Shoulder Injuries: Sports Medicine Care

Shoulder Injury Treatments

The sports medicine team at U-M Health knows that there are different types of shoulder injuries in sports: acute injuries like sprains, breaks and tears, and more gradual injuries typically from overuse. We have experts who can treat shoulder issues with or without surgery, depending on the injury, and they work together to help you get your shoulder strong, stable and working well again.

Depending on what's going on with your shoulder and what your sport demands, we might use:

• Physical therapy to build up your strength and fix your mechanics
• Modified training to ease you back into throwing or overhead movements
• Injections or other treatments to manage pain
• Cutting-edge orthobiologic therapies when they make sense
• Minimally invasive or reconstructive surgery if needed
• Rehab designed to get you back to peak performance

Rotator cuff tears and labral tears, including SLAP tears, are frequently treated without surgery first, particularly in older or less active patients. Proximal humerus fractures are also sometimes managed nonsurgically, depending on displacement. Your doctor will know the best way to treat your injury based on your specific circumstances.

Shoulder Reconstruction

When damage to the shoulder's structures is severe, shoulder reconstruction may be necessary to restore stability and function. This can include repairing or rebuilding torn ligaments, tendons or cartilage that are essential for the demands of athletic movement. Reconstruction of the shoulder may be recommended for the following:

• Shoulder Arthritis
• Shoulder Arthroscopy
• Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty
• Shoulder Tendon Transfers
• Shoulder Nerve Compressions

Whatever your type of shoulder injury, our goal isn't just getting you healed—it's getting you back in the game with confidence and keeping you there.