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Summer is a great time to stay active, but it can also be tough on your shoulders. Activities like swimming, golfing, gardening, lifting, trimming trees, or weekend yard work often involve repetitive motion, overhead movement, twisting, pulling, or lifting. Even if you are healthy and active, a sudden increase in activity can lead to shoulder soreness, stiffness, or pain.

The question many patients ask is: When is shoulder pain normal, and when should I see a specialist?

Why Summer Activities Can Cause Shoulder Pain

The shoulder is one of the most mobile joints in the body, which allows you to reach, rotate, lift, swing, and throw. That mobility also makes it more vulnerable to irritation and injury.

Swimming can place repeated stress on the rotator cuff and surrounding tendons, especially with freestyle, butterfly, or long-distance swimming. Golf can strain the shoulder during the backswing, follow-through, or repeated practice sessions. Yard work can also trigger pain from lifting bags of mulch, pushing equipment, pulling weeds, or working overhead.

Common causes of shoulder pain after summer activities may include:

• Rotator cuff irritation or injury
• Shoulder impingement
• Tendonitis or bursitis
• Arthritis-related inflammation
• Muscle strain
• Labral injuries
• Stiffness from overuse or poor mechanics

Some soreness after activity may be expected, especially if you have done more than your usual routine. However, pain that does not improve or keeps returning should not be ignored.

When Shoulder Pain May Improve With Rest

Mild soreness that appears after activity and improves within a few days may respond well to rest, ice, activity modification, and gentle stretching. It may also help to avoid repetitive overhead motion or heavy lifting while symptoms calm down.

You may be able to monitor symptoms at home if the pain is mild, improving, and not limiting your normal daily activities. However, if discomfort continues every time you swim, swing a golf club, or work in the yard, your shoulder may need a closer look.

Warning Signs You Should See a Shoulder Specialist

It may be time to schedule an orthopaedic evaluation if you notice:

• Pain that lasts more than a few days
• Pain that gets worse instead of better
• Weakness when lifting or reaching
• Difficulty raising your arm overhead
• Pain that wakes you up at night
• A catching, popping, or grinding sensation
• Swelling, bruising, or visible changes around the shoulder
• Pain after a fall, sudden pull, or injury
• Limited range of motion
• Pain that interferes with work, sports, or daily tasks

These symptoms may point to an injury or condition that needs medical attention. Getting evaluated early can help identify the cause of your pain and prevent symptoms from becoming more difficult to treat.

How an Orthopaedic Evaluation Can Help

A shoulder specialist can assess your range of motion, strength, activity history, and symptoms. Imaging may be recommended when needed to better understand what is happening inside the joint. From there, your care team can create a treatment plan based on your diagnosis, goals, and activity level.

Treatment may include physical therapy, medications, injections, activity modifications, or other options depending on the severity of the condition.

Don’t Let Shoulder Pain Limit Your Summer

Shoulder pain after swimming, golf, or yard work is common, but ongoing pain is not something you have to “push through.” If your symptoms are not improving or are keeping you from the activities you enjoy, Ozark Orthopaedics can help you get answers and take the next step toward recovery.

Schedule an appointment with our shoulder and elbow specialists today.