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Semin Musculoskelet Radiol
DOI: 10.1055/a-2771-1174
Review Article

Sports Injuries: Traumatic and Overuse Injuries of the Shoulder

Authors

  • Douglas Dunn

    1   Division of Musculoskeletal Imaging, Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    2   Joint Department of Medical Imaging, University Health Network, Sinai Health System, Women's College Hospital, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

  • Ali Naraghi

    1   Division of Musculoskeletal Imaging, Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    2   Joint Department of Medical Imaging, University Health Network, Sinai Health System, Women's College Hospital, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

  • Lawrence M. White 

    1   Division of Musculoskeletal Imaging, Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    2   Joint Department of Medical Imaging, University Health Network, Sinai Health System, Women's College Hospital, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Abstract

The shoulder joint, one of the most complex and mobile articulations in the human body, is prone to derangement as a result of acute trauma or repetitive microtraumatic injury in athletes. In contact and collision sports, most shoulder injuries are acromioclavicular joint sprains and dislocations, glenohumeral dislocations, and rotator cuff injuries. In overhead and throwing athletes, rotator cuff and labral pathologies are frequent and typically arise as the result of overuse repetitive microtraumatic injuries of the glenohumeral articulation. This review article summarizes the epidemiology, mechanisms of injury, and characteristic imaging findings of common shoulder injuries in athletes, including acromioclavicular joint injuries, rotator cuff tears and avulsions, pediatric epiphyseal and apophyseal injuries, glenohumeral dislocations, repetitive microtraumatic overuse, and other muscular injuries.

Keywords

shoulder sports injuries - traumatic and overuse pathology - athletes - microinstability


Publication History

Received: 28 November 2025

Accepted: 10 December 2025

Article published online:
11 February 2026

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