What’s up with shoulders?   Although low back problems may be the most common structural complaint, shoulders rank a close second, particularly with the male population. Shoulder problems are one of the primary complaints that my clients present with. Issues can include frozen or restricted movement, weakness and aching, pain running down arms, neck pain and even aggravation felt in opposite hips.   The major components of the shoulder are: the rotator cuff (not cup), which is simply a convenient name for a group of four muscles, that when working from different angles keep the ball (humerus) in the socket (scapula). A dislocated shoulder occurs when the ball leaves the socket. The AC or acromioclavicular joint between the clavicle and the scapula is the only non-muscular connection between the shoulder girdle (arm and scapula unit) and the trunk. When the ligament that spans that joint is torn it is called a separated shoulder. Each joint in the body is designed to get its stability in unique ways. The knee, for instance, relies upon four directional ligaments. In the event that a movement goes beyond the normal range, they act as a last line of defense to prevent dislocation. The ankle gets its structural stability primarily from the arrangement of the many bones that dissipate weight bearing to manageable levels. The shoulders, being a ball and socket type joint that have a need to function over a broad range of directions, rely upon muscles (rotator cuff group) to keep the integrity of joint position and function. This muscular environment creates the most volatile “use it or loose it” joint in the body.  Rotator cuff injuries like any other muscle injury can take place within the attaching tendon, the muscle body and often in between where the tissue type is in a transitional environment. Anything from micro tears to complete avulsions may be involved; the later will require prompt surgical reattachment. So, how does the body respond to injury from over use or trauma? The body creates a tightening of surrounding muscles.  If used they would create pain in the injured area, so the response is to lock them down. That tightening or spasm causes pain in those muscles which begets more spasm. Thus a cycle is created that can lead to a frozen shoulder or a lifetime of restricted or painful movement. There are 15 muscles that attach to the scapula creating potential for tightening in an enlarged area around the shoulder. It is the body’s primordial way of preventing you from doing movements that cause pain, thus imposing a mandatory healing time; not necessarily activating a complete, efficient, healing activity. If it did you probably wouldn’t be reading this article.             But there is a system that can reset the correct tone, position, fluidity of movement as well as stop the pain as it speeds the healing of any injury.  Tom Bowen detected and than learned to activate and accelerate that system with non-invasive signals sent to the brain through the proprioceptive sensors in the body that detect position and relative timing of movements. With gentle thumb movements through loose clothing and time for the brain to process the information, its first effect is to activate the parasympathetic or relaxation response and tell the body that the emergency is over. “No pain – a lot of gain” and “less is more” are the mantras of those that have experienced that relief.  The body is amazing in it’s responses to injury but sometimes it needs a little nudge to do its best work. Ask not what you can do to your body but what your body can do for you. Sorry, I’ve run out of clichés, so you will just have to call for a free consultation or an appointment to experience it yourself.   Return toArticles