Instantly Cure Rotator Cuff Pain

What Causes Upper Back Shoulder Pain And Neck Pain - Solve The Puzzle Now

2008-03-18T23:03:00.000-07:00

Painful and pesky shoulders, necks, and backs afflict many of us - as much as 90 percent of us - from time to time. The pain can be mild to intense, and it could manifest itself as a dull ache, sharp throbbing, or constant tingling. What is the root of the pain and how can you relieve it? When ignored, the pain can go from bad to worse, and can become chronic and debilitating. For these reasons it's important to pay attention to these problems and address them quickly.

For many people, what causes upper back shoulder pain and neck pain are misaligned vertebrae and slipped or burst cervical discs. Although this may sound scary, fortunately, these kind of alignment and structural problems are not life-threatening, but they can be annoying. Visiting a chiropractor is the best way to get started on healing the pain.

Muscular problems might be what causes upper back shoulder pain and neck pain. Pulled muscles and fascia are examples of muscular problems. This affliction is quite widespread and can be prompted by sleeping in a strange position, hefting heavy items, or even toting around a small child. Taking anti-inflammatory medicine, resting the muscles, and icing the painful area can help. Herbal remedies are also available to treat inflammation. Looking up back pain product reviews can help you make a decision.

In some cases, what causes upper back shoulder pain and neck pain is "referred pain". This can happen if what is causing the pain is due to a problem in a different location from where the pain is felt. Generally speaking, the referred pain is benign, but it's still good to get a check-up, in case the pain is being referred from the heart, gallbladder, gastric system or somewhere else that needs attention.

What causes upper back shoulder pain and neck pain varies from person to person, but in many cases it is "idiopathic" or without any known cause. Rather than being from an unknown physical ailment, or from something that remains undiagnosed, this is actually a problem with the nervous system. The pain receptors in the brain and spinal column are not communicating properly.

For people with idiopathic pain, back pain releif can be achieved by practicing relaxation and visualization techniques that help calm these pain receptors.

Back pain relief is a goal of many people with idiopathic pain. What causes upper back shoulder pain and neck pain are vertebrae that aren't aligned correctly, or cervical discs that have slipped or split open. This sounds like a serious problem but it actually is not a danger to your life. Painful shoulders, necks, and backs afflict many of us from time to time. When ignored, the pain can go from bad to worse, and can become chronic and debilitating. You may be helped by herbal treatments that can help relieve inflammation. Check out back pain product reviews to find the best herbal treatments.

Back Exercises With Shoulder Pain

2008-03-18T23:02:00.000-07:00

There are many types of back exercises, with shoulder pain you'll need to take some extra precautions. Because the shoulder is the most mobile joint in the entire body (it moves in the most directions), it is almost the most unstable.

While I love taking care of shoulder problems in my office, I'm particularly careful of checking to see if anything has torn before I really get going. You can have tears in the muscles, ligaments, and tendons. The cartilage of the shoulder joint is also a possibility.

If you suspect that you may have a shoulder injury, getting checked out thoroughly will help keep you from getting worse and developing painful conditions like "frozen shoulder syndrome."

While most of these shoulder problems are the result of some kind of trauma, I have had experiences where the "trauma" involved was bad posture. The patient's bad posture actually lead to tears in the shoulder muscles.

However, if you're considering doing back exercises with shoulder pain, you may not really be talking about the shoulder at all. Many people point to their upper back area when they are referring to their "shoulders."

This area is not as likely to tear and is really the main place people experience pain with bad posture in addition to the pain between the shoulder blades.

It is expected that this area will receive the greatest amount of strain with forward head posture. As such, this area will improve quickly when posture-improving exercises are introduced and a regular, consistent program has been started.

If you spend a lot of time at the computer or driving, make sure you're neck and back are as straight and in line as possible. If this provides little to no relief, you'd really better get started on strengthening your weakened back muscles before things get out of control.

Dr. Natalie Cordova, a chiropractor and posture expert, wants to help you change your posture for good. Learn to improve posture at http://www.ImproveMyPosture.com

How Do You Know Which Exercises To Do For Shoulder Pain?

2008-03-13T05:29:00.001-07:00

When determining that you want to do exercises for shoulder pain, you first need to determine which part of your shoulder needs to be exercised (that is, which part is causing the pain) and whether or not something more serious has happened like a tear of the muscle, ligament, tendon or even cartilage. Your injury needs to be checked out by a qualified person before you start any exercise program.

There are certainly plenty of shoulder parts that can tear, and each of the tissue types associated with the shoulder area can seem very similar without the benefit of an MRI to really take a look. Recently, a patient came in with shoulder pain and the only trauma he had experienced was having bad posture.

With no history of any real trauma and dealing with someone who performed little if any regular physical activity, it seemed unlikely that he would have torn anything in his shoulder. After he had an MRI, it was determined that he had literally torn parts of his rotator cuff because his bad posture and rounded shoulders had been out of place for so long that gravity had finally taken its toll on his weakened muscles.

Assuming that you've checked everything out (by a doctor, not you and your friend deciding) and nothing is torn, you'll need to decide which muscle has been affected and what you're going to do about it. Then its time to begin exercises for shoulder pain.

From a postural standpoint, its the back of the shoulders that are going to be an issue. So raising dumbbells over your head or doing military presses will likely have little effect in taking care of any shoulder issue. In fact, if you continue to work out the front of your shoulder while continuing to neglect the back your shoulder exercise program will only make your shoulder pain worse.

Attacking your posterior deltoid and muscles of the rotator cuff should be your focus (from a posture standpoint). You can use small dumbbells (start light) or even look into some resistance tubing. There are varying strengths available to give a wide range of people an effective workout.

Dr. Natalie Cordova, a chiropractor and posture expert, wants to help you change your posture for good. Learn to improve posture at http://www.ImproveMyPosture.com

Top 7 Tips To Treat And Prevent Shoulder Pain

2008-03-12T05:34:00.000-07:00

You began your Saturday with 18 holes of golf, then followed up with an afternoon of trimming hedges, pulling weeds, and planting flowers. Now it is bedtime, and you can barely raise your arm to brush your hair. It has every reason to balk. After all, your shoulders work very hard over the course of a day. They are involved in numerous routine tasks, from turning doorknobs to writing notes. Among all the joints in your body, your shoulders are perhaps the most versatile. They combine with a variety of tendons and muscles to give your arms their broad range of motion. So you feel as though you have been carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders literally. The good news is that you don't have to just grin and bear the burden of pain. Here are some tips that you can consider to adopt for fast relief.

1. Move Your Body Right

Whether you are a weekend warrior or a serious athlete, you can avoid a repeat performance of your shoulder injury by having an expert check out your body mechanics. A qualified fitness trainer or coach can spot what you are doing incorrectly, for example, when you swing your tennis racquet, or lift a barbell and teach you proper form and technique.

2. Test Your Flexibility

You should be able to raise your arms overhead, both from the side and from the front. It is recommended practicing these movements until you can do them easily. Also practice reaching up behind your back, as if you were unhooking a bra. But don't try so hard that you strain yourself.

3. Limit Lifting

It is also a good idea to refrain from heavy lifting while your shoulder is sore. The rule of thumb is, don't hoist anything heavier than a briefcase or a gallon of milk.

4. Stretching

Gentle stretching and range-of-motion exercises are important to your shoulder's rehabilitation because they help to restore and improve flexibility. It is recommended to adopt this move to keep your shoulder loose and limber. Move the arm on the same side as your sore shoulder across your chest, toward the opposite shoulder. Then gently pull the arm toward you by placing the opposite hand over the elbow. You should feel the stretch in the back of your shoulder. Hold for at least 15 seconds. Repeat at least three times a day.

5. Stop What You Are Doing

If a particular activity has aggravated your shoulder, then give it up or at least cut back for the time being. Avoid any movement that can make your pain worse, mainly reaching over or behind your head.

6. Make Nice With Ice

Applying ice for the first few days that your shoulder hurts can help reduce inflammation. It is recommended using a freezable gel pack, which you can purchase in a drugstore. Wrap the pack in a thin towel and lay it on top of your shoulder, perhaps wrapping an elastic bandage around it to keep it in place. Leave it on for no more than 20 minutes and reapply it three times a day.

7. Switch To Heat

Once the inflammation subsides, you can begin treating your sore shoulder with heat. It can help loosen up your shoulder if you are stiff. Just be sure that you use moist heat, like a hot shower, rather than dry heat, like a heating pad.

Raymond Lee Geok Seng is one of the foremost experts in the health and fitness industry and is a writer specializing in body health, muscle development and dieting. He has spent countless of time and efforts conducting research and share his insightful and powerful secrets to benefit men and women all over the world. He is currently the author of the latest edition of "Neck Exercises and Workouts." Visit http://www.bodyfixes.com for more information.

Years Of Shoulder Pain Disappears

2008-03-12T05:33:00.000-07:00

Eileen is a jeweler who is in her early sixties. She also is a widow of several years. She had a chronic pain in her left shoulder that had been there for years. She described it is a dull ache that was deep in her shoulder joint. She said that it was registering as a "6-7" on the 0-10 intensity scale.

I asked her what would her shoulder say if it could speak to us. What came up were feelings of inadequacy, fear of being dependent, fear of disability and limitation, and aging. She was tired of shouldering responsibilities; wanted to put down her burden; and release the pain.

Statements that she used while rubbing her sore spot:

*"Even though I feel adequate....."

*"Even though I have fear of being dependent ....."

*"Even though I have fear of disability ....."

*"Even though I am afraid of limitation ....."

*"Even though I feel tired of shouldering responsibilities ....."

"I choose to put down my burden and release whatever is causing this pain in my shoulder."

She felt some emotions, and had a few tears when she tapped on shouldering responsibilities, and putting down her burden. We checked in after tapping and her pain intensity went down to a "3".

Then she tapped on:

*"Even though I am afraid if I release this burden that I'll crash and burn financially ...."

The intensity dropped down to a "1"--where it was not registering as pain but as a sensation. I talked to her recently, and the pain has not returned in a year and a half.

JoAnn SkyWatcher is an energy healer. She uses Spiritual Mind Treatment, Visualization, Breath, and Emotional Freedom Techniques. She lives with her Beloved husband, Steve Ryals, author of Drunk with Wonder: Awakening to the God Within in the remote hills of Northern California.
http://www.wayhealthy.us
http://www.wayhealthy1.blogspot.com
joann@wayhealthy.us
707-462-2501

Traditional Treatments Underfire - Steroid Injections and Shoulder Pain

2008-03-11T04:55:00.001-07:00

In a recent study from the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases, the authors, Dr. Hay and Dr. Van Der Windt, out of both the Netherlands and United Kingdom, compared the results of traditional shoulder pain treatment in the primary care setting and the effects of those treatments. Both studies attempted to assess the differences in how these patients were treated and the progress they made. They first noted that shoulder problems are common with up to 47% adults in the general population reporting such symptoms in a 1 year period.

Dr. Van Der Windt's study in the Netherlands found that the effectiveness of a steroid injection did help in the short term, but not as much in the long term. The study did not find any difference in the status of a sufferer of shoulder pain when their situation was reassessed twelve months later when their treatment consisted of physical therapy and steroid injections into the shoulder.

Dr. Hay's study found similar results in the United Kingdom, where it was noted that the success of steroid injections were evident in the short term, but the treatment became less helpful in the longer term. These groups did not necessarily differentiate the exact cause of the shoulder pain, but focused more on treatment. Overall, both researchers found that patients realized similar improvement even though the United Kingdom group was given steroid injections later in the course of the treatment.

In their conclusions, they note that further study needs to be considered before a wider assessment of the place of steroid injections within the treatment options for shoulder injuries can take place. However, it seems important that doctors reassess their traditional treatment options, and the role that steroid injections have in that plan, since they have been found to lack long term benefit. And while the authors call into question the role of steroid injections in shoulder pain treatment, they hold that physical therapy is still an integral and effective part of treatment. Both studies found that their study groups had almost 90% improvement in their respected populations and they feel that supports more aggressive use of physical therapy for shoulder pain.

