05/31/2026
New research confirms what we see in the clinic every day — shoulder pain in overhead athletes rarely starts at the shoulder.
A systematic review of 5,785 athletes found that those with low back, hip, knee, or ankle pain were 2–5x more likely to also experience shoulder pain. The kinetic chain is real, and it matters.
Whether you're a pitcher, volleyball player, or tennis athlete — if you're dealing with a nagging shoulder, don't ignore what's happening below the belt.