. He is trained in treating shoulder problems and sports injury.