Michael Carroll, MD is a board certified family physician with a special interest in sports medicine. He is the founding partner of Creekside Clinic, LLC, a progressive primary care center in Traverse City, Michigan. He is also a member of the American College of Sports Medicine, and the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Dr. Carroll is also interested in shoulder pain treatment and rotator cuff injuries and has designed a ground-breaking new treatment tool that has seen amazing results in studies at the American College of Sports Medicine

Workplace Factors That Lead To Shoulder Pain

2008-03-10T05:58:00.002-07:00

Studies are always trying to shed more and more light upon the question of joint pain, and the different contributing factors. In a recent article in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases by Bone and Tooper, looked at how prolonged exposure to repetitive activity at work contributes specifically to shoulder pain. In their study, they noted that population based studies suggest a lifetime prevalence of over 70 percent for neck and shoulder pain.

They found that shoulder pain was second only to back pain in workers’ compensation insurance claims. Their study also found that the risk of developing shoulder pain when starting a new job is related to the amount of over-the-head lifting and the monotonous nature of the work. They concluded that shoulder pain is a common problem among working age adults and is a large contributor to sick leave.

The study was able to identify some of the workplace factors that contribute to shoulder pain. The researchers were able to identify prolonged abnormal posture and repetition as significant contributors to shoulder pain. They also noted that more recent studies have considered the psycho-social influences such as monotony of work and the amount of stress might also contribute to shoulder pain.

In their conclusions, they call for more studies looking at psycho-social stressors as wells as repetative movement and how it can be modified in order to prevent further injuries to the shoulder in the workplace setting. Such a finding could greatly benefit the 70% of the population that suffers from some sort of work-induced joint pain.

Michael Carroll, MD is a board certified family physician with a special interest in sports medicine. He is the founding partner of Creekside Clinic, LLC, a progressive primary care center in Traverse City, Michigan and a member of both the American College of Sports Medicine, and the American Academy of Family Physicians.

He also holds special interest in shoulder pain and rotator cuff injuries specifically with regard to cutting-edge treatments and is the author of a Shoulder Pain Talk.

Shoulder Pain, How is Your Posture?

2008-03-10T05:58:00.001-07:00

If you have shoulder discomfort, partial immobility, or shoulder pain that was Not caused from some kind of impact from car accident or tree collision during jogging that you didn't see for some reason then you need to check the following; how is your upper body posture, particularly the shoulders?

Take a look (a good look) at the mirror; side and front view. Do you have forward and leaning downward shoulders or one side is lower than the other? You’re not sure yet, then perform these simple tests…

Range of motion test-1 Stand with feet pointing straight; heels, buttocks, and shoulder blades against the wall…Now raise your fully extended arms all the way up like a “surrender pose” and notice the following:

-How far can you raise your fully extended arms, they should be covering your ears with ease?
- Do you have difficulty performing this simple range of motion test?
- Is your back arched excessively in order to perform this test?
-Do you feel tingling or numbness around the shoulders or hands area after few seconds which is possibly from nerve impingement or blood flow restriction?

Range of motion test-2

-The other simple test is where you raise your arms to the sides at shoulder level (so you look like a capital T letter), then bend the elbows at a 90 degree angle (like flexing your biceps) and palms facing forward.

-Now bring the elbows together by performing a hinge movement, the other shoulder joint motion that many individuals have lost.

While you’re performing this shoulder horizontal -adduction and abduction- movement try not to lower your elbows to make this test easier but keep them at shoulder level all the time. Also, keep both hands to the sides of your head because many people have a tendency to move their hands away while trying to bring elbows together.

While performing test 2, look for the following signs:

-Can you bring the elbows together- they should touch each other, again with ease?

-Do you have difficulty pulling the elbows back against the wall, without pushing the head forward?

-Is the back of your head touching the wall (it should be); if your head is sticking out that can be another sign of forward shoulders?

If you have any of these signs or symptoms then most likely you do have dysfunctional posture and if you do, then welcome to the ever increasing society of dysfunctional bodies. You’re not alone, many people have misaligned body-posture because of what we do (or not what we do for the matter) every single day. We limit our bodies to certain movements something like the following:

- We sit most of the time which means tight and overactive hip flexors, posterior chain muscles are also tight and some of them inactive and weak.
- We rarely lift our arms with full range of motion simply because we don’t need/have to!
- Static positions front of the computer and TV screens and also the same pattern with commuting (ex., driving or riding car, bus and other vehicles.)

Do you see the daily routine that we put ourselves in? Furthermore after months and years of doing the same thing, your body will adapt to the new environment so many muscles will shut off and other muscles will take over on top of what tasks they already have. That’s where muscles start to compensate for other muscles .

What to do about your shoulders?

You need to pull the rounded shoulders back to their normal position by following the next suggestions:

In many cases your forward shoulders are caused by somewhere else in the body and the most suspect usually are the misaligned hips. For example, if you have an excessive arch (lordosis) in the lower back area or the opposite symptom (flat lower back) these hip misalignments can affect the whole body chain, including your shoulders.

So, stretch hip flexors (Psoas major and minor, Iliacus, and Rectus Femoris) and TFL to retain their normal length, and prevent them from being overworked, until your hips maintain the normal position only then S spine shape will preserve its normal curve. Also, incase of having a flat lower back then strengthen the hip flexors can be a good idea.

kneeling hip flexor stretch is one example to use. You can search online for most if not all these recommended stretching muscle exercises.

-Most likely you need to strengthen your butt muscles in both cases, because from being inactive (too much sitting or being prevented from doing its own task). Performing standing butt squeeze

-Stretch and possibly strengthen your hamstrings (the back muscles of the legs). Example, bending down to reach your toes (standing pose) or Supine hamstring stretch with strap using strap; this is where you.

- lie on your back and secure the strap around the arch of the right foot * while keeping the left leg straight touching the floor Or bending it if you have discomfort.
- keep the right leg fully extended and pointing straight towards the ceiling. Hold the stretch for about 1 minute and then repeat with the left leg.

- For the upper body; strengthen your muscles that act on the shoulder blades (scapula) area like performing scapular contraction exercises and rowing movements focusing on bringing the shoulder blades together.
Also, make a habit in the morning to stretch and move your all your joints like,
- Shoulder joint; swimmer arm circles (forward and backward motion), floor or wall glides, stretch your neck and turn it left-right and upward- downward
- Posture muscles; camel and dog stretch, the yoga down facing dog, floor or wall scapular contractions.
- Knee joint simple movements like floor kneeling and squatting on daily basis instead on using the chair all the time.
- Ankle joint ankle circles and dorsi and plantar motion.
- wrist joint circular motion clock wise and counter clock wise.

Even at work, every hour or so take a break for 5-10 minutes to perform the above simple stretches.

The next measure to do is consulting with a good chiropractor to locate and adjust the musculoskeletal area that is dysfunctional. Particularly focus on your hips which are the center connection between your lower and upper body so you can fix the source and not only the symptom.

Last but not least is to strengthen the shoulder muscles gently and gradually using light weight like light tension resistance bands or 1-10 pound dumbbells. The movements should cover all the range of motion the shoulder joint can do, like overhead pressing and side and front shoulder/deltoid lifts. Remember the weight you’re lifting is not the focus for now, so don’t feel bad because you’re lifting light weight but concentrate on exposing your shoulder joint to all these motions with gradual and mild exercises.

Founder of http://www.how-to-exercise.com/index.html

Mohamad Alodah, BA Health Promotion, American University, is an ISSA certified personal trainer with many years of experience specializing in strength training, diet, kinesiology and anthropological nutrition. Mohamad has perfected customized programs to motivate individuals to achieve their goals in strength and endurance building, overall fitness improvements, alignment, flexibility, and weight loss. http://www.how-to-exercise.com/index.html reveals the secrets that have been most successful for proven results.

Low Lever Laser For Shoulder Pain After Stroke And Shoulder Injury

2008-03-08T03:38:00.000-08:00

Causalgia, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, and the shoulder - hand - finger syndrome have been group into a characteristic medical condition that may cause severe, intractable pain and progressive functional impairment and disability

This condition is not rare for stroke problem

The circulation of upper extremity can be roughly divided into arterial and venous component : first, the arterial component. It is refers to cardiac pumping, proceeding to the distal portion of the extremity. The 2nd are the venous return and lymphatic system. The muscles of the hand and arm force the fluid proximally by means of “pumps”

Mr Djoko, got stroke , nearly two years ago, hemiparetic with spasm at his right hand. This was the iniciating factor for his problem. He sent by neurologist due to pain on his right side. I found shoulder limitation , and swollen.

Low level laser given by transcutaneus approach 5 times ,everyday. I asked him to move his right extremity frequently. Injury of shoulder

Mr Djoko visited my office again two weeks ago. This time, the pain suffered his left hand. almost a month ago, he slipped on stairs, grabbed the guard raill by his left hand. His tendon of biceps became overstrech.

Three times simultaneus transcutaneus low level laser not enough for this condition. It was very painfull for him, sometimes he feels pain on his chest

I used ILIB , combined with probe to delivery the laser. Probe go a long tendon biceps , also administered to ganglion stelata to block the nerve. Pain decreased , and diminished after the 7th treatment.

Discussion:

Pity mr Djoko. Yes, we could deliver laser as a nerve block, like using anesthetic agent. An effective stellate block is judged if there is pain relief. Mr Djoko found, after stellate block using laser, the pain relief more rapid. For both shoulder, the stiffness should be treated . active exercises of the shoulder and hand must be instituted as soon ans as energitically as the medical condition permits. Mr Djoko found, along with pain decreasing , his hemiparetic side could moved more easily.

For his right arm, the problem iniciated only of his shoulder limitation , but for the left side, the manuver slipped on strairs sreching the biceps and the brachial plexus. So, it is more painfull, and more difficult to manage. May be probe as anaesthetic was enough, but his fear must considerable. A man, both side hand injures , still works as goverment employee, it is fearfull.

There are some papers about laser for causalgia. I didn't find yet laser administered to the ganglion. I saw this kind aproach when I joined WALT Conggres in Tsukuba Japan, 2002.

http://rehab-med.blogspot.com

Pain - Shoulder Pain Relief for Injuries & Degeneration Pain

2008-03-06T04:35:00.000-08:00

Did you know that according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, over four million Americans seek shoulder pain relief from shoulder problems each year? This number may sound alarming to you, but the fact of the matter is the shoulder is one of the most movable joints in the body, therefore making it one of the most potentially unstable.

The correct shoulder pain relief plan can be determined depending upon what kind of injury or condition you experience. Only your doctor can decide which shoulder pain relief plan is best for you. Most shoulder pain problems are attributed to two things:

1). Injuries and/or Overuse
2). Degeneration of the tendons, joints and tissues

Shoulder Pain Relief for Injuries & Overuse

Many people who injure their shoulders need immediate shoulder pain relief. Injuries, such as a dislocated shoulder and a shoulder separation can be extremely painful.

• Dislocated Shoulder. When the arm is pulled backward and overwhelms the muscles, dislocation and pain can occur. If you dislocate your shoulder, in addition to the pain, you will notice a lot of swelling and bruising. Your shoulder might feel numb and weak, as well. To receive shoulder pain relief from a dislocated shoulder, a doctor must push the ball of the humerus back into the socket of your shoulder joint. Then, you must wear a sling to rest your shoulder to heal and mitigate your pain.

• Shoulder Separation. Shoulder separation occurs when the ligaments that hold the collarbone to the shoulder blade are completely torn. Shoulder pain relief from a separation is simple: your arm among other prescribed treatments must remain in a sling until it heals.

