The middle trapezius is often part of a larger problem with high-tight shoulders. Integrative Neuromuscular Massage involves addressing the other elevators of the shoulder girdle, especially the serratus anterior. Many therapists don’t treat these areas because it is inconvenient, awkward, and difficult on the hands. The middle trapezius is often part of a larger problem …
You can get relief from burning shoulder pain and irritating tags with a little self-care. Most of the time, this is a chronic problem. Sedentary people often need some bodywork to help release this pattern. If not bodywork, some ongoing self-care or exercise is needed to restructure the shoulder girdle. Otherwise, this problem lives on …
Self Care – Irritating tags, Burning Shoulder Tension Read More »
These post focus on therapy concepts, trigger points and treatment approaches related to sensory integration dysfunction.
This trigger point pain pattern creates pain in the upper neck and tension when the muscle is compressed or stretched. You can get relief with some changes in your activity. As well, you can typically get lasting relief with a few simple exercises. An underlying chronic condition like fibromyalgia or structural problems in the upper …
Self Care – Neck tension when wearing a heavy coat Read More »
Polyvagal theory is complex, It proposes that vagus nerve function impacts our ability to stay calm and read people in a non-threatening way. It was developed by Steven Porges who has a number of videos about it on-line. Practically speaking, when I use techniques that focus on improving vagus nerve function people are less anxious. …
Self Care – Calm Yourself In 3 minutes with Ice-and-Stretch Read More »
This post focuses on the therapeutic release of trigger points in the lower trapezius through massage and bodywork. It includes soft joint mobilizations, treatment sequencing, and classical neuromuscular protocols. It is separated from the other sections of the trapezius as it has a very different function. Also, because of its location and the difficulty of …
Therapy Notes – Lower Trapezius – Massage and Bodywork Read More »
Self-Care for this pain stiff pain at the base of the neck can be quick and effective when the person is active and healthy. During the stretching, this person often gets a shifts in their neck. For the older or less-active person, this requires some relief strategies with more persistent stretching. If this is wincing …
Client’s Description People complain of a couple of different things. Active people complain of pain on the top of their shoulder when lifting their arm. When I ask them to lift their arm, it doesn’t really hurt until their elbow gets level with their shoulder and the tip of the shoulder begins to rotate upward. This is …
People turn their head and complain of stiffness that focuses on a spot on one side of the base of their neck. When I ask for more details, they often turn their head slowly until they say, “There. It hurts right there.” When I ask them to touch where it hurts, they lay their hand …
Stiffness and Pain at the Base of the Neck When Turning Read More »
People complain about pain in the upper neck that makes them irritable. As they continue, they often describe that sensation that extends down toward the shoulder as tension instead of pain. At the same time, they describe things that aggravate it but seldom can describe the incident that created the injury. Other trigger points produce pain …
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