Do you experience pain, discomfort, and/or a weird clicking sensation when paddling out at your local lineup? Whether an injury was sustained during a previous session, in the gym, or while engaged in some other activity, you now find paddling and popping-up on your board to be so taxing that you’re unable to surf. And as any surfer knows, time out of the water reverberates negatively into all other aspects of life. Without that dawn patrol or sunset fix at First Point, El Porto, Venice, or any other spot in or outside of Los Angeles County, you’re a shell of your former self. Friends, loved ones, and coworkers now find you unbearable to be around. Instead of retreating into isolation you have decided to do something about it, and have come online to search “rotator cuff surfing” and arrived here at TOMI Regenerative Medicine. Below is an overview of everything you need to know prior to seeking relief for a surf related rotator cuff injury, or whatever else it is that may require surfers shoulder treatment.
What to Know About a Real or Perceived Rotator Cuff Injury Related to Surfing and Where to Get Fast and Effective Treatment
How Rotator Cuff Injury is Sustained from Surfing
A rotator cuff injury related to surfing is primarily sustained from the repetitive shoulder motions involved in paddling. Constant overhead arm movements can strain the muscles and tendons of the rotator cuff, especially when combined with poor technique, muscle fatigue, or overuse. Additionally, the injury may occur as an acute event, such as during the act of popping-up when engaging the arms and shoulders. Sudden impacts from wiping out, forcefully hitting the water, or awkward falls can also cause tears or inflammation in the shoulder. Over time, these stresses may lead to pain, weakness, and reduced shoulder mobility, affecting a surfer’s performance and ability to continue in the activity.
Signs of Rotator Cuff Injury from Surfing
While a physician or physiotherapist generally provides an official diagnosis, there are signs and symptoms of a rotator cuff injury to observe. These including the following:
- Shoulder pain during or after surfing, especially while paddling.
- Weakness in the shoulder or arm.
- Difficulty lifting or rotating the arm.
- Pain when reaching overhead or behind the back.
- Reduced range of motion in the shoulder.
- Clicking, popping, or grinding sensations in the joint.
- Shoulder stiffness, particularly after surfing.
- Pain that worsens at night or while sleeping on the affected side.
- Swelling or tenderness around the shoulder.
- Fatigue in the shoulder after repetitive paddling movements.
Is it Rotator Cuff or Something Else?
A lot of surfers come in and self-report a rotator cuff injury. Sometimes they are correct, sometimes they are not. An injury most often self-reported as a rotator cuff tear, is bicep tendonitis. Among the saltwater tribe, bicep tendonitis is sometimes misdiagnosed as a rotator cuff tear because both conditions can produce similar symptoms. The repetitive strain of paddling places significant stress on the long head of the biceps tendon, often leading to inflammation that mimics the pain pattern of rotator cuff injuries. As a result, surfers may initially receive treatment focused on the rotator cuff, delaying appropriate management of the underlying tendonitis. Accurate diagnosis through physical examination and imaging is important to ensure proper rehabilitation and a safe return to the water.
Signs and symptoms of surfing related bicep tendonitis include the following:
- Pain at the front of the shoulder (vs all around the shoulder) especially during or after surfing.
- Tenderness over the biceps tendon near the shoulder joint.
- Increased pain while paddling.
- Shoulder stiffness, particularly after long surf sessions.
- Weakness or fatigue in the shoulder and upper arm.
- Pain when lifting the arm overhead or reaching behind the back to unzip a wetsuit.
- Clicking or snapping sensation in the shoulder during movement.
- Discomfort when carrying a surfboard under the arm.
- Symptoms that worsen with repeated paddling.
- Mild swelling or inflammation around the front of the shoulder.
- Reduced range of motion in the shoulder.
- Pain that may mimic a rotator cuff injury or impingement syndrome (as per above).
Surfers Shoulder Treatment Through PRP Injection
We hit you with a lot of information thus far, and while you may appreciate the insight, you simply want to find the most effective, sustainable, and safest treatment. Moreover, you want (need) to get back in the water as soon as humanly possible. This is where platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections come into the picture.
PRP therapy is an advanced, non-surgical treatment that uses your body’s own healing mechanisms to repair injured tissue and reduce pain. The process involves drawing a small sample of your blood, concentrating the platelets, and injecting the solution into damaged tissues such as the rotator cuff or biceps tendon. The growth factors released by the platelets can help stimulate healing, reduce inflammation, and improve tissue repair, with many reporting a notable reduction in symptoms after just one session. For surfers experiencing persistent shoulder pain or tendonitis, PRP injections are often combined with physiotherapy and rehabilitation exercises to support recovery and help them return to surfing with improved shoulder strength and function. View more on about how PRP treatment works here, and view research reports on efficacy right here.
TOMI Regenerative Medicine in downtown Los Angeles offers the most advanced form of PRP treatment. Learn more about LA’s leading platelet rich plasma doctor to book your appointment with confidence. Our clinic is conveniently located in the heart of LA, just a short drive from Malibu Surfrider Beach (get directions) or wherever else you may be coming from. TOMI also does at-home treatments to anywhere in the Los Angeles County and Orange County area.
*The rate for fast, effective, and longterm rotator cuff repair is competitive at just $950 for the first injection. One injection is sufficient for many clients. Follow-up injections, if needed/desired, are available for just $750.
The Tribe Confirms it Works
Members of the “tribe” come specifically to TOMI Regenerative Medicine for treatment. Recently, curator of Surf Museum Hawaii, Marcus Maraih, came to see us after experiencing serious should pain and lack of mobility that kept him out of the water and gym. Have a look at his Google review below, which mirrors the experience of others who have been treated by TOMI’s leading physician:
Able to haul around heavy vintage boards once again!
Not in LA? It’s Worth the Flight!
As the testimonial above indicates, even if you don’t reside in the Los Angeles County area, it’s worth the small investment to drive or fly to the region to receive treatment. We have clients come in from all over the coastlines of the United States and Canada!
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