Anyone for a spot of (pain free) tennis.... or drumming??

Wimbledon is upon us once again this year! 🎾I LOVE watching this tournament and find myself getting a real itch to dust off the racket and polish up on my serve, all inspired by these incredible tennis pro's.

Centre court tickets have long been on my bucket list but sadly, I'm yet to get lucky in the ballot - maybe next year!🤞

Whilst watching the Sinner v Martinez match on Saturday, it became clear that Martinez was struggling with a shoulder injury given the speed (or lack of) his serve to the soft tissue work his physio was applying at court side during breaks.

It got me reflecting on the most common injuries I see clients for in clinic and it seems shoulder injuries are not limited to just the elite tennis players. In fact, it may surprise you that I currently treat more shoulder issues and injuries than I do lower back pain, which is known to be the most common musculoskeletal issue globally.

Perhaps the rise in popularity of padel or pickleball is a factor. Or, especially at this time of the year, like me, people get inspired to pick up tennis. More often than not the cause tends to be far more mundane. Lots of overhead use of our arms (usually painting and decorating our homes!), or starting a new gym programme with lots of 'push or press' type exercises. Impact from a fall can also be a trigger for shoulder injury and discomfort.

Pain, discomfort and a loss of mobility in the shoulder can feel quite debilitating and can make everyday tasks a challenge, such as putting your t-shirt on or reaching to grab something from a high cupboard.

The good news is that you don't have to suffer with shoulder pain and lack of mobility! 🙌 A course of soft tissue therapy in combination with a tailored programme of rehab can work wonders.

Check out my clients shoulder success story below 👇

Client Background/Context

This client came to me in January with pain and loss of mobility in his right shoulder/arm due to a fall when out walking the dogs during a particularly icy spell of weather. Sadly this was his second fall on the affected arm, having previously injured it in a similar way, for which he received physiotherapy for elsewhere at that time.

Aside from finding some daily tasks challenging and uncomfortable, as a keen drummer, he was frustrated not to be able to pick up the drum sticks and play as he would like to.

What we did

It became apparent from the initial assessment that there was damage to the rotator cuff muscles as well as some impingement of the shoulder. Often, when one side is not fully functioning, we over compensate on the good side resulting in a build up of muscular tightness and tension.

Hands on work with this client included improving his shoulder strength and range of motion on the affected side through a blend of soft tissue techniques, as well as releasing tightness in the non affected side.

In between appointments I prescribed a programme of bespoke, easy to follow, progressive rehab exercises to implement at home.

In total my client visited for just 3 appointments over the course of 10 weeks and by this point had zero pain and full range of motion back!

This case study really shows the power of the right mix of therapeutic intervention alongside the clients own efforts and willingness to put in the rehab work. A magic combo!

Here's what my client had to say :

And there's more to the story...

I believe that follow up care extends beyond the end of a successful course of treatment and I like to keep in touch to see how clients are doing (so don't be surprised if you receive a quick email check in from me from time to time!).

My client had previously mentioned a desire to get back to focusing on his fitness and being more active as soon as the shoulder would allow. A couple of months after treatment concluded, I received an email to say:

'I am very well thanks, effectively no pain in my shoulder and full motion. I am now 31 gym sessions into my new fitness programme and losing weight at what I hope is a sustainable rate. I cannot complain!'.

How amazing is that??!!

If you are struggling with pain or a niggling injury (not just shoulders!) - Perhaps you've over done it at the gym, or you are struggling with everyday tasks due to a lack of mobility, or you just need a good restorative sports massage, please do get in touch for help. Soft tissue therapy is beneficial for EVERY BODY.