Avoiding Overhead Lifting Injuries | Sports Chiropractor in Long Island, NY

Dr. Daniel Holland, DC, CCSP, DACRB

Why Overhead Athletes Experience Shoulder Pain

This is going to be a two-part article that discusses the importance of the

relationship between the shoulder and the shoulder blade (scapula), and the

relationship between the shoulder and the core.

The Shoulder Blade (Scapula) – The Missing Link

As a sports chiropractor I get to evaluate and work with a wide variety of athletes

ranging from peewee hockey players to professional baseball players. Recently,

with the increased popularity of CrossFit and Olympic weightlifting I have seen an increase in the number of chief complaints of shoulder related issues. I am not

going to state “shoulder injuries”, as this might mislead the reader that there is an

increase in shoulder injuries from these sports.

Mobility vs Stability: What Most Athletes Get Wrong

Rather, most of these athletes often complain of vague shoulder pain that is

increased with overhead lifting.

The Shoulder-Core Connection

The shoulder is a complex joint that is comprised of three bones (humerus, clavicle, and scapula), four joints (glenohumeral, acromioclavicular, sternoclavicular, and scapulothoracic), and numerous muscles and ligaments. (too many to list to keep the interest of the reader). It is considered to be the most mobile joint in the human body, and some might argue it's one of the most complex joints.

When to See a Sports Chiropractor in Long Island

Knowing that it’s the most mobile joint in the human body I am often puzzled as to why many athletes focus on mobilizing the shoulder, rather than stabilizing the shoulder.

Dr. Daniel Holland is a sports-based chiropractor who practices in Nesconset, NY on Long Island. He holds the following certifications: CCSP – Certified Chiropractic Sports Practitioner, DACRB – Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Rehabilitation Board, CF-L1 – CrossFit Level 1 Instructor.