Smashing damages deltoids muscle

[chibe_K]

I have been experiencing acute pain right in the center of deltoids everytime I smash. The pain gradually goes away after I get enough warm up, like 15 minutes into the game.
Surprisely, I found this is a common pain among members at my club. Most members will put on medication, like Icy&Hot, to relax the muscle before the game (no wonder it smells hot and spicy on the court next to them). Even my coach has this problem and he says the reason is too much hard smashing.

How do I get rid of the pain ? It really bothers me because lately, the pain becomes severe that I have to stop playing for a week. I know I need to consult with sports doctor but before I do that, I like to get opinions from you folks.

[Joseph]

I had that problem before. Wasn't sure why either. I guess I was pushing myself a bit too much. If you can't put out that much power without hurting yourself, then dont do it until you can handle it i guess...It doesn't hurt me anymore...

[wickeddrop]

I have been experiencing acute pain right in the center of deltoids everytime I smash. The pain gradually goes away after I get enough warm up, like 15 minutes into the game.
Surprisely, I found this is a common pain among members at my club. Most members will put on medication, like Icy&Hot, to relax the muscle before the game (no wonder it smells hot and spicy on the court next to them). Even my coach has this problem and he says the reason is too much hard smashing.

How do I get rid of the pain ? It really bothers me because lately, the pain becomes severe that I have to stop playing for a week. I know I need to consult with sports doctor but before I do that, I like to get opinions from you folks.

I have that same problem also. I just took it a little easier and some time off, I know its hard. I have been working out that muscle a little bit more, lifting a light dumbell doing shoulder raises. I have seen improvement in both flexibility and power in my smashes. Guess the muscle is getting stronger. But, I do use icy hot before a game still.

[speedy shuttle]

I think it all depends on form, because I have played everyday for 6 months without any deltoid pain. Stretching probably helps:p

[bigredlemon]

its most likely an impinged nerve in the rotator cuffs (beneth the delts). I've already posted extensively on this. It's highly unlikely to actually be the delts, since smashing uses mostly triceps, lats, and wrist flexors. Delts are only used in getting to the smashing position.

i can give you a better answer if you draw the position/area of the pain, where (if) it radiates, and how the pain feels

[chibe_K]

its most likely an impinged nerve in the rotator cuffs (beneth the delts). I've already posted extensively on this. It's highly unlikely to actually be the delts, since smashing uses mostly triceps, lats, and wrist flexors. Delts are only used in getting to the smashing position.

i can give you a better answer if you draw the position/area of the pain, where (if) it radiates, and how the pain feels
Here is the picture where the pain is:

[Nanashi]

i use to have this problem too.... usually because i was too lazy to warm up.... now it's almost gone... maybe because i've stopped smashing due to my laziness...

[ahtan]

Most likely it is due to hard smashing. I have that same problem too but whenever it pains i will seek the traditional chinese massage. The pain will be gone after 1-2 treatment

[odjn]

I have the same pain in that area too. But for some reason after i start warming up, it goes away.

[Z1985]

wow.. so many of u guys have this pain too? well... i had been having pains in many other places too.. for the last 6 months or so.. when i started playing aggressive badminton. usually after a smashing game. i would get the pain on the deltoid? i think its more on the upper biceps. plus, i would get chest muscle ache on both side and the right side(i am right handed) of my upper back.. and if i play against a fast/placing player, where i have to leap and run alot, i would have aches at the point behind my heel.. its aches especially when u tiptoe. wonder if u guys get that too.

[taneepak]

Is it possible that the pain experienced by some, but not by everyone, is due to either hardware (wrong type of racquet and/or string tension) or software (wrong technique)?

[Neil Nicholls]

I get a pain in that sort of area (not sharp though) if I hit the shuttle when it is too far out to the side of me. i.e. slow/tired/lazy movement

[Cheung]

It's a long shot but that area chibe pointed out is near the insertion of the long head of the biceps muscle.

