FIGHT SHOULDER PAIN! DON'T PUT UP WITH IT

So you have Shoulder Pain?

It is likely you have one of the following complaints

1) A strain (The pain would be pretty bad, aching within some shooting pains, swelling and maybe bruising) Muscle or Tendon Damage

2) A sprain (Inflammation, pain, swelling, reduced range of movement) Ligament damage
3) Tendonitis (tenderness and soreness, changes in the tissue, pain, heat) Inflamed tendon

4) Frozen Shoulder (Reduced range of movement, from 180-0%, pain, no pain, cant sleep, hurts when trying to move) Shoulder Capsule thickening

5) Rotator Cuff Injury (Tears, tenderness, inflammation, pain, heat, muscle wasting) Damage to muscles supporting the shoulder girdle, normally caused by trauma, injury, overload, overuse, miss-use. (Very common, especially with late bloomers on the exercise front! Normally caused by excessive weights, kettle-bells due to un-developed sports-people, less weight is more!

6) Pectoralis Minor Syndrome (numbness and pins and needles in the arms and hands) Tight pectorial muscles causing possible nerve entrapment in the brachial plexus. This could also cause pain when breathing, inhaling! (Not to be confused with more serious problems, if in doubt go see the doc/GP (RH)

7) Subacromial Bursitis (pain, swelling, especially when raising the arm) A sack called a Bursa (Fluid/Shock Absorber) the supraspinatis (tendon above the Bursa) compresses against it due to lack of space or swelling. Hard to spot with the eye unless severe, heat is normally present

8) Subluxation (all of the above symptoms could be present, plus a fear that the shoulder is insecure, vunerable, and not secure) Could include a dead arm, sharpe pains on sudden moves, agony, shoulder looks miss-placed (Look at your back of shoulders in the mirror, look for misalignment, drooping shoulder on one side)

9) Shoulder Separation (pain, inflammation, swelling, heat, lack of movement, deformity) Normally caused by traum (a fall) to the shoulder damaging the AC "Acromiocavicular" (under and towards the end of the clavicle, shoulder end) As mentioned this could be complete rupture of the AC Ligaments, a sprain, very painful with horizontal movement. (Look for a bump the size of a marble above the Type 1)

10) Shoulder Impingement (pinching pains on certain movements, atrophy (muscle wasting), aching). This can be caused by various problems, neck / cervical issues, arthritic AC Joint, bone spurs, really only identifiable by MRI scan. The yellow tendon below is squashed!!! causing discomfort

So how do we treat the above?


I am expert in helping people with shoulder problems. You have to be patient as it can take up to 6 treatments but for basic problems you will see a huge improvement in 2-3 1 hour or 90 minute treatments, it really depends on how acute, sub-acute, or chronic your complaint is.

Step 1
would be to identify what the problem is, this is done by going through a questionare followed by a combination of diagnostic tests in order to locate and isolate where the root cause of the problem is arising.  Examples would be "Painful Arc Test" "Straight Arm Test" and various other's.

Step 2
Decide on if the problem is acute or sub-acute, if to treat or not to treat, maybe to refer or to provide a treatment to relax the surrounding tissues and supporting structures. If not acute and inflamed, discuss a treatment plan with the client covering what the problem is, how severe it is, how it should be treated, how many treatments could be needed,

Step 3
Treatment will consist that will include: Shoulder Girdle Mobilisation, Gentle warming of the tissues preparing for slow and gentle palpation of the Rotator Cuff Muscles (If applicable), using Trigger Point Therapy, STR, very gentle stretching and compression (if applicable) separate muscle compartments (if applicable) Joint line manipulation (if applicable) Cross Fibre Friction (only if not inflamed) Fascia release-Alignment

Step 4
Its extremely important that your client has a full understanding of his or her injury (the best process) so I can help to educate them on how to help themselves. Shoulder problems require you to be very active in the post treatment recovery process. This would include stretching exercises, mobalisation exercises, strength training, and where required (R.I.C.E.R) Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation, Rehabilitation. Aftercare is a critical part in your full recovery.

I supply "Free" self help video's in your aftercare package in order that you have a full understanding of what you need to do to get better fast and stay better! Remember; Rome was not built in a day! and in some circumstances injury's have developed over years, sometimes up to 20 years. If you trust in your therapist and stick to the programme you can regain complete use of your shoulder and be completely free from symptoms.

Call me on 07904 567469 if any of the above sounds familiar
email me at info@informedtouchtreatments.co.uk

Treating in St Georges Road, Brighton, Kemptown
& Ralli Hall (Hove, near the station)
All budgets catered for.
www.informedtouchtreatments.co.uk