Athletes at the high school level, and even younger, often spend the off seasons training, practicing, lifting, and preparing for the next sports season. Though this may seem like a harmless attempt to improve and grow stronger, pushing too hard can lead your athletes into arm overuse and shoulder injuries.

For athletes in baseball, softball, volleyball, swimming, basketball, football, and wrestling, overuse injuries of the shoulder are becoming increasingly more common.

“It’s important for athletes and coaches to understand the risks of year-round training to a young person’s muscles and joints,” explains Dr. Jerome R. Dunklin, sports medicine doctor at Sierra Pacific Orthopedics. “As opposed to playing the same sport year-round, athletes can stay in shape and stay safe by cross training or focusing on a different sport during the off season.”

During the season, the sports medicine doctors at Sierra Pacific Orthopedics suggest following these guidelines to keep your athletes’ shoulders injury-free.

• Have your athletes perform thorough stretching and warm-up exercises prior to each practice, game, and workout. This should include practicing overhead motion that gradually increases in intensity.


• Encourage your athletes, especially at young ages, to practice and play within several different positions. This will ease the stress of repetitive motion placed on specific muscles and ligaments.


• Don’t allow your athletes to pitch on consecutive days, and ensure that pitchers master their form and focus on mechanics, control, and accuracy rather than speed.


• Ensure that your athletes master their skills before moving onto more advanced drills or trying a new form or style.

If one of your athletes is experiencing shoulder pain or discomfort, contact the sports medicine doctors at Sierra Pacific Orthopedics by calling (559) 257-4107.

1630 East Herndon Avenue, Fresno, CA 93720