[chibe_K]

The pain also come when my right arm is in certain position, like raising in front of me, lifting it to the side and making a full circle rotation. Now, I suspect it might have come from the joint, inside the deltoids.

[odjn]

Is it possible that the pain experienced by some, but not by everyone, is due to either hardware (wrong type of racquet and/or string tension) or software (wrong technique)?

Well I played with an iso 97 VF (light racket) at 24 pounds and now i'm playing with a MP 77 at 25 pounds. Both gave/give me the same pain in my upper biceps. So I'm thinking it shouldn't really effect it that much.

[other]

maybe increased transmissions of shocks to your arms and muscles from a pretty high tension?

[chibe_K]

maybe increased transmissions of shocks to your arms and muscles from a pretty high tension?
Yes, must be it ! I play at 27 lbs. The shocks is transmitted through my right arm to my shoulder joint and damages it !

[Cheung]

The pain also come when my right arm is in certain position, like raising in front of me, lifting it to the side and making a full circle rotation. Now, I suspect it might have come from the joint, inside the deltoids.Sounds like you need to see a physiotherapist for a definitive answer.

[chibe_K]

Sounds like you need to see a physiotherapist for a definitive answer.
Seeking medical attention is probably what I do next. I am holding off the idea because members at my club said every doctor recommended them to rest for 3 months !

No way, I cannot stay away from the court for longer than a week, how can I do that for 3 months.

[Cheung]

Best approach is to see a physiotherapist - one that has an interest in sports related problems. I think family physicians will not be able to give the kind of advice you look for.

In the US, are physiotherapists also called Doctors?

[Gollum]

Seeking medical attention is probably what I do next. I am holding off the idea because members at my club said every doctor recommended them to rest for 3 months !

No way, I cannot stay away from the court for longer than a week, how can I do that for 3 months.

There's something a bit odd about this line of thought:

"I have discover how to fix my injury. I know that this is more important than badminton. I'm afraid that the answer will be to stop playing badminton for a while; if that's the case, I know that I must follow that advice.

Therefore, I don't want to know the answer. Because so long as I don't know it, the answer might not be to stop badminton. Since the answer might not be to stop playing badminton, I can keep playing badminton."

Now is that a rational argument?

....and yes, it's a rhetorical question :p Go see a physiotherapist, you daft ninny ;)

[Iwan]

I think this problem has to do with flexibility of that muscle, doing the proper warm up before a game and execution and flow of your smash. I'd recommend you to play without smashing for a while to give it some time to heal. Once it has healed, do the proper warm ups for that muscle before playing a game followed by a good stretch. After a game, stretch that muscle enough. Flexibility is very important if you're planning to play hard.

[taneepak]

Well I played with an iso 97 VF (light racket) at 24 pounds and now i'm playing with a MP 77 at 25 pounds. Both gave/give me the same pain in my upper biceps. So I'm thinking it shouldn't really effect it that much.

Try to play with 22lbs and use a soft string like BG85. Use as thick a grip as you can handle comfortably. Besides high tension, what can cause arm pain is playing with light racquets and high tension, because light racquets are usually head heavy, i.e. the Yonex Amortec series, and consequently end up with high motion. As a rough guide check if your racquet's motion is above 22, which could be bad for your arm or elbow. To check your racquet's motion, measure your racquet's balance point, which is the distance between the butt end and the centre of gravity. The centre of gravity is the point where your racquet will balance. Assuming your racquet's balance point is 30cm, you subtract 7.3cm, which will give you 22.7cm. You then multiply your racquet's weight in gm with 22.7. If your racquet weighs 100gm, you then multiply 22.7 with 100, and you get a figure 2270. Divide this by 100, and you get 22.7, which is called the first motion. Any number lower than 20 is excellent. Could yours be somewhere around 23?

