When clients tell me they have a torn Rotator Cuff, I ask them which one, and they give me a puzzled look.
Did you know … the ROTATOR CUFF is made up of 4 muscles that not only stabilize the shoulder but also allow the shoulder to move in multiple directions.
✅ Supraspinatus
✅ Infraspinatus
✅ Teres Minor
✅ Subscapularis
The cause of Rotator Cuff injuries can be anything from a history of aggressive sports and accidents to consistent improper posture.
When people slouch with their shoulders rolled forward, the head of the Humerus (upper arm) gets sucked into the Glenoid Cavity (joint capsule), which limits range of motion.
I test the client’s shoulder range of motion. If I find a “hard end feel” within the Joint Capsule, I know that we need to first focus on releasing the Humerus from the Glenoid Cavity before we can restore the injured muscles.
Many times, these clients come to me after months of painful Physical Therapy sessions, where they had been instructed to strengthen the shoulder muscles.
But if the Joint Capsule is not working smoothly and not in its proper position, the strength training will never work.
The Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques that I incorporate are gentle as we encourage the joint to release. This may take several sessions before proper range of motion is restored.
In addition to releasing the Joint Capsule and restoring the injured muscles, I educate the client on proper posture because if this isn’t addressed, then healing cannot take place and the injury will reoccur.
I working with shoulders and watching the release happen. Clients are ecstatic when they recognize these gentle techniques were more effective than the aggressive therapy they previously experienced.
If you suffer from dysfunctional shoulders, then contact me to see if we are a good fit working together.
📸 credit Trail Guide to the Body by Andrew Biel.
Denise Fahrion is a passionate orthopedic massage therapist in the northern suburbs of Pittsburgh serving Ross, McCandless, Wexford, Cranberry, Sewickley, Hampton, and Fox Chapel. She personally works toward and shares with her clients ways to become “Focused. Grounded. Balanced.” by taking a holistic approach to healing the body naturally.
