Integrative Works

People complain of burning along the inside of their shoulder blade. Of course, this burning and itching along the shoulder blade will make you want to rub up against a doorway or get one of those massage canes to get at it. But, in my experience, people quickly notify a body therapist (like me) to rub on it when it bothers them.

This pattern is often the trigger point that makes friends scratch each other’s back for a minute or two. Ahhh. It feels amazing when you rub the shoulder blade at the green spot in this picture. Then, people roll their eyes and say, “yeeaaah, riiiight there…”

Trying Topical Creams

Although some people recognize the muscular ache, others consider this a topical problem on the skin. They may get brief relief if the cream has a numbing agent or tingly feeling. Those agents act on a nerve path that calms the muscle by stimulating the skin. It’s confusing, as the pattern often returns.

People are unaware of how this started, except that it often bothers them after working at a desk, driving, or working on a low counter. The person, who shall remain nameless, gets this from texting in bed. These activities make this section of muscle work hard to stabilize the scapula as it pulls forward. This posture is often a problem; the person has slumped shoulders with tight pecs.

Jerking Up and Forward

Occasionally, this problem starts when the shoulder jerks forward and up, and this muscle is trying to stabilize the shoulder girdle. For example, this might happen as you kneel to tie your shoe, and the dog on a leash jerks you forward. In another case, a new routine with explosive rotational kettlebell swings activates this. People that slip while using their arms to lower into a seat also get burning and itching along the shoulder blade.

Slumping too.

This burning and itching will bother you as you slump forward while working once you have jerked it and created a little microtrauma. This stretching escalates the intensity of the activated trigger point. The area of burning and itching in this pattern resembles the pain in another pattern that is aggravated by slumping.

This irritation may start with a different trapezius problem that creates a sore neck and shoulder. I explore that pattern in this post. When it is relieved, the burning and itching may reveal itself.

Musculoskeletal Anatomy

About these Illustrations…

This post on anatomy contains standard information about the origin, insertion, function, and innervation of muscles. It also includes information on functional considerations and anomalies.

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Anatomy posts have a grid of all related posts. This includes posts on pain patterns, self-care, therapy notes, NMT protocols, cranial techniques, and cases.