If your aching shoulder is holding your back from pushing your fitness to the next level, this is for you.
Over the years I’ve helped many people come back from shoulder injuries and, in some cases, even prevent surgery.
I start by first understanding the history of your injury. When did it happen, how did it occur, what makes it feel better or worse, etc.?
Then I assess your body’s posture, structural alignment, joint range of motion, breathing mechanics, and so on.
Yes, believe it or not, it all matters.
Considering the body as a whole helps me to determine what’s “off” in your foundation that’s very likely the root of the issue.
Of course injuries caused by some sort of blunt force trauma or a tear in the soft tissue are obvious. But in general, the pain in your shoulder is symptomatic of many more contributing factors than you realize.
In my experience, alignment is most often the core of any shoulder issue. And by alignment, I mean the structural alignment of your bones. When your bones are in alignment, the joints have the foundation to be strong. When they’re not, your joints are vulnerable to injury.
With the shoulder, in particular, the misalignment that I see most often is a combination of:
- Forward shoulders, head and neck (upper cross syndrome)
- Flexed thoracic spine in the mid-back (kyphotic posture)
- And lumbo-pelvic region (lower back and hip)
Yes, I know that sounds like a lot, but it’s all correctable. Here’s how:
- Get myofascial release of the soft tissues that are restricting proper joint function to support alignment. A trained massage therapist will know what to do.
- Stretch the muscles that are pulling your bones out of alignment.
- Strengthen the muscles that will help hold the correct alignment.
- Bring awareness to what good posture is and be mindful of your posture throughout the day.
- Sleep on your back at night; this also helps to improve posture.
- Correct bad habits that contribute to the poor alignment, such as looking down at your computer screen – this is a biggie.
Applying these methods, based on your individual need, will aid in reducing / eliminating your pain, and help restore full function.
I know from firsthand experience that you can come back stronger than ever.
To get you started, I put together a video on posture. Check it out here. And be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel to see more helpful how-to’s to keep your shoulder, and the rest of your body, healthy.
Stand tall,
Adam