Shoulder Care

The shoulders are amongst the most mentioned problematic areas not only in my massage practice, but throughout the world. The following will give you some tips to keep your shoulders healthy:

0. Exercise ~ Your shoulders are made up mostly of tendons and ligmants at the joint. Circulation plays a vital role in shoulder health. A daily dose of exercise fits just right. Even gentle forms of exercise like Tai-Chi, can help increase circulation and flexibility.
0. Stretching ~ Daily stretching can do wonders. It's all about creating the habit. If you want healthy shoulders, incorporate a healthy daily routine to keep your focus. Stretching first thing in the morning before you get up out of bed is a great time. Also, for great back health, try to stretch and/or change positions while working approximatelly every 15-30 minutes. If you work with the public, rest assured that simple shoulder stretches won't look bizarre, and if you get brave with more complex ones, the benefits far outweigh image!
0. Be Savy with Hydrotherapy Keep an ice pack on for approximately 20 mins on, 40 minutes off, and continue treatment as necessary. If no inflamation is present, you can use heat first and follow it by ice. A 1994 study sited in The American Journal of Sports Medicine (Jul/Aug) showed ice affects not only the arterial and soft tissue blood flow, but also the metabolism of the bone, in a positive way. This is significant in the healing process of an injury to a joint. If you'd like to know more about ice, follow the link titled "Hydrotherapy" in the left panel.
0. Massage ~ What a combination! The great thing about our shoulders is that we can reach the uppermost part, unlike our backs. Take time to rub out your aches. Its instinctual to rub an area of pain... so make the most out of it. Use some oil. If it aches or is inflamed, use an ice pack. An ice pack should never be against your skin unless it has a protective barrier. If your shoulder pops, medically termed as "crepitus", it is a clear indication that you have muscular tension.

*Heat: Do not use heat in the first week because it can increase the swelling in the injured area and worsen your pain.

Shoulder and Neck Pain Causes
Most shoulder and neck pain results from injury to muscles and ligaments. The spinal cord, heart, lungs, and some abdominal organs also can cause neck and shoulder pain. Here are some examples:

Broken collarbone Falling on your outstretched arm can cause your collarbone to break.

Broken shoulder blade An injury to the shoulder blade usually is associated with relatively forceful trauma.

Bursitis A bursa is a sac over the joints to provide a cushion to the joints and muscles. These bursa can become swollen and painful after injuries.

Dislocated Shoulder  click to see Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Rehabilitation.

Frozen Shoulder click to find answers to questions like, "What is frozen shoulder?", "What are the signs and symptoms?", "What treatment should I get?" and more.

Gallbladder disease This can cause a pain referred to the right shoulder.

Heart attacks Although the problem is the heart, heart attacks can cause shoulder or neck pain, known as "referred" pain.

Rotator cuff injuries The rotator cuff is a group of muscles at the shoulder. These muscles can be injured playing sports with a lot of throwing or after repetitive use over a long time.

Shoulder or A-C separation The collarbone and shoulder blade are connected by a ligament. With trauma to the shoulder, this ligament can be stretched or torn.

Tendonitis The tendons connect the muscles to the bones. With strain, the tendons can become swollen and cause pain.

Whiplash injury Injury to the ligamentous and muscular structures of the neck and shoulder can be caused by sudden acceleration or deceleration, as in a car accident.

These pages are provided to help guide you. Please note that it is important to get proper medical care.