Shoulder Injuries – More Common Than You’d Think

Did you know the shoulder is one of the most mobile joints in your body? Having such a great range of motion, it is used pretty much every time your body moves, particularly when throwing, lifting or reaching. As a result, it can be highly prone to injury, which is why it’s important to be mindful of your shoulder movements to avoid any potential injuries.

Common Shoulder Injuries

With the shoulder having such a wide range of movement, it easy to injure through a sudden jolt, twist or from repetitive use. While shoulder injuries are more prevalent through athletic activities, they can also occur during everyday activities such as hanging out laundry, lifting boxes, and even sitting at a poor workstation setup. Some of the most common shoulder injuries include:

  • Shoulder instability
  • Overuse/strain
  • Rotator cuff tear
  • Frozen shoulder

Most shoulder injuries stem from problems in the muscles, tendons, and ligaments surrounding the bones in the shoulder. However shoulder pain can also stem from a neck injury, and similarly, can have a flow on effect to the elbow and wrist.

How to prevent a shoulder injury 

With the shoulder being used so frequently in daily life, it is important to be conscious of your movements and know your limits in order to prevent pain or injury. During these times of isolating at home, you are probably finding yourself doing more around the house to fill in time such as some spring cleaning, or picking up projects around the house that have been put off for months (or years). Below are some helpful tips to in keeping your shoulder healthy and pain-free:

  • Know your limits – whether you are lifting a box, reaching for a book, or lifting weights at the gym, be aware of your body’s strength and limits to avoid unwanted pain or strain in the shoulder.
  • Prioritise ergonomic setup – poor workstation setup can lead to strain in the neck, shoulder and wrist due to bad posture and positioning of the body. Ensuring your workstation is set up correctly for you, especially during these times of working from home, will avoid any unnecessary pain.
  • Stay Healthy and Active – regular exercise and a good diet will do wonders for your body, including preventing injury. When exercising, ensure to do a warm up beforehand and learn how to perform exercises properly.

Elin, is an alumni of St. Edward’s University and holder of a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology, furthered her academic journey by attaining a Doctor of Physiotherapy from Macquarie University in 2022.

Her passion for sports, particularly football (soccer), is evident in both her academic pursuits and personal endeavors. Specialising in the comprehensive well-being of athletes, Elin focuses on restoring them to peak performance while actively preventing future injuries.

Elin’s professional expertise is centered on musculoskeletal rehabilitation, with a specific emphasis on addressing and preventing knee injuries. Her approach integrates expert treatment with a commitment to educating and empowering patients, fostering their active involvement in enhancing their health and overall quality of life.

As an active participant in NPL football with SD Raiders, Elin brings firsthand experience and a profound understanding of the sport’s demands. Beyond the field, she extends her influence by contributing sports coverage over the weekends.

Christopher (Chris) Han graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Therapy, and then completed the Doctor of Physiotherapy program at Macquarie University in 2018. Chris is currently undertaking his PhD at the University of Sydney and Institute for Musculoskeletal Health in the field of low back pain and is due to complete this in early 2024. 

Chris is currently an assistant Physiotherapist for the NRL Referees. Chris has previous experience as the head Physiotherapist at Panthers Premier League Netball and a number of elite sporting athletes in the private setting.

Through Chris’ experiences, he has a particular interest in all areas of the body and musculoskeletal physiotherapy, sports, vestibular rehabilitation, and Men’s Health (pre and post prostate surgery).

Suzanne graduated from Western Sydney University with a Bachelor of Health Science (Sports and Exercise Science) in 2015. She then went on to continue her studies at Macquarie University graduating from the Doctor of Physiotherapy post-graduate degree in June 2019.

Since graduating, Suzanne has worked in the local Penrith area in both private practice and Sports Physiotherapy. Suzanne has worked with sporting teams including Penrith District Netball Association, Mt Druitt Rangers (NPL), Penrith Valley Figure Skating Club, and local dance and cheer schools. 

Suzanne has a particular interest in working with artistic athletes including cheerleaders and dancers. She has a professional background in both cheer and dance and has previously worked as both a cheer coach and dance teacher. Suzanne’s previous experiences are an invaluable resource to her as a physiotherapist, as she has a thorough understanding of the level of physical fitness and skill acquisition that these athletes must have in order to be successful on stage and in competition.

Suzanne’s other areas of clinical interest reside in lower limb musculoskeletal injuries, spinal pathologies and women’s health.

Nathanial graduated as a physiotherapist in 2012 which saw him work in private practice and hospital settings gaining experience in all areas of physiotherapy including hand therapy, splinting/casting, pre/post-operative care, Men’s Health and general musculoskeletal, occupational and sports physiotherapy. Since then he has gone on to complete further studies in physiotherapy enabling him to be the only dual titled Musculoskeletal, Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist in Penrith.

Nathanial has a strong background in sports physiotherapy achieving accreditation with NSWIS as a service provider and working with many elite sports teams.

Nathanial has a particular interest in working with elite athletes, complex cases and in particular assessment and management of knee, hip and shoulder pain.

Andrea graduated from the Australian Catholic University completing her Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science in 2018 and Master’s of Clinical Exercise Physiology in 2020. After graduating she attained accreditation with ESSA as an Exercise Physiologist.

During her studies she gained clinical experience in both hospital and private practice settings, in cardiac rehabilitation, neurological conditions, cancer and chronic musculoskeletal injuries.

Since working at Progressive, Andrea has a specialist interest in treating musculoskeletal injuries, helping people in the mid-late stage of rehab to get them to return to sport or work. As well as helping people manage chronic conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis and diabetes.