[edward]

Assuming your racquet's balance point is 30cm, you subtract 7.3cm, which will give you 22.7cm. You then multiply your racquet's weight in gm with 22.7. If your racquet weighs 100gm, you then multiply 22.7
with 100, and you get a figure 2270. Divide this by 100, and you get 22.7, which is called the first motion. Any number lower than 20 is excellent. Could yours be somewhere around 23?

Hey, can you explain this or point me to a source? I did a search for "first motion" and didnt come up with anything explaining this calculation. Is it always subtract 7.3cm and always divide by 100? What are these constants for? Wouldnt the final number (22.7 in your example) have units cmXgm? What does this mean and how can it be used to judge a racquet?

If I had a really head heavy but light racquet, I could theoretically get the same number (22.7). Would this make them equal in their first motion?

[taneepak]

Sorry for using the wrong word "motion", due to typo error. It should read moment.

[Cheung]

There's something a bit odd about this line of thought:

"I have discover how to fix my injury. I know that this is more important than badminton. I'm afraid that the answer will be to stop playing badminton for a while; if that's the case, I know that I must follow that advice.

Therefore, I don't want to know the answer. Because so long as I don't know it, the answer might not be to stop badminton. Since the answer might not be to stop playing badminton, I can keep playing badminton."

Now is that a rational argument?

....and yes, it's a rhetorical question :p Go see a physiotherapist, you daft ninny ;)
Gollum, who said human beings are always rational? :D

I found the term for this phenomena - it's called "cognitive dissonance".

[juskarakidov]

wow.. so many of u guys have this pain too? well... i had been having pains in many other places too.. for the last 6 months or so.. when i started playing aggressive badminton. usually after a smashing game. i would get the pain on the deltoid? i think its more on the upper biceps. plus, i would get chest muscle ache on both side and the right side(i am right handed) of my upper back.. and if i play against a fast/placing player, where i have to leap and run alot, i would have aches at the point behind my heel.. its aches especially when u tiptoe. wonder if u guys get that too.
I used to get that pain behind my heel (especially when you tiptoe). I searched the net, and it may be something called Haglund's deformity. Anyway, I treated it like plantar fasciitis. I did a lot of stretching of the calf muscles and I tape my feet before I play and now it doesn't hurt anymore. You might try this site for a desctiption on how to tape your feet:

www.nismat.org/traincor/pl_fasciitis.html

[bigredlemon]

Here is the picture where the pain is:
It most definetly is a rotator cuff injury. Racquet sports are very damaging to the rotator cuff since most people do not bother strengthening that area, and even strengthened, is suspecitble to damage. The side and front deltoids are both antagonistic to the muscles used in a smash so it makes no sense for them to be injured during smashes. If anything, you'd feel pain in your triceps, lats, and pecs from smashing.

The simple test for a rotator cuff injury:
put your arm straight down with palm inwards. Raise you arm slowly, keeping the elbow straight. If you feel progressive pain as you raise it, it is a either rotator cuff injury or a shoulder impingement (which is pretty much the same thing as a rotator cuff injury but less serious)

[bigredlemon]

Here's some info for you guys

http://www.badmintoncentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14072

[SystemicAnomaly]

I have been experiencing acute pain right in the center of deltoids everytime I smash...

Surprisely, I found this is a common pain among members at my club.... Even my coach has this problem and he says the reason is too much hard smashing.

How do I get rid of the pain? ...Lotta good info from bigredlemon (http://www.badmintoncentral.com/forums/member.php?u=966). My guess would have been the rotator cuff as well. Did you ever get this problem resolved, chibe?

This is undoubtedly an overuse problem. It could also be a matter of (stroke) mechanics. I developed the same problem from volleyball, but badminton has never been much of a probem cuz my badminton smash mechanics are much better thant the vollyball spike mechanics that caused the problems in the 1st place.

Probably the most important aspect of the smash mechanics is relaxation. Your grip, forearm, shoulder and the rest of your body should be fairly relaxed before you start to accelerate the racket. As the racket head is accelerated, let the proper muscles tighten up naturally, rather than trying to muscle the shot. Excessive muscling (forcing) can often cause shoulder (and other arm) problems.