People who suffer from either one of the aforementioned injuries can find immediate shoulder pain relief by applying ice to the wounded shoulder for up to 20 minutes three times a day. Your doctor will more than likely prescribe painkillers in order to receive even more shoulder pain relief. Physical therapy in many cases will also be recommended. One word of advice, keep moving your shoulder ever so slightly or you run the risk of frozen shoulder which is a whole different scenario to deal with.

Shoulder Pain Relief for Degeneration of the Tendons, Joints & Tissues

Many times, people seek shoulder pain relief due to the wear and tear of the tendons, joints and tissues. Tendonitis, arthritis and bursitis are common problems that cause inflammation and great amounts of pain. Most of the time, folks can find shoulder pain relief by taking Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil).

The first step to receive shoulder pain relief is to visit your doctor. Your doctor will lead you in the right direction toward the shoulder pain relief you need.

Click on and Visit the web sites below for more information about shoulder pain relief. And remember, everyday living should not involve shoulder pain or any other pain for that matter.

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Pain Relief - Is Shoulder Massage a Miracle Cure for Shoulder Pain?

2008-03-05T04:59:00.001-08:00

Are you experiencing shoulder pain? If so, you are not alone. Whether you suffer from tendonitis, injury, or disease, much of the discomfort you feel in your shoulder can be relieved with shoulder massage therapy. In fact, a consumer survey conducted by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) revealed that more and more people are using massage specifically to help manage their pain. Shoulder massage is a wonderful way to not only achieve shoulder pain relief, but to also receive many other important health benefits.

The Benefits of Shoulder Massage

Shoulder massage has been proven to improve range of motion and ease the pain associated with shoulder problems. However, not only does shoulder massage help you get pain relief, this therapy treatment also help the body in many other amazing ways.

Shoulder massage:

• improves blood circulation
• provides deep relaxation to the massaged muscle
• stimulates your lymph system
• stimulates the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers
• speeds up the elimination of your body waste
• aids in digestion
• blocks pain signals’ pathways to your brain
• provides a natural sense of well being

Self Shoulder Massage Techniques

If your shoulder pain is not severe, you may want to administer self shoulder massage techniques while you are at home. Start by squeezing your injured shoulder with the opposite hand. Then, kneed the shoulder repeatedly. You can also make circular pressure with your fingertips on both sides of your spine. Try applying penetrating massage oil to the shoulder to ensure smooth movements. You can also incorporate heat and cold into your shoulder massage. Applying ice to your sore shoulder will reduce both inflammation and pain, while heat relaxes your tense muscles for additional pain relief.

Visit a Massage Therapist for a Shoulder Massage

For a professional shoulder massage, visit a massage therapist. Before the shoulder massage, discuss the problems you are having with your shoulder. Your shoulder massage therapist will know specific techniques that may help reduce the pain for your individual problem.

If you are experiencing severe shoulder pain, please see your doctor. Discuss your injury or condition with a professional. He or she may want you to take pain medication, such as Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen (Advil), along with shoulder massage to (hopefully) alleviate your pain completely. Also, keep in mind that shoulder massage is not a miracle cure. You must visit your massage therapist routinely for shoulder massage therapy to receive long-term, positive results to reduce your pain and regain full range shoulder function for sustained pain relief.

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Why Won't My Shoulder Pain Go Away?

2008-03-05T04:58:00.000-08:00

If you’re anything like the average Joe, you work hard during the week usually performing rigorous or repetitive tasks such as hammering or heavy lifting, typing or repetitive mouse clicking. Then you come home and relax by sinking into the couch and doing nothing for ten minutes to several hours. Follow that up with spending the weekend performing more rigorous, repetitive tasks such as gardening, laundry or a larger ongoing project like painting the bedroom walls. Or perhaps you use the weekends to play and go skiing or rock climbing.

Then you notice that your shoulder hurts when putting on your shirt or closing a door. You’re not alone. What you are probably experiencing is tendonitis in one or more of the shoulder muscles, which is quite common…….but there is help!

The problem
Your shoulders are incredibly flexible joints that allow your arms to move through a large range of motion. They are used in almost every activity and they take a lot of punishment on a daily basis. As a result, they are prone to a wide range of injuries that can cause pain and limit your range of motion. Normally the body is able to heal itself quite well during sleep. Unfortunately the average American is so busy with work, chores, bills, errands etc. that when it’s time to sleep we just stare at the ceiling and think about tomorrow which only keeps us awake and creates more stress and less healing.

Many times these injuries are simply caused by wear and tear. For example, a common injury is tendonitis of one of the rotator cuff muscles called the Infraspinatus. This is a small triangular muscle located on the back of the shoulder blade. It covers the lower portion of the scapula and its tendon attaches to the back side of the humerus (large bone of upper arm). Like the other muscles of the rotator cuff, the Infraspinatus is weaker than the surrounding muscles due to its poor mechanical advantage which makes it more susceptible to injury. Through poor posture and/or repetitive overuse such as, reaching behind you into the back seat of your car and lifting a heavy object, swinging a tennis racquet or hastily pulling off your jacket, the tendon develops micro tears and becomes inflamed and painful. The resulting pain can lead to overcompensation from other muscles in the body which leads to chronically tightened muscles and trigger points.

Trigger points are small knots in the muscle tissue that are very common around the shoulder and can refer pain and tenderness into the muscles or joints. The referred pain can mimic other shoulder problems and can feel as if the injury is actually in a completely different area or muscle.

The reason it takes so long to heal Without being treated tendonitis can take several months or even years to heal and even then you may not get back your full range of motion. This is due to, as mentioned before, overcompensation of other muscles in an effort to prevent further injury and pain, which can cause chronic tightening of these muscles and can eventually lead to more severe conditions such as adhesive capsulitis or frozen shoulder. No there isn’t a miracle drug or cream or instant treatment that will make this injury disappear overnight. Chances are it took several years to get to this point and unfortunately it’s going to take some time and a personal commitment to your own healing to reverse it.

Do I need surgery?
I am happy to say NO, you may not need surgery!
If your massage therapist is a skilled neuromuscular therapist and you are willing to be proactive with your own healing you can expect at least a 90% recovery in as little as six weeks without surgery, injections or drugs.
1. You will need to locate the exact muscle and tendon in need of repair. Your therapist can help you with this by performing a few resisted range-of-motion tests.
2. The next step is to release the trigger points in the muscle tissue; this will almost immediately relieve some of the pain in the shoulder and possibly in the back and neck as well.
3. Next it will be necessary to properly palpate the injured portion of the tendon, usually the most tender part, and friction the area using focused cross fiber strokes (this is known as cross fiber friction or deep transverse friction) designed to break down scar tissue and reestablish blood flow, followed by stretching the target muscle.
4. Finally the muscle must be restrengthened using light weights and/or elastic bands such as a Theraband.

It should be noted here that there are other types of shoulder injuries that deserve special consideration such as sprains and dislocations which typically result from falls. It's natural to reach your arm out to catch yourself when falling, but the impact can strain or tear the shoulder ligaments. If the impact is severe enough, the humerus may be knocked right out of the socket and the shoulder can become dislocated. With a severe trauma, the bones may actually fracture or break. When this is the case the arm needs to be immobilized and a proper diagnosis by a physician will be required.

Sometimes the only option is surgery. The best medicine in this case is prevention. As soon as you develop any pain or discomfort in your shoulder, see your massage therapist or other health care practitioner immediately for assessment and treatment. Don't risk getting this serious and debilitating shoulder condition.

Joseph Sweeney is a nationally certified massage therapist specializing in orthopedic and sports injuries. His practice is located in Erie, Colorado. For more information and to contact Joe visit his website at http://www.eriemassagetherapy.com

Pain - Shoulder Pain Causes, Tests, and Treatments for Pain

2008-03-04T04:49:00.000-08:00

Shoulder pain conditions that limit movement are common, and are caused by problems with the shoulder joint and its surrounding structures. Your shoulder is more prone to injuries than other joints because of its wide range of movement and you need to know how to deal with the pain.

A few facts. About 13.7 million people went to the doctor's office in 2003 for a shoulder problem, including 3.7 million visits for shoulder and upper arm sprains and strains. (Source: National Center for Health Statistics; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2003 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey.)

One of the best ways you can avoid injury is to keep physically fit, through a balanced program of aerobic exercise, stretching and strengthening exercises for your whole body. There are a range of exercise programs available from local fitness centers, online services and even downloads for your MP3 or iPod players.

There are several conditions that generally cause pain and limit movement of your shoulder joint and you need to know what they are to effectively deal with your shoulder pain problem:

1. Rotator cuff disorders

Pain and Inflammation can be caused by general wear and tear that occurs with age, activities that require constant or repetitive shoulder motion (especially above shoulder level), heavy lifting, trauma, or poor posture. Serious injuries and untreated inflammation of the tendons can cause the rotator cuff to tear resulting in pain.

The pain associated with rotator cuff problems is normally felt at the front or on the outside of your shoulder, particularly when you raise your arm or lift something above your head. You may also notice the pain more when lying in bed. Severe injuries can cause weakness of the shoulder muscles, restricted shoulder movement and continuous pain.

2. Rotator cuff tears

It is usually the rotator cuff tendons (the thick bands of tissue that connect the muscles to the bones) that tear, but sometimes the tear occurs in the muscle. Severe injuries can cause several of the tendons and muscles to tear. There are special movement tests that your doctor can use to help determine which of the muscles or tendons has been torn.

3. Frozen shoulder

Frozen shoulder pain is characterized by progressive pain and stiffness in the shoulder. The pain is felt deep in the shoulder joint and may become worse at night due to inactivity.

The exact cause of this condition is not known, but it sometimes develops following other shoulder injuries. Resting a painful, injured shoulder for too long can cause the shoulder muscles and connective structures to stiffen up, so when a shoulder injury occurs make an effort to keep it loose without putting to much strain on it.

Frozen shoulder can develop spontaneously, particularly if you have thyroid problems or diabetes seem to be at increased risk. Most people with frozen shoulder tend to improve within 2 years, with or without treatment. In the interim, however it can be quite painful.

4. Dislocated shoulder and shoulder instability

A dislocated shoulder is visibly deformed or out of place, and there may be swelling or bruising around the joint. Your shoulder movement will be severely restricted. Your Doctor can usually put the shoulder bone back into place using gentle maneuvers.

If you suffer a dislocation, keep in mind that the shoulder joint sometimes becomes unstable and susceptible to repeated dislocations. This causes pain and unsteadiness when you raise your arm or move it away from your body. Your shoulder may feel as if it is slipping out of place when you lift your arm over your head.

5. Arthritis

Arthritis causes progressive joint pain, tenderness, swelling and stiffness. Both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis will affect the shoulder joint. Sometimes shoulder pain can be due to problems in your neck or a mixture of several different problems. A visit to your doctor is almost always necessary when it comes to a shoulder problem because in rare instances, shoulder pain may be caused by infection, problems with the nerves, or a tumor located somewhere else in your body.

As with any medical issue, a shoulder problem is generally diagnosed using a three-part process:

• Medical History – You tell your doctor about any injury or other condition that might be causing the pain.

• Physical Examination – Your doctor examines you by feeling for injury and to discover the limits of movement, location of pain, and extent of joint instability.

• Tests – Your doctor may order one or more of the tests for you listed below to make a specific diagnosis.

What tests are needed to determine the cause of your shoulder pain?

Your doctor will determine the cause of your pain based on your symptoms and a physical examination. Where the pain is felt, both at rest and when moving the shoulder, is a clue to the cause of the shoulder pain. Your doctor will also test your shoulder strength and the range of movement in your shoulder joint.

You may need an X-ray, or other scans, such as an ultrasound scan or MRI. Sometimes, an arthroscopy is needed. In this test, your doctor can look inside the shoulder joint using a small telescopic instrument that has a camera on the end. This is not as painful as it sounds.

How your shoulder pain will be treated

In addition to relieving pain, treatment is aimed at restoring mobility in your shoulder joint. The choice of treatment depends on the extent of your shoulder problem and the level of pain.

Pain relievers such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are often used as an initial treatment for shoulder pain. Ibuprofen is the best and Aspirin should be avoided.

