Rotator cuff injury question

[MarkDSM]

"How much tax does throwing put on the rotator cuff?"

Background:
-I am naturally left handed
-I have a partially torn left rotator cuff. Have been living with it for a few years as I can work around it. When it does bother me, the pain comes with arm usage over shoulder height. Likely cause is years of use moving people and equipment as an x-ray tech
-Started playing around thanksgiving 2012 and have played about 5 days a week since
-Out of worry for my left shoulder, I have only thrown with my right arm. rhbh 98% of the time. Other %2 are right hand tomahawks and forehand that I only really use to get around obstacles

Follow up question.. "Would being able to throw with both arms greatly strengthen my game?" (emphasis on 'greatly')

thanks

[ejvogie]

I have a rotator cuff impingement in my throwing shoulder. It only hurts if I throw overhand or forehand. Backhand causes no pain unless I do a horrific griplock. This is just me, your mileage may vary.

That said, throwing with both hands can be an advantage if done well.

[Bobby_B5932]

I have torn rotator cuffs in both shoulders. While my throwing shoulder (right) is always soar to some point throwing backhand and sidearm do not make it hurt any more than it does when I am not throwing. Any overhead type of shot is another story and therefore I do not attempt to throw them right now. And yes, if you can throw with both sides well it would help your game.

[dgchiro]

If you want to throw your LHBH or LHFH, you have got to strengthen the muscles around your rotator cuff Mark. PM me for more info.

Also, throwing BHs on both sides is cool as hell. I have a buddy that does it and it works great for him.

[simpletwist]

I've got a rotator cuff tear and impingement in my left shoulder as well. Anything that stresses that tear even if only so slightly you don't notice it will cause problems down the road. It won't repair itself. I'm getting surgery on mine tomorrow. Could be months before I can throw again, maybe a year. But I'd rather take some time off to be able to play longer down the road. Remember, life is a marathon, not a sprint.

You, fortunately, are ambidextrous enough to be able to use your weak hand. I only do 2 things with my right hand, shaking hands is the other one. But I'm gonna give my weak hand a disc golf lesson as soon as the doc gives me the ok to play.

Get it fixed and good luck.

[Craton]

I've messed up my rotator cuffs to the point where I can hardly throw anything overhand (baseballs, footballs, frisbees) without it getting hot and sore. Probably 1 in 5 shots where I put a lot of anhyzer on a shot, my shoulder tears open and is pretty much useless for the rest of the day. To combat the second scenario, i pack some SUPER flippy discs like mambas, trashed DX gazelle/teebird, etc. that i can just hyze-flip and still get a tight hard turn.

[Tmart]

If you throw forehand properly it will not hurt your rotator cuff, if forehand throw are hurting your rotator cuff then you are throwing with your arm too high or you are turning your wrist over instead of snapping it with your palm faced up. I have totally destroyed my rotator cuff playing in a dodgeball league for years, yet I can throw 420' forehands without bothering it because I release at waist level and my power comes from my hips, elbow, wrist, fingers and footwork.

The other thing is, never put 100% power on a forehand or you will damage something. You will find with forehands if you throw at 80-90% you will throw as far or farther than 100% because your form is cleaner and you get more snap.

[Moosula]

Holy ****, you sound just like me. I messed up my shoulder in dodgeball class (are you from montana?) but I still forehand 400+ without any trouble

Originally Posted by Tmart

If you throw forehand properly it will not hurt your rotator cuff, if forehand throw are hurting your rotator cuff then you are throwing with your arm too high or you are turning your wrist over instead of snapping it with your palm faced up. I have totally destroyed my rotator cuff playing in a dodgeball league for years, yet I can throw 420' forehands without bothering it because I release at waist level and my power comes from my hips, elbow, wrist, fingers and footwork.

[Pwingles]

Originally Posted by Tmart

If you throw forehand properly it will not hurt your rotator cuff, if forehand throw are hurting your rotator cuff then you are throwing with your arm too high or you are turning your wrist over instead of snapping it with your palm faced up. I have totally destroyed my rotator cuff playing in a dodgeball league for years, yet I can throw 420' forehands without bothering it because I release at waist level and my power comes from my hips, elbow, wrist, fingers and footwork.

The other thing is, never put 100% power on a forehand or you will damage something. You will find with forehands if you throw at 80-90% you will throw as far or farther than 100% because your form is cleaner and you get more snap.

I feel bad for your injury but i will admit, I lol'd

[QuinnAA199]

[QUOTE=Moosula;1889616]Holy ****, you sound just like me. I messed up my shoulder in dodgeball class (are you from montana?) but I still forehand 400+ without any trouble[/QUOTE

Ha! ^^^

Do light exercises everyday. ARM lifts with thumb up,front and side, then with thumb down. Do it til u feel light burn each way. then rest and repeat 4x. It will get better.