Do you hit a lot of arm-only smashes, chibe? These kind of smashes may be OK if you use them only occasionally. At the very least, I would encourage you to get your upper body rotation into the picture for most of your smashing. Better yet, whenever possible, use hip rotation and use your legs as part of many of your smashes. All of these added elements should take a lot of stress off the rotator and delts.

[Slanter]

There are a few of things here worth mentioning.

Firstly, extended stretching before a game actually weakens muscles. Do this in between playing days to gain flexibility. Before a game do sharper movements and concentrate on getting the blood flowing to the muscles.

Secondly, for every week you ignore an injury you may well spend a month resting once you're forced to consult a physiotherapist.

Thirdly, i doubt the racquet is to blame, afterall people manage to play tennis. More likely is bad technique and wear and tear.

I do not approve of amateur diagnosis but I believe you are suffering from an inflamed infraspinator. This is caused by overuse of the deltoid. Yes, the deltoid works very hard in a fast smash but it's role is easily overlooked. Once you hit the shuttle does your arm continue at the same speed until is has wrapped itself around your body? No, it slows down. So your body has to work nearly as hard after impact as in preparation for impact. What part of your body do you think does the bulk of that work? Got it in one!

The pain from this problem is often referred to the bicep area due to the fact that nerves from the site of the lesion and the site of the apparent pain are connected to the same vertebrae and the brain generalises input from that vertebrae to the most likely source, in this case incorrectly.

If you get it sorted now you will have a period of rest and friction massage and maybe some ultrasound followed by careful rehabilitation. If you leave it you will have to have a cortisone injection. Your choice.

Apologies for sounding harsh, I'm in a bad mood. Someone has just stuck a needle in my shoulder... :(

[IvanM]

no pain, no gain

same thing happens to me all da time

probably stroke problem

i will ask my coach then

[Spacerooster]

Just a thought.

If you can't stay away from the court while nursing an injury - why not use the other spare arm or deltoid (either your right or left) to practise the basic strokes.

It will be fun and great self-discovery on this reverse-exercise.
Every stroke is a reverse of your normal stroke.

Initially it will be a "handicap" & struggle to gets your motor cortex (brain) to talks/communicates and co-operates with the muscles (biceps, arms...etc) to executes a simple serving stroke.

Just like baby learning to walks clumsily, after several attempts your spare-arm will gets it right!

Give it a shot ...have fun! You will be amazed at how versatile your other arm can learns to stroke too!

[novl]

If you get it sorted now you will have a period of rest and friction massage and maybe some ultrasound followed by careful rehabilitation. If you leave it you will have to have a cortisone injection. Your choice.

Apologies for sounding harsh, I'm in a bad mood. Someone has just stuck a needle in my shoulder... :([/QUOTE]



A harsh but good point, Slanter. I've had this shoulder problem for about 30 years. Over the years I've seen physios, manual therapists and even tried acupuncture. Nothing worked. The upshot of it all is that the injury was caused by a combination of bad technique and overuse and that there's not much you can do about it. I managed to handle and eventually live with the pain by changing my technique and the way I play slightly. When making a stroke, I use my wrist more; when smashing the shuttle, I focus on placement. Try not to smash often, but when you do, make it count.

[chibe_K]

Lotta good info from bigredlemon (http://www.badmintoncentral.com/forums/member.php?u=966). My guess would have been the rotator cuff as well. Did you ever get this problem resolved, chibe?

This is undoubtedly an overuse problem. It could also be a matter of (stroke) mechanics. I developed the same problem from volleyball, but badminton has never been much of a probem cuz my badminton smash mechanics are much better thant the vollyball spike mechanics that caused the problems in the 1st place.

Probably the most important aspect of the smash mechanics is relaxation. Your grip, forearm, shoulder and the rest of your body should be fairly relaxed before you start to accelerate the racket. As the racket head is accelerated, let the proper muscles tighten up naturally, rather than trying to muscle the shot. Excessive muscling (forcing) can often cause shoulder (and other arm) problems.

