Shoulder pain =(

Acupunture and massage therapy should help.

Hm, also do a fix warming up before playing; I have the same problem, but you'll really feel less if you're sweating and your body is more "warmed up"!

Also as others already suggested seeing a doctor or physiotherapist is a good option.

If the pain does not relieve, then I'd suggest some tranquillisers against the pain, but watch out with this, because you can even hurt it more than it already is, as you don't feel your pain senses.

And the last option, as you didn't like it, but it still is just the main thing; primary solution to solve this: REST!
So I would just do important things; like training and matches, but no fun or f**king afterwards. Charge/Burd your shoulder the least as possible!

bull_harrier wrote: Use your legs more when you play table tennis, most of the power comes from your legs and hips and core when from the correct stroke.  Seeing a physio or therapist and ultrasound may help.  What part of the shoulder is hurting?  Also ice for about 20 minutes afterward play.

One of the problems is that usually you don't have access to ice that fast after the tournament.

Secondly, I found that using your hips/legs too much can cause problems with that area as well - if I am not watching myself there then after a while I get an aching hip which reminds about itself every time I simply bend to pick up a ball...

I was told that after long and exhausting tourneys it is recommended that you do a series of stretch/power exercises in about 2 hours after the end - for about 20-30 mins or so. Allegedly it helps to shorten the period of time when you are trying to recuperate afterwards...

Go to Chiropractor then, They can fix everything. But you must stop playing TT for a while until your shoulder recover.

It could be a lot of things.  Rest is the best measure for now, take some time off and maybe do a little light strength training to add some more strenght, hopefully i can offer some good advice for you on that.  Don't waste your time and your money seeing a chiropractor.  If you take time off and then play again and still feel pain, then by all means go see an orthapedic, a chiropractor can't even fix a person's back properly so i wouldn't even want to imagine what they would do to a shoulder.

peter79 wrote: Go to Chiropractor then, They can fix everything. But you must stop playing TT for a while until your shoulder recover.

physiotherapist you mean

khoan wrote: peter79 wrote: Go to Chiropractor then, They can fix everything. But you must stop playing TT for a while until your shoulder recover. physiotherapist you mean

oops i forgot to mention i went to physiothreapists also.. they did some deep tissue massage.. and after that i had pains all over instead of one place. ;)

shij421 wrote: I think I've been too lazy with my footwork lately and have been relying on throwing my arm around when looping. Most of the time I get away with it but against choppers.. ouch.. Feels like a tendon or ligament is about to snap in my right shoulder. I know resting is probably the best way to go right now, but is there anything else I should be doing?

shij, I am not a doctor but have been in competitive sports since I was 13.  It'll take a few days to heal and feel better. A hot bath or hot tub usually helps as well as icing straight away after practice also helps a bit. Stay away from milk or dairy products for about a day after working hard, because it can induce soreness into muscles. I'm sure it is the tendons and ligaments getting taut by overuse of specific muscles if you're not getting immediate pain just from the motion.  Accu pressure and chinese accu massage actually helps alot, as they will follow the ligaments and muscles and relax them.

A well rounded weight workout for the shoulders and arms will be beneficial in balancing out muscle usage and build. And I don't mean you have to try to achieve 3 foot pythons for arms, but get them conditioned even if you start of with a low 20lbs.  There are specific exercises that will help.  This is probably the most beneficial to your arm in the long run.

I use special circuit machines at the gym to strengthen my shoulders, arms and especially my legs/lower body.  Cardio is good too, I began focusing my cardio workouts around real match times so my body and mind can get  conditioned for 35-40 minutes.

I don't think many TT players understand that hitting the gym is an integral part of being a performing athlete, especially if you want that sort of performance out of your body and your arm. Hope this makes sense.

phrixion wrote: shij421 wrote: I think I've been too lazy with my footwork lately and have been relying on throwing my arm around when looping. Most of the time I get away with it but against choppers.. ouch.. Feels like a tendon or ligament is about to snap in my right shoulder. I know resting is probably the best way to go right now, but is there anything else I should be doing? shij, I am not a doctor but have been in competitive sports since I was 13.  It'll take a few days to heal and feel better. A hot bath or hot tub usually helps as well as icing straight away after practice also helps a bit. Stay away from milk or dairy products for about a day after working hard, because it can induce soreness into muscles. I'm sure it is the tendons and ligaments getting taut by overuse of specific muscles if you're not getting immediate pain just from the motion.  Accu pressure and chinese accu massage actually helps alot, as they will follow the ligaments and muscles and relax them. A well rounded weight workout for the shoulders and arms will be beneficial in balancing out muscle usage and build. And I don't mean you have to try to achieve 3 foot pythons for arms, but get them conditioned even if you start of with a low 20lbs.  There are specific exercises that will help.  This is probably the most beneficial to your arm in the long run. I use special circuit machines at the gym to strengthen my shoulders, arms and especially my legs/lower body.  Cardio is good too, I began focusing my cardio workouts around real match times so my body and mind can get  conditioned for 35-40 minutes. I don't think many TT players understand that hitting the gym is an integral part of being a performing athlete, especially if you want that sort of performance out of your body and your arm. Hope this makes sense.

I agree that going to gym is integral - it's just that usually there is no time, and when you have it then one would prefer to spend it playing.

The best would be to somehow do all these wonderful exercises right there in your office or at home (while watching TV or playing with kids)...

I am currently having shoulder pain also, and have been seeing a physical therapist.  She gave me a lesson plan on stretching and exercises for the shoulder.  The regiment takes about 20 minutes to do, and involves 1 set of exercise, then stretching, then 2 more sets of exercises, then 2 sets of stretches.  The exercises aim to strengthen the muscles around your shoulder and upper back.  They seem to help.  I've also stopped playing for two weeks to let the shoulder heal.  Also, it's important to not overwork the shoulder while it's healing.  If you continue to play, then play 20 minutes max, and rest 20 minutes before playing again.  You may want to ice the shoulder after playing, or take some NSAID (e.g., ibuprofen) before playing to prevent swelling of the tendons.  If they swell, they get into a vicious cycle where the swelling causes more stress in the tight space there, which in turn causes more swelling.