Dislocating shoulders.

Well, I have now been playing Disc Golf now for two weeks. I finally played my first course a week ago and playing on course made me want to play disc golf even more than I had before. My question is this:

Are there any throwing techniques I should "watch out for" or be careful in doing with my bad shoulders?

My shoulders have really held me back on alot of the things I have done before Disc golf, wether it was skateboarding, surfing, baseball or anything else. My shoulders have been popping out for about 4 years now and I am now 16. I just dont want to start using a throwing technique that would cause this to happen more than needed :D

heres my throwing profile of sorts-

I am naturally a left hander however I throw backhand/forehand with my right arm and sidearm with my left.

thanks for any tips,suggestions, precautions

[discndav]

After 15 years of playing DG, I've learned to avoid the overhand/tomahawk shots. My rotator cuff has a partial tear
due to 'wear and tear' with my Masters aged body. I'm
on the DL doing rehab currently.

I am naturally a left hander however I throw backhand/forehand with my right arm and sidearm with my left.



Sidearm == forehand.

Backhand is across your body with the back of your hand going in the direction of the disc. Sidearm/forehand is away from your body with your forearm pointing in the direction of the disc.

My understanding is that backhand is the safest throw for shoulders.

[Chris Hysell]

Kevin, I dislocated my right shoulder for the first time in 1986 playing softball. Soon after that, I did it to my left shoulder. It eventually became a daily occurence, typically when unconsciously reaching for the alarm clock. I dealt with it for about 15 years before I got my right shoulder fixed. I don't wish that on anyone. Get it looked at.

[girlie]

I dislocated my right shoulder for the first time in 1986 playing softball



You're old! :eek: :p :D :D

[Chris Hysell]

Rumor has it you like your guys old. :o

[girlie]

Touché

:cool:

[Chris Hysell]

That's just plain mean.

[girlie]

Well, if you can't take the heat...

:D

[dave_marchant]

RVA,

You must be my mirror image twin, or clone, or illegitimate child or something! I am right-handed, but throw LHBH and RHFH. My left shoulder dislocates very easily. Weird thing about the timing of your post is that I called the Orthopedic Surgeon earlier today to set up surgery. I dislocated it ~13 years ago playing softball sliding into 2nd base and rolling to avoid a tag. I am concerned that I will dislocate it when having to rescue one of my kids while they are swimming or tree climbing or something.

To answer your question, I have no problems throwing lefty backhand. It is not a motion that will dislocate the shoulder. I throw hammers/tomahawks/overhand and forehand/sidearm righty. I would stay away from all of those throws with your dislocatable shoulder since those put a lot of stress on the rotator cuff tendons and ligaments.

It sounds like both your shoulders are bad, so if you follow my and other's advice, that will limit your arsenal of shots as your game develops. But, if you develop a good anhyzer (I recommend a beat in Roc), and backhand roller (Stingrays work well), you will be able to navigate most courses nicely. Also, if you do as I am trying to do and learn to throw with your other/natural hand (LHBH for you, RHBH for me), that will put you ahead of 90% of disc golfers in throwing variety.

Good luck,
dave...

thanks for the advice everyone. Thats the one thing I love most about this board. Have a nice day. Thanks again,

Kevin W.

just do some streaching before you play, ive always had more problems with my elbow then my sholder. one tip i have is dont drop your sholder.

[daveoh]

I dislocated my throwing shoulder about 12 years ago. It healed well, but it is much looser than my left shoulder. I am primarily a backhand thrower, but 30-40% of my drives are overhand (thumber or 2-finger). I can throw over 300 ft. easily and accurately with a thumber, and I have never gotten hurt doing so. Can anyone tell me if I might be doing lasting damage without knowing it? I know everybody says it is bad for you, but I think my old injury may have given me a "teflon shoulder". Anyone have any similar experiences? (As a side-note, I have serious trouble throwing side-arm without hurting my elbow on the same arm).

I dislocated my throwing shoulder about 12 years ago. It healed well, but it is much looser than my left shoulder. I am primarily a backhand thrower, but 30-40% of my drives are overhand (thumber or 2-finger). I can throw over 300 ft. easily and accurately with a thumber, and I have never gotten hurt doing so. Can anyone tell me if I might be doing lasting damage without knowing it? I know everybody says it is bad for you, but I think my old injury may have given me a "teflon shoulder". Anyone have any similar experiences? (As a side-note, I have serious trouble throwing side-arm without hurting my elbow on the same arm).



Interesting, I also dislocated my throwing shoulder (like Hysell, playing softball, also around 1986, but at least I look young :D) but haven't had problems with it since then. I lost a lot of strength (I can't do jack for military presses), but my 'throwing arm' was noticeably better (for softball, football, etc.) after the injury healed. I throw a decent amount of forehands and a more than a normal amount of thumbers and have not had any shoulder problems.

If you are having elbow problems when throwing forehand, that is a form issue (maybe due to Rexing (short arming) your throws?) and you definitely need to fix that, before you get tendonitis or something worse.

just thought I'd let you know....

on sat (the 27th) i was playing a soccer game, last 30 seoounds tied 1-1 i slide tackle an opponent running down the side line, pop. Tired to pop it back it back in- no luck. Get this really bad paining in my arm every 5-6 minutes on the way to hospital. (Turns out it was a my shoulder muscle and shoulder bone pressign against a nerve). But after about 1 1/2 of xrays and 6 doses of morphine they pop it back in. The bad news now...

Having this happened to me 8 times now, my parents and doctor decided it was time for surgery for me. Now I will be undergoing an orthopedic surgery called the Bankart Reconstruction surgery. I dont really mind this except for that its on my spring break which was to be filled with disc golfing but the recovery time to play sports again is 3-4 MONTHS. I am really bummed bout this, normally I would just say screw it and play sports but I've been really annoyed with my shoulders and this last time was really painful. Well if anyone else as had this surgery let me know how your recovery went.
i get to enjoy 3-4 months of physical theraby and 3-5 weeks in a sling. and in the middle of all that recovery time its my right shoulder who gets to go through the surgery.

sorry if it sounds like i am complaining, just wanted to know if anyone else had to deal with this. :cool:

can i suggest learning to use the other arm for the recovery time

[Chris Hysell]

I was told almost the exact same thing. It would be six weeks before I could do anything. I was playing after a week and won a tournament 16 days later. What was I supposed to do, caddy?

I'm not that smart. Do the therapy.

Stick with light discs, throw easy, and if anything hurts, STOP! You don't have to stay away from overhand shots, but like before, if it hurts, stop. I dislocated my right shoulder in a freak sledding accident :cool:and I couldn't throw thumbers for about 2 months. I have been stregnthening my shoulder and now I can throw them again. Just take it easy!

can i suggest learning to use the other arm for the recovery time



surgery on both arms unfortunetly

[QUOTE]
surgery on both arms unfortunetly [QUOTE]


time to take up Hacky Sack.