Can shoulder injuries be ‘seasonal’?

Question: Are the shoulder injuries that you see seasonal in any way?

Answer: Aside from sports injuries that occur during the typical season for each sport, there are definitely injuries that I see that correlate with the time of year.

Now is the time when I see falls and near-falls that occur when people are retrieving and/or hanging their holiday decorations. This is usually the result of poor footwear/no footwear on ladders or placing weight on an unsupported area of the attic and falling through.

Each year, I have patients who injure their shoulders falling out of the attic and sustaining a fracture or a significant soft tissue injury like a rotator cuff tear.

Hanging lights outside and taking down lights outside also can be hazardous. Extra care should be taken and you should try not to rush. Rather, move slowly and deliberately when on a ladder to avoid quick changes in weight distribution.

Having been a resident in South Florida since

1980 and returning home after my Shoulder Fellowship in 2000, I have lived through many hurricane seasons. There are injuries that are more common during that time of the year, particularly those associated with hanging and removing off shutters. Fortunately, we have been spared in recent years.

To avoid injury while preparing for the festive season, take your time while on a ladder and make sure to use good footwear when climbing. There is also no substitute for common sense. I can’t tell you how many people I see in December who fall while putting up lights in the rain! Have a safe and happy holiday season!