Shoulder Injury Risks in Pole: What Athletes Need to Know

The shoulder is one of the most commonly injured body part in pole dancing. Almost every overhead movement, grip, climb and hold places demand on the shoulder complex. Understanding what puts shoulders at risk is therefore directly relevant to how you train, how you program and when you seek help.

This edition of Pole Meets Science looks at a 2025 systematic review examining shoulder injury risk factors across athletic populations.