Do you hit a lot of arm-only smashes, chibe? These kind of smashes may be OK if you use them only occasionally. At the very least, I would encourage you to get your upper body rotation into the picture for most of your smashing. Better yet, whenever possible, use hip rotation and use your legs as part of many of your smashes. All of these added elements should take a lot of stress off the rotator and delts.
SystemicAnomaly,
I still have the problem and I afraid seeking medical attention is probably the one way to "heal" it, however, I feel hesitate to do that cuz I know the doctor will advise me to rest for 3 months. Other members in my club having the same problem told me the same thing, the doctor will advise you to stop playing for a while.

On the other hand, someone in the forum mentioned about using ice to reduce the inflamation. I tried that after each play and it actually helped. The pain became much less the next day and I could move my arms freely without any serious pain.

[SystemicAnomaly]

SystemicAnomaly,
I still have the problem and I afraid seeking medical attention is probably the one way to "heal" it, however, I feel hesitate to do that cuz I know the doctor will advise me to rest for 3 months. Other members in my club having the same problem told me the same thing, the doctor will advise you to stop playing for a while.

On the other hand, someone in the forum mentioned about using ice to reduce the inflamation. I tried that after each play and it actually helped. The pain became much less the next day and I could move my arms freely without any serious pain.Yup, sometimes laying off for a while is the only way to heal. On the other hand, you might just be able to back off the power shots for while & work more on shots that are gentler/kinder to you shoulder. When you do attempt shots that are more stressful to the shoulder, be sure to employ suggestions made by me & others (in previous posts) to minimize the stress.

Ice is a very good idea. After you play, be sure to ice for 20 to 30 minutes. After removing the ice for a while (another 20 to 30 min), repeat the icing phase a couple more times if time permits.

Ice massage (aka, ice cup) is a very good way to employ ice to an injured area. Fill a small paper cup with water & let it freeze. When ready to use, peel away the top portion of the cup to expose enough ice to apply directly to your skin with a massaging motion for 10 min or so. You should do this with a towel or over sink cuz this will be messy.

Also pick up some Biofreeze (www.biofreeze.com (http://www.biofreeze.com/)) or Mineral Ice (I think that it is the same thing, possibly cheaper). Use this at the gym after you play. This should help a lot before you get home to the ice.

[SystemicAnomaly]

Warmth before exercise & ice afterward...

Get yourself a heating pad or heat pack (can be heated in a microwave oven) to use before you start using your shoulder for badminton. This should help to relax & warm up the joint & muscles. You can use this in conjunction with some sort of warming ointment that contains capsaicin or menthol. Caveat: if you use an ointment that is very potent, such as Heet, you could burn your skin (especially when used in conjunction with an external heat source).

Running hot water (but not too hot) over your shoulder for 5 minutes or more could be used in place of a heating pad.

Menthol patches such as SalonPas could be applied before warming up as well.

[Gollum]

I still have the problem and I afraid seeking medical attention is probably the one way to "heal" it, however, I feel hesitate to do that cuz I know the doctor will advise me to rest for 3 months. Other members in my club having the same problem told me the same thing, the doctor will advise you to stop playing for a while.

This is like sticking your head in the sand to hope you won't be seen.

If you treat your body badly, you are likely to regret it in the long term. See your doctor and see a physiotherapist too, if your doctor recommends it. Follow their advice, even if it means you have to stop playing badminton for a while.

If you make badminton more important than your health, then ultimately you will limit your badminton career. A permanent injury will be a serious limitation on your ability to play at a high standard, and it may even stop you playing altogether.

What's better - a few months rest now, or never able to play competitively for the rest of your life?

By the way, I am currently resting from sport. It is frustrating, but I need to sort out some problems causing leg pain before I can continue to play. It's delayed my badminton programme, but once sorted out it could make a big improvement to my game.