Another simple way of easing shoulder pain is by applying a cold pack to your shoulder for 10 minutes at a time three or four times a day. Cold packs will reduce inflammation, and are most helpful when applied for the first few days following a shoulder injury. After that, you can switch to using a heat pack; intermittent applications of heat can help relax the shoulder muscles.

A heat pad used at night when sleeping will keep the shoulder from stiffing up. You should rest your shoulder for a couple of days after an injury, and if you have dislocated your shoulder, you may need to rest your arm in a sling or splint for several weeks after the joint has been manipulated back into place.

However, with most shoulder problems it isn’t a good idea to rest for too long. While you should avoid strenuous activities and lifting heavy objects, you should still move your shoulder to help make sure that you regain full use of the joint. By returning to your normal activities as soon as possible (within the limits of disability and pain), you can help prevent the shoulder joint from stiffening up.

Physiotherapy can help treat you shoulder pain.

Physiotherapy can help improve your shoulder strength and flexibility as well as relieve the pain associated with most shoulder problems. Physiotherapists use a variety of different therapies, including massage, ultrasound therapy, laser therapy and electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) — a therapy that uses mild electrical currents to treat pain.

Taping the shoulder joint can also help stabilize it and reduce pain during activities. Your doctor will refer you to a good Physiotherapist is he feels the extent of your injury warrants Physiotherapy.

Physiotherapists can also teach you special rehabilitation exercises to stretch and strengthen the rotator cuff muscles of the shoulder. Exercises that improve your shoulder’s range of movement help reduce the pain and stiffness that occurs after a period of immobility. Range of motion exercises may be followed by resistance exercises and weight training to strengthen the muscles.

Steroid injections can be effective but proceed with caution.

Depending on the cause of your shoulder problem, corticosteroid injections may be given to relieve the pain in the short term. The corticosteroid, which is often mixed with a local anesthetic, reduces inflammation and allows you to move the shoulder more comfortably. Make sure you understand what is involved in this kind of treatment to include the long term effect on your body. The jury is still out on the impact of this type of treatment.

Surgery may be necessary to treat your shoulder problem.

Because most people improve with the above treatments, only about 10 per cent of people with shoulder problems will need to be treated with surgery. People with shoulder instability or rotator cuff problems that are not responding to less invasive treatments may benefit from an operation, and shoulder joint replacement may be considered for people with degenerative arthritis.

There are also some conditions that need to be treated initially with an operation, including some rotator cuff tears and dislocated shoulders that cannot be reduced (put back in) with simple manual maneuvers. Sometimes frozen shoulder is treated with what’s known as manipulation under anesthesia. In this therapy, your shoulder is gently moved while you are under a general anesthetic to help improve its range of motion and of course avoid the treatment pain.

So make sure you do not self-diagnosis your shoulder problem, see your doctor. Keep in mind that it isn’t a good idea to rest it for too long or it will stiffen up. Use Cold and Heat intermittingly to speed up the healing process. Avoid strenuous activities and lifting heavy objects, but remember to move your shoulder to help make sure that you regain full use of the joint by returning to your normal activities as soon as possible and you will regain full use of your shoulder in a reasonable period of time.

But, if you are still experiencing pain, listen to it, it is a signal trying to tell you something is still wrong with your shoulder.

Do you know the best non-narcotic products for shoulder pain relief? Follow these links for shoulder pain relief...
Click on the following links for Shoulder Pain Relief:
Shoulder Pain Relief Information, and Products for shoulder pain.

The Centre for Pain Relief

Shoulder Pain Relief

Ray Attebery is President for The Centre for Pain Relief in New York City

Tension Headaches - Neck Pain - Shoulder Pain

2008-03-03T04:19:00.001-08:00

Helping the function of trapezius are the splenius capitis and cervicis muscles. These two muscles are commonly injured with whiplash injuries due to car accidents. Pain and spasm in these two muscles lead to tension headaches and significant neck pain.

The person with problems in these two muscles have difficulty in bending the neck backward. There will also be significant pain on bending the neck sideways and also in turning the head to the painful side. Therefore when you see a person with difficulty in turning the head and neck to the left, consider problems with the splenius capitis and cervicis muscles on the left side and the right trapezius and vice versa. Such a person will usually have to turn the whole body since they have difficulty turning the head and neck. They will often complain that they have difficulty in driving due to difficulty in neck rotation.

The splenius capitis (head) muscle arises from the last cervical vertebral spine (C7) to the third thoracic spine (T3) and from the ligament between the spines known as the ligamentum nuchae to insert into the skull bone behind the earlobe known as the mastoid process.

The splenius cervicis (neck) muscle arises from the third thoracic to the sixth thoracic spines (T3-T6) and inserts into the transverse processes of the first through the fourth cervical vertebrae (C1-C4). Both muscles received nerve supply through the middle and lower cervical nerves.

Neck pain|shoulder pain: Role of deltoid

Neck pain and shoulder pain commonly arises from irritation of the C5 and C6 nerve roots. Both roots supply the deltoid muscle.

Deltoid has three portions namely the portion at the front of the shoulder (anterior deltoid), middle of the shoulder (middle deltoid) and a portion at the back of the shoulder (posterior deltoid). It arises from the front of the outer third of the collar bone, the acromion and the spine of the shoulder blade. It attaches to deltoid tuberosity on the arm bone (humerus). It is supplied by the axillary nerve which carries the C5 and C6 spinal nerve root fibers.

The anterior deltoid brings the arm up and forward (flexion), the middle deltoid moves the arm away from the trunk (abduction) and the posterior deltoid brings the arm backward (extension). It is a powerful muscle in lifting type activities and also works constantly when the arm is outstretched to the front as in writing, typing, driving etc..

These forward motions of the arm known as shoulder flexion is performed by the contraction of many muscles which are large and powerful such as the pectoralis major, long head of the biceps, coracobrachialis and the anterior deltoid. To stabilize the flexion movement, the muscles that bring the arm backward (shoulder extension) have to undergo lengthening contraction. Shoulder extension is performed by three major muscles, mainly the latissimus dorsi, teres major and the posterior deltoid.

Pain, spasm and weakness of the poster deltoid is thus very common especially since C5 and C6 nerve root involvement is also very common. When the deltoid does not function properly, lifting type movements are performed by shrugging the shoulder, an action of the upper trapezius comes into play by . Since trapezius is not strong enough to perform lifting activities, the trapezius muscle goes into spasm and aggravating the neck and shoulder pain.

Therefore pain in the deltoid region cannot be localized to treating only the deltoid muscle. Selective activation using eToims Twitch Relief method must include all muscles involved in lengthening contraction supplied by the C5-C7 nerve roots and the entire length of the paraspinal muscles from the neck to the base of the spine.

www.stopmusclepain.com

Jennifer Chu, M.D. emeritus professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, pioneered eToims Twitch Relief Method that utilizes surface electrical stimulation to locate motor points (trigger points). The motor points are then stimulated to induce strong local muscle contractions, termed twitches. This results in reduced muscle pain and discomfort in the areas that were stimulated. The involved pain/discomfort-relieving mechanism is thought to include local muscle exercise and stretch effects. eToims Soft Tissue Comfort Center® specializes in diagnosis and treatment which ends muscle discomfort and pain. http://www.stopmusclepain.com

Get Rid Of Shoulder Pain - TRAIN

2008-03-01T04:17:00.000-08:00

Rotator Cuff pain is pretty common if your train on a consistent basis. If you are changing out your workout periododically then your training your shoulders twice a week. Advanced training suggests that you use different excercises for each shoulder work out. Some of the staple movements are the Shoulder Press either seated or standing either free weight or machine. Front raises - seated or standing, Lateral raises - seated or standing, Standing close grip front raises, Bent over lateral raises - seated or standing. The there are weighted shoulder shrugs with free weight or machine.

The shoulder is compromised of three muscles, front, side and rear. I see athletes in the gym on a daily basis training shoulders the wrong way. Understand that the shoulder muscles are small muscles and while they do respond to resistance training, they respond the most to basic movement training. What do I mean by that? I mean that the most basic movement with good proper resistance is the key to getting them to respond.

You can easily over train your shoulders buy first loading up with too much weight or un-natural movements. The biggest mistake training mistake I see in the gym in training shoulders is rotating the shoulder in a circular motion from front to back. Even though the shoulder can move in that way, when you add resistance to that movement, you put strain on the rotator cuff. You strain the ligaments and cause them to wear done causing pain in the shoulder. You may not notice it at first but consistant training in this manner will lead to injury in the ligaments, bone and/or muscle. Injuries to the shoulder could lead to injections of cortizon or even surgery. In any event your should training is set back along with your hard work to that point.

Bottom line is to stick to basic movements when training your shoulders. Up and Down, Up and Down in a strait line with any of the excercises. Keep you movements slow and controlled, using proper form. Dont forget to keep your thumbs out of it meaning all fingers should be on one side of the bar and palm on the other side.

Once you start to feel the slighest pain in your shoulder, STOP training them and layoff training for a time till they start to feel better, easing your way back to training them being very careful, sticking to basic movements and evaluating any pain you start to feel. Below is a link to getting rid of pain in your shoulders without having to get injections or having to have surgery. Get it read it and be well.

Shoulder Pain - Why Does My Shoulder Hurt So Much?

2008-03-01T04:16:00.000-08:00

Why does my shoulder always hurt? When will it ever get better? Do I need surgery? These are some of the questions you may be asking yourself; Shoulder injuries are in fact very common. This is because there are numerous underlying causes for a shoulder injury. I hope to answer some of your questions about shoulder and teach you something that could help ease your pain.

The shoulder girdle consists of three joints: the glenohumeral joint, the acromioclavicular joint and the sternoclavicular joint. These joints move together in an intricate pattern that can easily be disrupted. Alterations in the precision of movement can lead to microtrauma, and if allowed to continue, macrotrauma in the shoulder.

There are many factors that can contribute to shoulder pain. Often, there is no obvious event or cause of the problem. However, the factors discussed in this article can also contribute to an overuse or a traumatic injury. Your physical therapist can work with your physician to determine what factors may be causing or contributing to your pain. This goes beyond what can be seen in an x-ray or an MRI. There are usually many factors that contribute to shoulder pain that must be addressed to make sure that the pain will not only go away, but that it will not come back. Each patient is assessed and given an individual plan of care based on their pathology, weaknesses and goals.

Altered alignment of the shoulders, scapula and/or spine can lead to shoulder pain. Your physical therapist can look for asymmetries that may contribute to abnormal lengthening/shortening of musculature or joint compression. Many factors can contribute to this aspect of your problem including sleeping position, ergonomic set-up at work/home, posture, exercise habits, stress and lifting mechanics. These factors must be addressed for optimal care.

The scapula could be the cause of shoulder pain. Even if the alignment is correct, if the scapula lacks stability, the patient will develop asymmetries and abnormal movement patterns contributing to pain. Sometimes, the pattern of muscle recruitment can lead to inefficient movements of the shoulder. Using muscles for functions for which they were not designed can lead to overuse and pain. Your physical therapist can help determine which muscles are weak and which muscles are being overused. By learning to strengthen your weak muscles are relax your overused muscles, alignment and efficiency will improve.

Possible Treatments for Shoulder Pain:
· Strengthening weak shoulder/scapular muscles
· Working on postural endurance
· Manual techniques including joint mobilization to decrease stiffness and pain, soft tissue mobilization to improve flexibility and decrease pain
· Manual resistance techniques to improve muscle activation for functional movements
· Stretching shortened neck/shoulder/scapular muscles
· Body mechanics training for activities of daily living and lifting techniques
· Ergonomic recommendations for work and home
· Use of biofeedback or electric stimulation to improve muscle recruitment
· Use of modalities (ice, heat, laser light therapy, electric stimulation, TENS, interferential stimulation, or ultrasound) for pain control
· Taping techniques to inhibit overused muscles and facilitate weak muscles

Although there are many great ways to treat your shoulder pain, there are just as many improper ways to treat yourself. Based on what you have learned you may be able to make some lifestyle changes that could help ease your pain, however, it is best to consult a physician or physical therapist to discover all of the causes of your pain.

