Pain isn’t always felt where the problem is. Pain felt in the front of the shoulder with overhead, reaching or behind back movements is often diagnosed as a ‘rotator cuff problem” but the cause for that problem could (and probably does) lie elsewhere.
To get your hand above your head, movement needs to happen at the middle spine, rib joints, both ends of the collar bone, neck, shoulder blade, and of course the actual shoulder joint. Any joint or muscular tension, weakness or altered pattern can cause a change in the mechanics of the shoulder joint and overload the tendons causing pain. You can do all the ‘cuff work’ you like with bands, weights and cables but your shoulder complex will not move ideally again unless we analyse the movement, strength and control throughout that entire chain of action.
Even if you have an acute injury with lifting, carrying or other arm use – the reason for that injury may be away from the pain. If you’re lifting overhead and only one side gets sore – why that side and not the other?
To get your hand above your head, movement needs to happen at the middle spine, rib joints, both ends of the collar bone, neck, shoulder blade, and of course the actual shoulder joint. Any joint or muscular tension, weakness or altered pattern can cause a change in the mechanics of the shoulder joint and overload the tendons causing pain. You can do all the ‘cuff work’ you like with bands, weights and cables but your shoulder complex will not move ideally again unless we analyse the movement, strength and control throughout that entire chain of action.
Even if you have an acute injury with lifting, carrying or other arm use – the reason for that injury may be away from the pain. If you’re lifting overhead and only one side gets sore – why that side and not the other?
Let’s explore your entire shoulder girdle and body motion and we will have a better chance of solving those niggly, annoying shoulder pains.
