Typically, shoulder pain resulting from climbing is the result of either an injury to the rotator cuff or the biceps tendon where it attaches near the shoulder. The first step in treating shoulder problems is to determine if the pain is a result of biceps or rotator cuff tendonitis. To attempt to make this determination, read the descriptions below. For a true diagnosis, see an orthopedic surgeon or physical therapist. The shoulder is similar to a golf ball on a golf tee. The ball is the humerous of the shoulder and the tee is BLAH. The rotator cuff muscles keep the golf ball at a short distance away from the tee. If the rotator cuff muscles are weak then the ball and tee rub together and pain follows. Overhead activities (like climbing) naturally shorten the distance from the humerous and BLAH, thus making the rubbing more likely. In summary...keep the cuff strong.

• Rotator Cuff Tear - If you are unable to lift your arm above shoulder height and have pain while attempting this motion, you may have torn your rotator cuff.
  • Treatment: Oh boy! This is not a good one to have. You better go see your doctor immediately if you ever want to climb again. Often requires surgery followed by physical therapy

• Rotator Cuff Strain - If you have pain while moving your arm above shoulder height in front and/or to the side of the body, especially after a particularly traumatic event (hitting a dyno, followed by immediate pain or just pulling down too hard followed by immediate pain), you may have strained your rotator cuff muscles
  • Treatment: You need to rest. 3 weeks minimum for a mild strain. If it's really bad, you'd better take 5-6 weeks off. You need to ice it 3x/day, 10 min. each time for 7-10 days. You should also consider taking some anti-inflammatories during this time period (2-3 days). If it doesn't hurt when you are not doing anything then you can start a light weight training program to strengthen these muscles We posted a shoulder routine for the prevention and treatment of shoulder injuries. Check them out at www.urbanclimbermag.tv. If these exercises do not cause you pain, then try climbing lightly. If you have any pain, ice and take anti-inflammatories afterwards. Take another week off and continue the exercises (without pain). You need to be the judge about how bad the pain is and if you should be climbing, but try to be honest with yourself if you want to continue to climb for many more years. Whenever you have pain, it is usually caused by inflammation, which you can get rid of by icing and taking anti-inflammatories

• Rotator Cuff Tendonitis - If you have dull pain with activity (rock climbing) that may get better as you climb, but always seems to come back, may feel “stiff” in the morning, may be worse in the evening if activity is done that day, you probably have the dreaded rotator cuff tendonitis
  • Treatment - Check out the video in the Exercises Section. Also, ice and anti-inflammatories are good post-activity treatment. Tendonitis is difficult to get rid of. If you do not see improvement after resting and trying these exercises, then I strongly recommend seeing a physical therapist. You may have different weaknesses that need to be addressed or a different problem entirely. Also, if you have some improvement, but still some pain, continue to do the exercises and make sure to decrease the inflammation after activity.The treatment for rotator and biceps tendonitis is basically the same. Strengthen the muscles that hold the shoulder together.

• Treatment - Check out the video in the Exercises Section. Also, ice and anti-inflammatories are good post-activity treatment. Tendonitis is difficult to get rid of. If you do not see improvement after resting and trying these exercises, then I strongly recommend seeing a physical therapist. You may have different weaknesses that need to be addressed or a different problem entirely. Also, if you have some improvement, but still some pain, continue to do the exercises and make sure to decrease the inflammation after activity. The treatment for rotator and biceps tendonitis is basically the same. Strengthen the muscles that hold the shoulder together.