Amy Calhoun PT, DPT, NSCA-CPT, CSCS, is an expert on shoulder pain. Her treatment of Los Angeles Physical Therapy patients and expertise in manual orthopedic care through a post-professional residency at Kaiser Permanente has given her skill in successfully treating shoulder pain.

Nighttime Shoulder Pain - What Millions Don't Know

2008-02-29T03:30:00.000-08:00

Nighttime shoulder pain is a frequent issue resulting from rotator cuff tendonitis. Nighttime shoulder pain occurs fairly early on in the process. This pain also causes the patient to frequently experience disturbed sleep. For the observer, nighttime shoulder pain is interesting in that during the night the body typically restores itself and does its own healing; however, when the body is suffering from rotator cuff problems during this process, there is actually more damage being done to the superspinatus tendon.

Chronic pain is alleviated to become nighttime shoulder pain because the vertical, active, daytime body leaves its arm to act as a traction upon the shoulder that opens up space and allows blood to flow freely to the tendons. At night, the body is horizontal and so gravity is lost as a traction force, causing the pain to return.

Nighttime shoulder pain is caused by the top of the arm pinching the superspinatus tendon, and therefore, impairing blood flow and healing. This relative starvation of oxygen and blood to the superspinatus causes inflammation and this results in nighttime shoulder pain.

This is a problem for many reasons, primarily it sets up a rather vicious cycle as people tend to sleep horizontally. Typically if someone sleeps with their arm away from their head, that can make matters worse as the greater tuberosity of the upper part of the humerous will further impinge the superspinatus against the coracoacromial ligament.

Again, the nighttime shoulder pain is quite common with rotator cuff tendonitis and if this symptom is present, certainly the patient needs a medical assessment of the shoulder pain.

Michael Carroll, MD is a board certified family physician with a special interest in sports medicine. He is the founding partner of Creekside Clinic, LLC, a progressive primary care center in Traverse City, Michigan and a member of both the American College of Sports Medicine, and the American Academy of Family Physicians. He also holds special interest in shoulder pain and rotator cuff injuries, specifically with regard to cutting-edge treatments

Ask a Dentist About Your Neck and Shoulder Pain

2008-02-27T03:31:00.001-08:00

If your physician can’t pinpoint the cause of your neck and shoulder pain, perhaps the solution is in the hands of your dentist. It is reported that the majority of North Americans put up with headaches, migraines, jaw pain, neck and shoulder pain as a result of jaw joint dysfunction, or a bad bite. Physicians therefore may not have the answers, but a neuromuscular dentist most likely will. Here’s why, according LVI Global, the world-renowned institute for advanced dental studies:

A "bad bite" (malocclusion) may in turn change the jaw-to-skull relationship causing the jaw to twist into a strained position. Involved this the muscles of biting, chewing, talking, head posture and breathing are the bones of the neck. If the shoulder, back and neck muscles are forced to compensate for the tight, sore and contracted muscles of the jaw, it will cause the shoulder pain you may have been experiencing. Neuromuscular dentists can relieve the strain on the jaw and surrounding muscles by correcting the bite.

Neuromuscular dentistry not only benefits sore muscles, but also can help to relieve migraines and headaches brought on by TMJ/TMD.

For more information regarding temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and related disorders, please visit LVI at http://www.leadingdentists.com

To learn more about neuromuscular dentistry, log-on to: http://www.leadingdentists.com

Neck And Shoulder Pain – A Punishment For Neglecting Office Workplace Ergonomics And Desk Exercises?

2008-02-27T03:30:00.000-08:00

Many people, even school children, suffer neck and shoulder pain during their life. Almost everyone becomes limited in their ability to turn their head and lift their arms up with the progression of years. Often we notice the neck and shoulder injury when we get up from our work station, our kitchen table, our piano, or any other nonviolent but repetitive activity we engage in. Repetitive Strain Injury takes a huge toll on the quality of our lives, even if we don’t know it. Neck and shoulder pain should not be regarded as part of a package deal which comes with our computers. There are ways to protect ourselves against it and ways to relieve ourselves from it.

What do we often do when we discover our neck and shoulders are stiff? We turn our head from side to side, up and down again and again, we frantically roll our shoulders back and forth, hoping to "untie the knots", to free ourselves from the pain – in vain. Instead, while trying to relieve the strain and pain we often injure ourselves even further – making things worse. Then, trying to avoid painful movements in one area, we often strain other areas.

Most neck and shoulder pain is caused by poor posture and poor movement habits formed by faulty learning, usually beginning in childhood. When the movement in our back, neck and shoulders is disorganized, some of the forces generated by our muscles create friction that, over time, destroys body tissue and leads to injury and pain. Even when neck and shoulder pain is the result of accidents or illness, unfortunately, when we try to protect ourselves from the pain, we create new bad movement habits that cause us even more pain and could lead to chronic pain. No matter the cause of the pain, the speed at which pain can be resolved goes right back to movement habits learned in childhood and adulthood, and to our ability to learn new patterns of movement, of thinking, and of awareness.

Rather than insisting on moving the already strained and painful muscles, we need to look for ways to bypass the injured area. This way we can achieve what we set out to do and allow the injured part of our body to reorganize itself and heal.

Since it is the brain that organizes movement, effective techniques for shoulder and neck exercises should be developed to provide your brain with the information and experiences it needs in order to form new, pain-free patterns and solutions. Rather than create friction where it hurts, we need to look for Methods that guide us through safe, gentle and easy ways to by-pass those painful areas. With new information from the body, mind, and the new awareness, the neck and shoulder pain should subside - often in only a few short sessions.

There are various methods that attempt to approach pain and strain in such a way - some more widely known than others. There is Yoga, Pilatis and the Feldenkrais Method. The first two are extremely well known. The last one and least known of the three, solves targeted complaints using scientifically proven bypasses that are of particular interest and efficacy for shoulder and neck pain.

Daniel was a first-chair violin player in one of the world's great orchestras. When he came to see Ms. Anat Baniel (a former student and assistant of Dr. Feldenkrais), he was unable to play for nine months because of severe neck, shoulder and wrist pain. None of the traditional therapies helped. He was terrified that his career as a musician was over. Like most people, he had no idea what he was doing wrong and how the ways he was moving were causing him to injure himself. Ms Baniel observed that various parts of Daniel's body: his lower back, his upper spine and the powerful muscles in his pelvis were not moving at all when Daniel was using his neck, shoulders, arms and hands to play. Ms. Baniel began by guiding Daniel through very gentle movements in those dormant areas that were new to him and felt easy and safe to do. These movements were waking up his brain to new possibilities. Daniel quickly learned to move in better ways that gave him complete relief from neck and shoulder pain, as well as wrist pain. Two months after Daniel began training he was back to playing.

This cutting edge approach is based in the understanding of how the brain forms patterns of posture and movement – good ones and bad ones. It looks at all aspects of the person: body, mind, emotion and spirit and their relationship to pain. It addresses an “invisible” element that is of the utmost importance in our ability to recover from neck and shoulder pain and prevent future pain: the QUALITY with which we move.

Thousands of computer users suffer from neck and shoulder pain as a result of poor office workplace ergonomics and repetitive strain injury. To assist those that need neck and shoulder pain relief at their work-stations Desk-Trainer (www.desk-trainer.com) offers preset series of 5 minute Anat Baniel Method based on the work of Dr. Feldenkrais desk exercises. The site also offers subscribers training series for fitness, desk exercises and office stretches for protection against repetitive strain injury as well as office workplace ergonomic guidance for organizing the work station.

Eran Baniel brings into Desk-Trainer Ltd. 25 year of experience as Theatre writer & director, head of Festivals and companies, CEO of a lighting design company and until recently CEO of a Medical Device Company.

Pain Relief From Neck and Shoulder Pain - My Top 5 Favorite Ways

2008-02-26T04:48:00.001-08:00

When you are experiencing neck and shoulder pain at your computer, there are simple actions you can take to help you feel better.

It is very important to understand how your body reacts with the design of your computer work area. Of equal concern is choosing products to help you rather than create additional pain. It can be just as simple as adjusting or rearranging your equipment and furniture.

Monitor Height Placement

If you bend your neck back to see the monitor, it is too high. If you bend your neck down, your monitor is too low.

Let your head rest naturally and it will tilt slightly forward. You have left the office too many times with sore muscles!

When looking straight ahead, your line of sight is the imaginary horizontal line from your eyes to the screen. Your eyes naturally gaze down 15 – 20 degrees below your line of sight. Adjust the height to easily view the information on the screen where your eyes naturally gaze.

Center Keyboard with Monitor

If your keyboard is placed directly in front of your body and your monitor is situated to the right or left you will be forced to twist your neck to view the screen. Ouch! This twist will tense the muscles in your neck.

The longer you work with your muscles tensed the higher risk of developing neck and shoulder pain.

Adjust Your Chair Armrest Height

How often do you feel as if your neck is almost touching your shoulder? Too often, right!

Let’s not make it easy to tense your shoulders. If your armrests are too high, you will be raising (and tensing!) your shoulders up and creating pain.

Due to the tendency to lean to the side with armrests too low you may also create pain in the elbows and ulnar nerve. The ulnar nerve is the one you feel all the way down into your pinkie finger when hitting your elbow. Watch this one!

Adjust your armrests so that your shoulders are completely relaxed and elbows rest comfortably on armrests.

Eliminate Your Chair Armrests Altogether

Do your armrests prevent you from getting close to your keyboard because they hit the edge of your desk? This is a source of mental stress many of us have experienced.

You will also create tense neck and shoulder muscles due to the straight arm reach to the keyboard and mouse.

So in this case, remove the armrests.

Move Mouse Closer To Your Body

Moving and clicking your mouse frequently when it is too far away can create shoulder pain - use a shorter footprint, ergonomic keyboard without the right hand numeric keypad or a mouse that is placed at the center of the body.

You may also try a keyboard with the numeric keypad on the left, your keyboard and monitor will be balanced more easily.

As always, REST, REST and MORE REST every 10 minutes for 10 seconds and every hour for five (5) minutes.

Stand up and stretch often as this will relax your mind and body, improve circulation and create more productivity.

Go Live in Comfort!

Wendy Young is a Certified Ergonomic Expert and founder of http://www.ergopro.com has helped thousands of people reduce pain from their computer work since 1991. She eBook helps you discover how to get out of pain at http://www.GetInsideYourComfortZone.com

Shoulder Pain: Rotator Cuff Injuries

2008-02-20T02:16:00.002-08:00

The rotator cuff muscles hold the head of the long bone of your upper arm tightly in the socket of your shoulder. Sports that require moving the arm over the head repeatedly can cause tearing and swelling of the tendons of these muscles. Baseball pitchers, swimmers, weight lifters and tennis players often suffer this injury. Chronic irritation can cause pain, swelling and tearing of the rotator cuff. If you continue to exercise in spite of the pain, you will tear the tendons from their attachments.

Initially, pain occurs only when you hold your arm over your head and bring it down or forward forcibly. Later, it will hurt when the arm is moved forward for any reason, such as to shake hands. Usually, it hurts when you push things away and does not hurt when you pull objects toward you. A torn rotator cuff will cause tenderness over the tendons, especially when the elbow is raised above the shoulder. It will hurt when you pull your arm across your chest, and you will have difficulty raising your elbow over your shoulder. An arthrogram is often not sensitive enough to diagnose a partial tear of the rotator cuff but can show a complete tear.

The treatment is to avoid any motion that hurts and strengthen the uninjured shoulder muscles. Do weight-lifting exercises that bring the weights toward the body and do not hurt, such as upright rows and downward "lat pulls". You may need surgery if the rotator cuff tendons are torn completely, or if the tendons do not heal within one year.

