Pain in front of shoulder when reaching out to the side

Client’s Description

People complain of pain in the front of the shoulder when reaching to the side while their arm is at shoulder level. It is easy to adapt movement to avoid this unless there is a specific activity like holding the passenger seat while driving.

This problem can be aggravated by carrying a backpack. The straps create pressure on the trigger point eliciting the pain pattern while carrying the pack. This also aggravates the muscle so that it may become chronic. The shoulder may also ache from the pressure of a seat belt.

This muscle can become chronically short when the middle trapezius creates high and tight shoulders and the humerus hangs closer to the collar bone.

This produces “that good stretch feeling” in the front of the shoulder during the Warrior-2 pose. If it is chronic, it will restrict the arm from lifting to shoulder height, when unwatched. If it is happening regularly, the stretch lengthens the clavicular pec but the muscle will still have weakness during contraction. In this case, the shoulder joints need work.

The trigger point is activated by strenuously reaching forward as when putting things on a shelf, reaching over something to paint or reaching out to grab a falling object. One client complained of this after spending some time trying to reach over a deep dresser to hang pictures.

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with Self Care.

This post has strategies for getting relief on your own. Explore how to change your activities, stretch and other strategies that relieve the pain associated with this trigger point.

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This post has techniques, tips, treatment routines, and anatomy illustrations to improve the bodyworker’s approach.

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Tony Preston has a practice in Atlanta, Georgia, where he sees clients. He has written materials and instructed classes since the mid-90s. This includes anatomy, trigger points, cranial, and neuromuscular.

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Tony Preston

Tony Preston, LMT has been treating adults and children since the early 90s. He has authored a number of texts on neuromuscular and craniosacral techniques. He has taught Neuromuscular Therapy for ASHA School of Massage and craniosacral the National Institute of Craniosacral Studies. He currently teaches seminars in Integrative Craniosacral techniques at The Body Guild.