Shoulder Pain? Injury Prevention & Longevity for String Players | Dr. Caleb Davis

Shoulder pain is one of the most common injuries in musicians—especially string players. In Episode 129 of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast, Dr. Charles Laux sits down with his former student, orthopedic shoulder surgeon, and lifelong cellist Dr. Caleb Davis to talk about shoulder injuries, rotator cuff tears, strength training for musicians, and how to prevent long-term damage.

Dr. Davis specializes in shoulder and elbow surgery, including rotator cuff repair and robotic-assisted shoulder replacement—but this episode focuses on prevention first. Drawing from both his surgical expertise and his background as a trained cellist, he explains how musicians can avoid unnecessary surgery through smart training, mobility work, and better practice habits.

If you’re an orchestra teacher, private lesson instructor, or performing musician dealing with shoulder tension, overuse injuries, or chronic pain, this conversation is packed with practical, evidence-based advice.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Common causes of shoulder pain in violinists, violists, cellists, and bassists

• Rotator cuff injuries and when surgery is actually needed

• Injury prevention strategies for musicians

• Strength training and mobility for string players

• Posture myths in orchestra and how tension develops

• How music teachers can talk to students about pain

• Longevity, performance health, and staying active for life

Dr. Davis is also the co-host of The Shoulder Blueprint and host of The Wellness Blueprint, where he shares modern, evidence-based strategies for shoulder health, injury prevention, and long-term performance.

Whether you’re trying to prevent musician injuries, recover from shoulder pain, or help your students build sustainable technique, this episode will change how you think about health in the orchestra classroom.

— BIOGRAPHY —

Dr. Caleb Davis is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in shoulder and elbow surgery, with a focus on rotator cuff repair and shoulder replacement. He is passionate about helping people stay active through prevention, education, and smart training. He is the co-host of The Shoulder Blueprint, host of The Wellness Blueprint, and a lifelong cellist.

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