Dr. Gabe Mirkin has been a radio talk show host for 25 years and practicing physician for more than 40 years; he is board certified in four specialties, including sports medicine. Read or listen to hundreds of his fitness and health reports at http://www.DrMirkin.com

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For other common injuries see my articles on * Elbow Pain: "Tennis Elbow" * A Pain in the Butt: Piriformis Syndrome * Heel Pain: Plantar Fasciitis * Ankle Pain: Achilles Tendinitis * Shin Splints * Stress Fractures

The Cause of Shoulder Pain - Frozen Shoulder and Shoulder Pain

2008-02-20T02:16:00.001-08:00

Frozen shoulder is a common cause of shoulder pain. But is it related to cold weather or to cold exposure? Could the cause of your shoulder pain really relate to the outer temperature of your shoulder joint?

Frozen shoulder is also known as adhesive capsulitis and the two terms are used almost interchangeably. The use of the word adhesive relates to the fact that the joint surfaces inside the painful shoulder become sticky because of inflammation in the joint.

Doctor's first recognized adhesive capsulitis in the late 1800's when they realized that it was a different condition from arthritis of the shoulder. Frozen shoulder is not a form of arthritis and it does not develop into arthritis – this is worth remembering because many patients do worry that their shoulder pain will lead on to arthritis.

The shoulder pain from frozen shoulder can start quite quickly after an injury or it may sometimes develop more gradually without any obvious trigger. But where does the word frozen fit into the shoulder pain picture?

A frozen shoulder can cause severe shoulder pain and may produce pain that spreads down the arm from the shoulder towards the elbow or the wrist. Women with frozen shoulder find it very difficult to unfasten their bra because they cannot get their hand around behind their back. Men can’t reach the back pocket of their trousers because their range of shoulder movement is limited.

One of the first textbooks to devote attention to adhesive capsulitis was published in the 1930's and it only devoted a few pages to the subject of frozen shoulder. The author said that frozen shoulder pain was common, but little was known about the cause or the problem inside the joint. Things have changed a lot in medicine since 1930 but doctor's still don't have a clear answer to the question of what triggers the process that leads to a frozen shoulder.

About twenty years after this textbook was written a surgeon tried to perform surgical operations on the shoulders of patients who were suffering from frozen shoulder pain. During his attempts he found that the gristly capsule around the joint was stuck to the bone surface. He had to peel it away like a Band-Aid or elastoplasts strip. Because of this he coined the name Adhesive Capsulitis. The terms frozen shoulder and adhesive capsulitis have been used interchangeably ever since.

So why does a frozen shoulder get stiff? Will exposure to cold nighttime air bring on the stiffness and the shoulder pain?

Inflammation anywhere in the body causes stickiness. The cells that control the inflammation process trigger a reaction in the tissues of the body and tend to cause adjacent bits to stick to each other - not usually on a permanent basis but certainly for some weeks or months.

Now - a capsule of gristle surrounds the shoulder joint and the capsule has a little flap or bag that hangs down into the armpit. If this little bag fills up with sticky fluid then the sides of it will stick together - making it very difficult to lift your arm above your head.

If the front of the capsule sticks itself to the bone of the upper arm then you'll find it nearly impossible to rotate your arm properly - especially if you are trying to reach round into your back pocket, or to fasten your bra if you're a woman.

Add some general sticking of the area around the shoulder muscles and tendons and you can surely now see why the shoulder seems to freeze up and stiffen. It's quite literally stuck with a kind of natural glue! Adhesive Capsulitis indeed.

The end result of the frozen shoulder process is that the capsule around the joint shrinks or contracts and stays tight and stiff for many, many months before it gradually recovers.

So – does cold exposure really leave you with a sticky frozen shoulder? No, it doesn’t but there’s a lot still to be discovered about this unusual condition. If you have it then don’t panic – the pain will eventually resolve. In the meantime you can read more about frozen shoulder pain and frozen shoulder treatments on my website, where you’ll also find useful information about other joint and muscle pain conditions.

Dr Cameron has also created an electronic book on the subject of frozen shoulder. You can explore it and download a copy on his website.

Dr Gordon Cameron is a specialist in joint pain based in Edinburgh, Scotland. He is an expert in joint pain, lower back pain and in whiplash injury

Amazing Shoulder Pain Reversing Secrets!

2008-02-13T23:04:00.000-08:00

Whether you’re a weekend athlete, or a gardener that overdid it, or a person with arthritis, there’s hope for you. According to Dr. Nathan Wei, Clinical Director of the Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of Maryland, “Shoulder problems are one of the most common afflictions of modern times. Fortunately, there are many ways of helping people feel better.”

The shoulder is the largest, most complex, and most mobile joint in the body

Four muscles and their tendons (ropes attached to the top of the humerus), collectively known as the rotator cuff allow the shoulder to move as it does. The rotator cuff also plays a role in stabilizing the arm bone to the shoulder blade.

Shoulder pain doesn’t always come from the shoulder!

Examples include pain referred from arthritis of the neck, diseases of the chest such as pneumonia and diseases of the abdomen like gall bladder problems can cause pain to be referred to the shoulder. Even ectopic pregnancies have caused shoulder pain!!! Finally, heart conditions can cause referred pain to the shoulder, particularly on the left side. A specialist’s physical exam is important. Dr. Wei relates this story. “I saw a patient who had shoulder pain. The pupil of the eye on the same side of the shoulder was enlarged. That set off alarm bells so I got a chest x-ray. He tuned out to have a lung cancer. This combination is called Horner’s syndrome.”

Most causes of true shoulder pain fall into 3 categories

• tendonitis/bursitis- With repetitive motion, the bursae (small fluid-filled sacs) surrounding the shoulder joint can become inflamed. This condition is called bursitis.

• injury/instability- Keeping your arms extended above your head; chronic compression , ie. forcing the shoulder into its socket; muscle imbalance- if one of the muscles is extra weak, that can cause the rotator cuff to function poorly.

• arthritis- Usually a function of aging.

Patient tips:

• Try to limit the number of overhead reaches.

• If you’re wheelchair-bound, tuck your arms a bit closer to your body as you push.

• Avoid repetitive motion.

• Work on rotator cuff strengthening. Range-of-motion exercises are important!

• Use correct posture!

One tip that might help if you have chronic shoulder pain and have a “frozen shoulder” is to use a broomstick for stretching and range-of-motion exercises.

Oral anti-inflammatory medicines are sometimes, but not always, helpful. Patients may require a steroid injection. For people who don’t respond to medicines, injections, and physical therapy, another option is surgery. Any type of surgery should be done by a skilled shoulder surgeon. “The shoulder is the most complex joint so make sure whoever works on your shoulder is an expert with shoulders,” advises Dr. Wei.

Dr. Wei (pronounced “way”) is a board-certified rheumatologist and Clinical Director of the nationally respected Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of Maryland. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and has served as a consultant to the Arthritis Branch of the National Institutes of Health. He is a Fellow of the American College of Rheumatology and the American College of Physicians. For more information on arthritis and related conditions, go to: Arthritis Treatment

Shoulder Pain - Pain Between The Shoulder Blades - Role Of Rhomboid Major And Minor

2008-02-12T22:22:00.000-08:00

Pain and spasm of these muscles give rise to shoulder pain and pain between the shoulder blades. Rhomboid major and minor lie between the shoulder blades and the shoulder pain and pain between the shoulder blades is a combination of tightness and spasm in the middle and lower trapezius muscles in adition to pain from the rhomboid muscles.

The rhomboid minor arises higher from the C7 to T2 levels. The rhomboid major muscle arises from the middle back vertebrae between T2 to T5 levels. They insert along the inner border of the shoulder blade.

These muscles act to bring the shoulder blades together toward the midline. They are also responsible for keeping the shoulder blade flat against the chest wall. They can rotate the shoulder blade in a clockwise direction.

The dorsal scapula nerve supplies them and provides the C5 nerve root fibers. The rhomboid muscles are the only muscles of the body that has only a single nerve root supply. It is difficult to isolate these muscles to contract alone since they are covered by the trapezius muscle. Therefore they are treated in conjunction with the trapezius muscles.

Shoulder pain: The role of teres major as a helper to latissimus dorsi Shoulder pain can occur with pain and spasm in the teres major. This is one of the three muscles that perform shoulder extension, the other two being deltoid and latissimus dorsi muscles. It is therefore exposed to frequent lengthening contractions and prone to injury giving rise to shoulder pain.

Teres major arises from the back of the lower angle of the shoulder blade bone and attaches to the inner lip of the groove on the arm bone along which the tendon of the biceps muscle passes through. This groove is called the bicipital groove and on the outer aspect of this groove is attachment of the pectoralis major muscle. The latissimus dorsi attaches to the floor of the groove.

This muscle is supplied by the subscapular nerve which carries the fibers of the C5 and C6 nerve roots. The function of teres major is exactly similar to that of latissimus dorsi. It brings the arm close to the chest, pulls it backwards and also rolls it inward as in scratching your back or placing your hand into your hip pocket.

Pain in this muscle is felt along the outer edge of the shoulder blade bone and this area is often tender even in those without pain. This muscle is treated together with latissimus dorsi.

www.stopmusclepain.com

Jennifer Chu, M.D. emeritus professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, pioneered eToims Twitch Relief Method that utilizes surface electrical stimulation to locate motor points (trigger points). The motor points are then stimulated to induce strong local muscle contractions, termed twitches. This results in reduced muscle pain and discomfort in the areas that were stimulated. The involved pain/discomfort-relieving mechanism is thought to include local muscle exercise and stretch effects. eToims Soft Tissue Comfort Center? specializes in diagnosis and treatment which ends muscle discomfort and pain. http://www.stopmusclepain.com

Pain - Shoulder Pain Causes, Tests, And Treatments

2008-02-12T21:55:00.000-08:00

Painful shoulder conditions that limit movement are common, and are caused by problems with the shoulder joint and its surrounding structures. Your shoulder is more prone to injuries than other joints because of its wide range of movement.

About 13.7 million people went to the doctor's office in 2003 for a shoulder problem, including 3.7 million visits for shoulder and upper arm sprains and strains. (Source: National Center for Health Statistics; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2003 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey.)

One of the best ways to avoid injury is to keep physically fit, with a balanced program of aerobic exercise, stretching and strengthening exercises for your whole body. There is a range of exercise programs available from local fitness centers, to online services and even downloads for your MP3 or iPod players.

Here are some of the common causes of shoulder pain.

There are several reasons that cause pain and limit movement of your shoulder joint, including:

1. Rotator cuff disorders

Inflammation can be caused by general wear and tear that occurs with age, activities that require constant or repetitive shoulder motion (especially above shoulder level), heavy lifting, trauma, or poor posture. Serious injuries and untreated inflammation of the tendons can cause the rotator cuff to tear.

The pain associated with rotator cuff problems is normally felt at the front or on the outside of your shoulder, particularly when you raise your arm or lift something above your head. You may also notice the pain more when lying in bed. Severe injuries can cause weakness of the shoulder muscles, restricted shoulder movement and continuous pain.

2. Rotator cuff tears

It is usually the rotator cuff tendons (the thick bands of tissue that connect the muscles to the bones) that tear, but sometimes the tear occurs in the muscle. Severe injuries can cause several of the tendons and muscles to tear. There are special movement tests that your doctor can use to help determine which of the muscles or tendons has been torn.

3. Frozen shoulder

Frozen shoulder, is characterized by progressive pain and stiffness in the shoulder. The pain is felt deep in the shoulder joint and may become worse at night due to inactivity.

The exact cause of this condition is not known, but it sometimes develops following other shoulder injuries. Resting a painful, injured shoulder for too long can cause the shoulder muscles and connective structures to stiffen up, so when a shoulder injury occurs make an effort to keep it loose without putting to much strain on it.

