Shoulder
Dr. Thieken treats injuries and conditions of the shoulder
Sports medicine physician treating common shoulder injuries and conditions
Dr. Thieken is a fellowship-trained shoulder physician who specializes in arthroscopic surgery for shoulder pain, injuries and conditions. Learn more about common treatment options for sports injuries.
Rotator Cuff Tear
A rotator cuff tear is a common cause of pain, swelling and disability among adults. A torn rotator cuff weakens the shoulder and makes daily activities painful and difficult to do.
Most rotator cuff tears are largely caused by normal wear and tear that comes along with aging. People who do repetitive lifting or overhead activities are also at risk for rotator cuff tears. Athletes are especially vulnerable to overuse tears, particularly tennis players and baseball pitchers. Most tears in young adults are caused by a traumatic injury such as a fall.
For about 50 percent of rotator cuff tears, nonsurgical treatment relieves pain and improves function; however, strength does not usually improve without surgery.
Labral Tears
A superior labrum anterior and posterior (SLAP) tear is an injury to the labrum of the shoulder, which is a ring of cartilage that surrounds the socket of the joint.
SLAP tears can be caused by acute trauma or by repetitive motion, including a car accident, a fall on an outstretched arm, forceful pulling on the arm, rapid or forceful movement of the arm when it is above the level of the shoulder and shoulder dislocation.
People who participate in repetitive overhead sports, such as throwing athletes or weightlifters, can experience labrum tears as a result of an overuse injury.
Many SLAP tears are the result of wearing down the labrum, which occurs slowly over time.
In most cases, initial treatment for a SLAP tear is nonsurgical. Surgery may be necessary if your pain causes disability and is not relieved with nonsurgical methods.
Shoulder dislocations
Although the shoulder joint is the body’s most mobile joint, it also makes the shoulder an easy joint to dislocate. A partial dislocation (shoulder subluxation) means the head of the upper arm bone (humerus) is partially out of the socket (glenoid). A complete dislocation means it’s all the way out of the socket.
The shoulder joint can dislocate forward, backward or downward. The most common type of shoulder dislocation is when the shoulder slips forward (anterior instability). This means the upper arm bone moved forward and down out of its joint. It may happen when the arm is put in a throwing position.
The immediate treatment for a dislocated shoulder is a closed reduction. After it’s reduced, the patient is placed in a sling. In patients with recurrent instability or athletes participating in contact sports, surgery may be recommended to help stabilize the shoulder and help improve range of motion.
Shoulder Impingement
The rotator cuff is a common source of pain in the shoulder and can be a result of tendinitis, bursitis or impingement. Rotator cuff pain is common in both young athletes and middle-aged people.
Young athletes who use their arms overhead for swimming, baseball and tennis are particularly vulnerable. Also, repetitive lifting or overhead activities such as construction and painting are also susceptible. Pain can also develop due to a minor injury or occur with no apparent cause.
Working with a physical therapist through non-surgical treatment could be an option as well as surgical treatment if needed. Dr. Thieken will consider your age, activity level, general health and type of tear you have before deciding on the best treatment plan for you.