So, you have shoulder pain?

So, you have shoulder pain. The shoulder is hands down the most complex joint in the human body being comprised of four individual joints, the shoulder is affected by 17 different muscles capable of producing 15 different movement actions. It is the most freely mobile joint and consequently a joint frequently injured and or strained. Understand this folks, the more freedoms of motion the less stability, to increase your stability you must restrict motion. These opposite concepts are what muscle balance and the distribution of tension and stress focuses on.

I mentioned earlier that your shoulder is impacted by 17 different muscles that connect the shoulder to other joints, such as the pelvis, rib cage, sternum (breast bone), clavicle (collar bone), and the entire vertebral column. So, what does this mean and why is it important to understand this you may ask. And that is to say any one of these body segments and the segments that affect those areas can impact the shoulder translating to any part of the body can cause shoulder discomfort or malfunction.

So where do you start? First find exactly the type of sensation you have, is it achy, sore, sharp shooting, dull, numb, tingly, and or burning/hot. The type of sensation you have provides a lot of intel. Next determine the location of the sensation. Is it pin point, over a body region, or in a trail fashion? Continuing on determine how the sensation is brought on, is it with movement or when you’re in one position? If movement, is with jerky movements, fast or slow movements; Does the pain happen with a specific movement such as in flexion when reaching for a glass or extension when you reach behind a chair while sitting. If in a still position is when you're standing, sitting, or lying down; how long into the position do you have to stay before the sensation begins? These pieces of information all informs me of what muscles are suspected to be in play.

You have now given me the answers I need, now what? Me armed with this info begin with a full body sports massage really feeling out the whole body. I'm searching for tight, soft, spastic and stiff muscles. Once located I begin to stretch, compress and mold the tissue assessing for temperature, moisture and texture of the skin while manipulating the fascia scanning for adhesions. These assessments along with the testimony of the client is how I understand the causes of a client’s complaint and allows me to use the best style and tool to approach each individual's condition.

So be ready to arm your therapist with this pertinent information so that they may better serve you. If you are searching for or are a first timer visit us here at Jade Oasis Wellness where we combine our understanding of the structure and movement forces of the body with a multitude of massage tactics and tools to provide relief and relaxation.