Frozen shoulder can develop spontaneously, particularly if you have thyroid problems or diabetes seem to be at increased risk. Most people with frozen shoulder tend to improve within 2 years, with or without treatment. In the interim, however it can be quite painful.

4. Dislocated shoulder and shoulder instability

A dislocated shoulder is visibly deformed or out of place, and there may be swelling or bruising around the joint. Your shoulder movement will be severely restricted. Your Doctor can usually put the shoulder bone back into place using gentle maneuvers.

If you suffer a dislocation, keep in mind that the shoulder joint sometimes becomes unstable and susceptible to repeated dislocations. This causes pain and unsteadiness when you raise your arm or move it away from your body. Your shoulder may feel as if it is slipping out of place when you lift your arm over your head.

5. Arthritis

Arthritis causes progressive joint pain, tenderness, swelling and stiffness. Both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis will affect the shoulder joint.

Sometimes shoulder pain can be due to problems in your neck or a mixture of several different problems. A visit to your doctor is almost always necessary when it comes to a shoulder problem because in rare instances, shoulder pain may be caused by infection, problems with the nerves, or a tumor located somewhere else in your body.

What tests are needed to determine the cause of your shoulder pain?

As with any medical issue, a shoulder problem is generally diagnosed using a three-part process:

? Medical History ? You tell your doctor about any injury or other condition that might be causing the pain.
? Physical Examination ? Your doctor examines you by feeling for injury and to discover the limits of movement, location of pain, and extent of joint instability.
? Tests ? Your doctor may order one or more of the tests for you listed below to make a specific diagnosis.

Your doctor will determine the cause of your pain based on your symptoms and a physical examination. Where the pain is felt, both at rest and when moving the shoulder, is a clue to the cause of the shoulder pain. Your doctor will also test your shoulder strength and the range of movement in your shoulder joint.

You may need an X-ray, or other scans, such as an ultrasound scan or MRI. Sometimes, an arthroscopy is needed. In this test, your doctor can look inside the shoulder joint using a small telescopic instrument that has a camera on the end. This is not as painful as it sounds.

How your shoulder pain will be treated

In addition to relieving pain, treatment is aimed at restoring mobility in your shoulder joint. The choice of treatment depends on the extent of your shoulder problem and the level of pain.

Pain relievers such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are often used as an initial treatment for shoulder pain. Ibuprofen is the best and Aspirin should be avoided.

Another simple way of easing shoulder pain is by applying a cold pack to your shoulder for 10 minutes at a time three or four times a day. Cold packs will reduce inflammation, and are most helpful when applied for the first few days following a shoulder injury. After that, you can switch to using a heat pack; intermittent applications of heat can help relax the shoulder muscles.

A heat pad used at night when sleeping will keep the shoulder from stiffing up.

You should rest your shoulder for a couple of days after an injury, and if you have dislocated your shoulder, you may need to rest your arm in a sling or splint for several weeks after the joint has been manipulated back into place.

However, with most shoulder problems it isn?t a good idea to rest for too long. While you should avoid strenuous activities and lifting heavy objects, you should still move your shoulder to help make sure that you regain full use of the joint. By returning to your normal activities as soon as possible (within the limits of disability and pain), you can help prevent the shoulder joint from stiffening up.

Physiotherapy can help treat you shoulder pain.

Physiotherapy can help improve your shoulder strength and flexibility as well as relieve the pain associated with most shoulder problems. Physiotherapists use a variety of different therapies, including massage, ultrasound therapy, laser therapy and electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) ? a therapy that uses mild electrical currents to treat pain.

Taping the shoulder joint can also help stabilize it and reduce pain during activities. Your doctor will refer you to a good Physiotherapist is he feels the extent of your injury warrants Physiotherapy.

Physiotherapists can also teach you special rehabilitation exercises to stretch and strengthen the rotator cuff muscles of the shoulder. Exercises that improve your shoulder?s range of movement help reduce the pain and stiffness that occurs after a period of immobility. Range of motion exercises may be followed by resistance exercises and weight training to strengthen the muscles.

Steroid injections can be effective but proceed with caution.

Depending on the cause of your shoulder problem, corticosteroid injections may be given to relieve the pain in the short term. The corticosteroid, which is often mixed with a local anesthetic, reduces inflammation and allows you to move the shoulder more comfortably. Make sure you understand what is involved in this kind of treatment to include the long term effect on your body. The jury is still out on the impact of this type of treatment.

Surgery may be necessary to treat your shoulder problem.

Because most people improve with the above treatments, only about 10 per cent of people with shoulder problems will need to be treated with surgery. People with shoulder instability or rotator cuff problems that are not responding to less invasive treatments may benefit from an operation, and shoulder joint replacement may be considered for people with degenerative arthritis.

There are also some conditions that need to be treated initially with an operation, including some rotator cuff tears and dislocated shoulders that cannot be reduced (put back in) with simple manual maneuvers. Sometimes frozen shoulder is treated with what?s known as manipulation under anesthesia. In this therapy, your shoulder is gently moved while you are under a general anesthetic to help improve its range of motion and of course avoid the treatment pain.

So make sure you do not self-diagnosis your shoulder problem, see your doctor. Keep in mind that it isn?t a good idea to rest it for too long or it will stiffen up. Use Cold and Heat intermittingly to speed up the healing process. Avoid strenuous activities and lifting heavy objects, but remember to move your shoulder to help make sure that you regain full use of the joint by returning to your normal activities as soon as possible and you will regain full use of your shoulder in a reasonable period of time.

But, if you are still experiencing pain, listen to it, it is a signal trying to tell you something is still wrong with your shoulder.

Ray is Managing Dir. for Daily Health Updates,a breaking health news service for the broadcast industry and also President for The Center for Pain Relief in New York City. Click On: http://www.painreliefforpain.com, The Centre for Pain Relief and also http://www.forshoulderpain.com, Shoulder Pain

Tips For Treating Neck Shoulder And Upper Back Pain

2008-02-11T00:52:00.000-08:00

Neck pain alone is a struggle. If clubbed with shoulder and upper back pain, it is an undeclared war. And various uncertainties related to this pain may continue to haunt you for a long time indeed.

The causes of neck pain are many. It is related to soft tissues of the neck, either growths or tumors affecting the thyroid glands, food pipe of the wind pipe. Injury to the ligaments and muscles can cause neck pain.

One of the common reasons for the neck shoulder and upper back pain is the bad pillow design that you have been using for a long time. You did feel uncomfortable with this pillow, but you ignored the initial warnings.

Have you noticed that even after a full night's sleep, you feel uncomfortable many a times? One of the reasons for this situation could be your pillow, or the too soft or the too hard mattress!

This condition of neck pain, shoulder cramps and back pain can be successfully tackled by the correct, specially designed pillows! These pillows are so designed, that they allow proper shoulder rotation and support the head well!

The treatment to neck, shoulder and upper back pain lies in making the correct diagnosis. What is the immediate and ultimate goal of any type of treatment? It is to prevent weakening of muscles, improve range of motion, relieve pain and restore the normal function. The treatment options are many. The most common and immediate relief seeking treatment is using non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory medicine, soft neck collars, exercises, neck support pillows and topical agents such as Myorax.

Apart from the beneficial effects of some of the therapies like acupressure and acupuncture, proper upper back pain exercising routine is the most acknowledged plan to get rid of all these painful conditions. This is a preventive measure for future problems also and as such exercising needs to be the part of your lifestyle. It will prevent recurrence of upper back pain.

Your day includes strenuous physical and mental activity. You can do the exercises before your physical activity schedule or after it. Such exercises relax the muscle tissue. Your tension is reduced. The suppleness of the spine is increased. When each related part becomes strong and active, pain won't have any takers.

In rare cases, exercises themselves may be the cause of your shoulder and upper back pain. So always take proper lessons from your physiotherapist, for the great benefits!

To read more articles on back pain, back pain medication and back pain relief sources visit http://www.backpaindetails.com/pain/

The author writes articles on different topics. To get more back pain relief articles visit http://www.backpaindetails.com/pain/

Shoulder Pain is Nothing to Shrug At

2008-02-11T00:50:00.000-08:00

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, in 2003, approximately 13.7 million people visited the doctor?s office seeking treatment for shoulder pain.

Causes

Shoulder injuries can be caused by a number of things, among them are a number of sports activities. The excessive overhead motion involved in swimming, tennis, baseball and weightlifting can cause shoulder pain and injury. People involved in everyday activities like washing walls, hanging curtains and gardening can also suffer from shoulder pain due to excessive overhead arm motion.

What are the warning signs of a shoulder injury? If you are experiencing pain in your shoulder, ask yourself these three essential questions:

? Is my shoulder stiff? Can I rotate my arm in all normal positions?

? Does it feel like my shoulder could pop out or slide out of the socket?

? Do I lack the strength in my shoulder to carry out my daily activities?

If you answer ?yes? to any of these questions, you may want to consult an orthopedic surgeon to determine the severity of your shoulder pain.

Most shoulder pain involves the soft tissues, muscles, ligaments and tendons; not bone. Most shoulder problems fall into three major categories:

? Tendonitis/bursitis: A tendon is a cord that connects muscle to bone or other tissue. Tendonitis is a result of the wearing process that takes place over a period of years. Tendonitis is much like the wearing process on the sole of a shoe and it will eventually split from overuse.

? Acute tendonitis follows overuse problems from excessive ball throwing and other sports or work related activities

? Chronic tendonitis results from degenerative disease or repetitive wear and tear due to age

? Rotator cuff injuries are the most common form of tendonitis injuries. The rotator cuff provides shoulder motion and stability

? Bursitis is a condition caused by inflammation and swelling of the bursa. The bursas are fluid-filled sacs located around the joints. The bursas lessen the friction caused by the movement of the shoulder. The joints may stiffen as a result of the bursitis and this is a condition called ?frozen shoulder.? Luckily, ?frozen shoulder? is a condition that resolves itself, given appropriate care.

? Injury/Instability: When the bones in your shoulder slip out of their normal position, this is called instability. The condition can result in dislocation of the joints in the shoulder. Recurring dislocations can cause pain and unsteadiness when lifting your arm or moving it away from your body.

? Arthritis: Shoulder pain can also result from arthritis. There are various types of arthritis, but generally it involves wear and tear changes with the inflammation of the joint. Arthritis may also be related to sports or work injuries.

Treatment

Treating your shoulder pain depends on the cause of the problem, this is why it?s important to understand the cause and symptoms of your shoulder pain. Not all treatments are appropriate for every condition:

? Rest: The first treatment for a shoulder condition is to rest your joints and allow the inflammation to subside. However, be aware that too much rest and lack of movement can cause a ?frozen shoulder.?

? Applying ice and/or heat: Ice packs and heat pads are some of the easiest and most common forms of treatment for shoulder pain.

? Stretching: Properly stretching the muscles and tendons around the shoulder joint can not only ease shoulder pain, but help to prevent further injury.

? Physical Therapy: Physical therapy is an important part of treatment. It can help you to increase your strength, regain mobility, and return you to your level of activity before your shoulder injury.

? Anti-inflammatory medication: Anti-inflammatory pain medication is a common treatment for patients with shoulder pain caused by problems like tendonitis, arthritis and bursitis.

? Cortisone injections: Cortisone is a doctor prescribed medication that treats inflammation. Cortisone injections should be discussed with your doctor to determine if it?s the best treatment for your shoulder pain condition.

Olu Bicoy has become an expert on the subject of relieving pain and solving pain related problems, and currently writes articles for Medgen where you can find more great information and products for pain relief. Olu offers intelligent advice and useful tips regarding natural pain relief.

Treatment Of Shoulder Pain

2008-02-09T00:59:00.000-08:00

Shoulder pain can strike anyone at any time. Whether you?re a javelin-throwing athlete, a weight-lifting gym bunny or a mom picking up a hefty toddler at the wrong angle, no-one is immune from the possibility of straining or damaging this vital, complex area of the body, with its joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles and nerves all capable of succumbing to the stresses placed on them.

