Shoulder Impact Injuries - think Rugby

So from what we've been discussing there's two or three different types of shoulder problems around.

Lets talk about impact:

Rugby players, NRL, Ice Hockey, AFL, American Football.
All high impact shoulder sports.

Do these guys suffer shoulder joint prob's?
Yes, sometimes - but not that often considering.

How do they prevent the injuries?
By insuring that their shoulder girdle is strong & robust.
Simple, big muscles surrounding the shoulder joint hold it steady as they get smashed from all angles.
The impact is contacting muscle (result = bruise)
Not joint (result = joint injury)

Which is much more serious than a bruise.

Not rocket science is it. I'll add exercises later.

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I few of us have played rugby and UWH. I think the injuries are different (except for the thumb sprain problem). Speaking only from personal experience of pain here though.

While you're looking this up I wonder whether boxers might be similar to UWH with the punching movement? What do those guys do?

If you read my original answer to Todd you'll see teh first thing suggested is Boxing - Heavy Bag work

Heavy Bag work is great for shoulders.

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Slayer of Trolls amongst other things.
Made for the Love of a Good Woman, and not a bad little player too ;-)
Chumba Concept Salon
Professional Hair Stylist

Sorry missed that.

Would the angle of impact make a lot of difference? We hit at a relatively vertical angle compared to typical standing position. Boxers hit relatively horizontal.

It's more to do with encapsulating that shoulder joint in a protective covering of muscle. With equi-tension in all directions.


When the shoulder girdle is developed properly (in a balanced way) I'd expect the joint itself is equally & well supported.
If the shoulder is unbalanced (front, back or side in the case of Delts)
when the impact strikes, from whatever angle, the joint is moved obviously, but the force will go towards the weakness (as this is where that energy can go there unopposed).
Thats when you get hurt.


What do you think Nat?

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Slayer of Trolls amongst other things.
Made for the Love of a Good Woman, and not a bad little player too ;-)
Chumba Concept Salon
Professional Hair Stylist

Does that mean we should punch upwards at the gym somehow?

The shoulder has an enormous range of motion.

Boxing although seemingly on one plane works most of the range.
Look at a boxers shoulders, most are equally developed (anterior, medial & posterior).
The anterior is used to punch, the medial to hold their arms up, the posterior to prevent their shoulder exiting it's joint upon impact.

I think an upward punch is called an upper cut :lol:

I like boxing for a training tool, but i'd hate to be a boxer

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Slayer of Trolls amongst other things.
Made for the Love of a Good Woman, and not a bad little player too ;-)
Chumba Concept Salon
Professional Hair Stylist