There are two basic degrees of shoulder pain ? acute or chronic. Acute shoulder pain has a sudden onset and lasts temporarily, for example when a muscle is strained.

Chronic shoulder pain may come on more gradually but persists for an indefinite amount of time. Acute pain can develop into chronic pain, especially if not treated correctly at the time of onset.

Shoulder pain should never be ignored as early treatment is the best way to avoid prolonged problems, while occasionally pain can indicate a more serious condition.

Some of the more common causes of shoulder pain include:

Tendonitis ? tiny tears in the tendon causes the area to become inflamed, often related to sport activities or work-related strain

Rotator Cuff Shoulder Pain ? can be caused by the natural aging process, this affects the rotator cuff which is the group of muscles and tendons that provide the shoulder with its circular motion

Bursitis ? the bursa are small, slippery sacs which reduce friction between these soft tissue and bone. If the bursa becomes inflamed due to repetitive motion, for example in manual labor or similar routine jobs, bursitis can result.

Arthritis ? most commonly found at the site of an old injury.

Shoulder Pain Treatments

The importance of early diagnosis cannot be stressed enough. The sooner the correct treatment is begun, the sooner the pain can be alleviated and managed, and the chances of further problems are enormously reduced.

The types of shoulder treatments available include surgery, allopathic, and alternative therapies.

Allopathic Shoulder Pain Treatment

Depending on the severity of your pain, and its causes, Pharmaceutical treatments for shoulder pain can be obtained over-the-counter, such as aspirin, or with a doctor?s prescription. Your doctor will be able to recommend the right kind of medication depending on his diagnosis. For example, some conditions do not respond to anti-inflammatories while others respond extremely well. Do not try and guess, ask your medical practitioner.

Remember that many drugs carry the risk of side effects which can be quite severe, such as heart disease, digestive disorders, ulcers and liver damage. This is especially true with long-term use. Make sure you are aware of the risks and discuss alternatives with your doctor if you are unhappy with his proposed medication.

Also keep in mind the risk of addiction with certain long-term medications.

It is important to understand that medicines usually manage pain rather than cure the cause. This is especially true of degenerative conditions.

Physical Therapy

Physical Therapy is often prescribed along with medication to alleviate shoulder pain. A wide variety of treatments from heat therapy to massage are offered by registered physiotherapists, with a wide range of success being reported, from excellent to fair. Physiotherapy is most helpful in treating shoulder pain so as to prevent frozen shoulder, when the patient stops using the shoulder due to pain and then the muscles seize up, compounding the problem.

Alternative Therapies

For those patients who prefer a more natural approach there is a wide range of alternative treatments available for shoulder pain. These methods of treating shoulder pain are generally more conservative than the standard medical approach, and often just as, if not more, effective.

You can choose from Acupuncture, Chiropractic Massage Therapy and Naprapathy. Check that the practitioners are registered and properly qualified. Many doctors now happily refer their patients to alternative professionals themselves.

Shoulder Pain Surgery

If all else fails you may be faced with the option of surgery. This should always be a last resort, as the results are not guaranteed. Surgery offers limited relief for certain conditions. Also, there are some risks to be taken into consideration. Discuss all your options with your surgeon before making the decision to go ahead with this option.

Francois Botha is the developer of Shoulder Institute Cape Town, a website covering shoulder surgery, shoulder problems, shoulder treatments and more.

Neck and Shoulder Pain Relief - 5 More Ways

2008-02-07T22:22:00.001-08:00

It is very important to be aware of how we move, use and take care our bodies. Following are a few ideas that will help you increase your awareness to what you are doing with your body that can create pain.

Reach for Objects in Your Physical Comfort Zone

Frequently I notice people reaching out of their comfort zone. Your comfort zone is the area you can retrieve an item without moving or extending any part of your body. It is the area located in front of and directly to the side of your body.

If you are going to retrieve an item from behind your body, get out of your chair or swivel your chair around. Never reach for something while extending your arms behind your body.

Notice where you have placed often used items such as your telephone, reference books, pens, binders, etc. Are they on your desk or on the credenza behind you? Do you find yourself shifting your body or slightly lifting yourself from your chair to reach these items?

Is your phone causing you to twist your body left or right when dialing numbers? Can you move everything closer towards you? Are you getting the picture?

Stop and think about what would be easier for you throughout the day. Be adventurous! Simple adjustments to your desk will create less angst during the day and you will feel much more productive and a lot more freedom! Not to mention much more comfortable!

Professional and Self Massage

Neck and shoulder tension can be relieved with massage. Since the body works together as a whole treat yourself to a professional full body massage from time to time. In this fast paced computer age massage is more of a necessity than a luxury.

Add a few drops of essential oil to a small bottle of sesame oil and then apply to the area you are going to massage. It will make it much easier to massage your muscles. Self massage is easy to do with many of the massage tools on the market.

Neck Stretches

Simple and gentle neck stretches to the left and right will help to ease built up tension and get the oxygen moving again. If your neck feels tight, massage it first and then gently stretch. Stretching works better when the muscles are warm. Do not stretch in a cold drafty room if you have tight muscles.

Rest Your Arms Down by Your Side

Do nothing for about 10 -15 seconds every 10 -15 minutes. Let your shoulders recover several times per hour for seconds rather than a few times a day for several minutes. It will be easier for your shoulders to recover from the intense computer work they have been doing.

Stand Up

Every hour take a break and rest your body. Intense computer work takes it toll on the body. Take a walk. Drink some water. Do a few shoulder shrugs to release tension and interrupt your office neighbors. Who knows? Maybe they need a rest break too!

Pain Relief from Neck and Shoulder Pain My Top 5 Favorite Ways

2008-02-06T21:39:00.001-08:00

When you are experiencing neck and shoulder pain at your computer, there are simple actions you can take to help you feel better.

Monitor Height Placement

If you bend your neck back to see the monitor, it is too high. If you bend your neck down, your monitor is too low.

Let your head rest naturally and it will tilt slightly forward. You have left the office too many times with sore muscles!

When looking straight ahead, your line of sight is the imaginary horizontal line from your eyes to the screen. Your eyes naturally gaze down 15 - 20 degrees below your line of sight. Adjust the height to easily view the information on the screen where your eyes naturally gaze.

Center Keyboard with Monitor

The longer you work with your muscles tensed the higher risk of developing neck and shoulder pain.

Adjust Your Chair Armrest Height

How often do you feel as if your neck is almost touching your shoulder? Too often, right!

Let's not make it easy to tense your shoulders. If your armrests are too high, you will be raising (and tensing!) your shoulders up and creating pain.

Adjust your armrests so that your shoulders are completely relaxed and elbows rest comfortably on armrests.

Eliminate Your Chair Armrests Altogether

Do your armrests prevent you from getting close to your keyboard because they hit the edge of your desk? This is a source of mental stress many of us have experienced.

You will also create tense neck and shoulder muscles due to the straight arm reach to the keyboard and mouse.

So in this case, remove the armrests.

Move Mouse Closer To Your Body

You may also try a keyboard with the numeric keypad on the left, your keyboard and monitor will be balanced more easily.

As always, REST, REST and MORE REST every 10 minutes for 10 seconds and every hour for five (5) minutes.

Stand up and stretch often as this will relax your mind and body, improve circulation and create more productivity.

Go Live in Comfort!

Wendy Young, a Certified Ergonomic Expert and founder of http://www.ergopro.com has helped thousands of people reduce pain from their computer work since 1991. She offers a free newsletter on increasing comfort and reducing pain in the workplace at http://www.ergonomics-safety.com .

How to get rid of neck and shoulder pain

2008-02-05T22:03:00.001-08:00

Question : I HAVE been suffering from pain around my neck, shoulder and lower back. I tried simple stretching movements and avoided sleeping on pillows, yet this pain never goes away.

Answer : YOUR head and neck region is vulnerable to many different types of stress. One of the most common causes of neck pain, and sometimes headaches, is bad posture which can cause misalignment of your neck, head, and spine.

Keep your neck in a neutral position whenever possible. In other words, don't bend or hunch your neck forward for long periods. Try not to sit in one position for a long time.

Your sleeping position is another possible source of neck problems. You may want to invest in a new pillow. Feather pillows are generally preferable to foam; they conform easily to the shape of the neck. Pillows that are too high will cause you to sleep with your neck at an angle. A bed that doesn't offer enough back support can also be a source of neck discomfort.

Calcium and magnesium deficiencies may also cause neck stiffness and pain as they can result in spasms of blood vessels. Thus a high calcium and magnesium intake is highly recommended. Food like milk, soymilk, salmon, green leafy vegetables and legumes and a calcium and magnesium supplement should also be incorporated into your diet.

Here are exercises that might help:

* HEAD HALF ROLL

Relax your arms at your sides and gently roll your head from left to right for several times. Feel the stretch in your neck muscles. Relax and repeat five to 10 times.

* SHOULDER ROLL EXERCISE

Relax your arms and gently roll both shoulders in circular motion. Feel the stretch as you move. Repeat five to 10 times

* STANDING TALL

Stand in a normal, relaxed posture, then pretend that a string pulling you straight up from the top of your head. Feel the stretch in your neck and spine. Relax and repeat five to 10 times.

www.medical-explorer.com

Beating Your Neck, Back and Shoulder Pain

2008-02-04T21:35:00.001-08:00

Suffering from neck, back and shoulder pain? If you are, youre in good company. Millions of people wake up every morning and endure every day experiencing pain in their necks, backs and shoulders. While neck, back and shoulder pain used to be thought of as conditions affecting only adults, due to more parents scheduling routine doctors visits for their kids, its becoming increasingly apparent that children and teenagers are also suffering from the symptoms. So if its not age that causes this severe discomfort, what is it? Believe it or not, the culprit may be your sleep habits and the position you sleep in.

Each and everyday, you are putting stress on your spine, which directly impacts the tension in your neck, shoulders and back. Even simple, everyday tasks like sitting at a desk, driving, and bending over can contribute to wear on these sensitive parts of your body. Your sleep time is supposed to be the time of day when these areas of your body are allowed to relax and regenerate. However, if your neck isnt properly supported while youre sleeping, your body doesnt have a chance to recover from the stress it endured throughout the day. Improper neck support while sleeping can cause increasingly severe neck, back and shoulder pain over the years, to a point where it becomes unbearable.

Neck, back and shoulder pain can actually begin a vicious cycle. Youre in pain, so you cant sleep, but you need to sleep (and sleep right), to be able to get rid of the pain. A continuous lack of sleep can even lead to further problems like depression, chronic fatigue, and believe it or not, even weight gain has been linked to a severe lack of proper sleep. Fortunately, scientists and health professionals take the causes of neck, back and shoulder pain seriously, and have consistently worked towards finding methods and remedies that will alleviate the wretched symptoms.

The first step towards eliminating the discomfort of these symptoms is to correct your sleep habits, and the most important part of this step is to get a pillow that properly supports your neck. Try to find one that is made to be tailored to the position you sleep in, as not all pillows are created equal. Memory foam pillows have been increasing in popularity, and rightfully so. Theyve actually been quite beneficial in relieving neck, back and shoulder pain for a number of people who have been enduring it for years. Massage, yoga, and proper exercise are also methods that have been found to reduce pain in these regions of the body. By incorporating small change like these into your lifestyle, you should have no problem overcoming your ailments.

If a quality visco-elastic pillow doesnt solve your neck, back and shoulder pain, you might want to schedule an appointment with your doctor as your pain may be a symptom of a more severe underlying condition. Pain is something that affects your entire being, and remedying it quickly is vitally important to your quality of life.

Dr. Joseph J. Berke, M.D., Ph.D.

Discover how sleeping on The Better Sleep Pillow can change your life.

Visit: http://www.bettersleeppillow.com

Dr. Joseph J. Berke is an author and inventor dedicated to helping people get a better night rest.

articles@bettersleeppillow.com

Rotator Cuff Stretches

2008-02-03T21:54:00.000-08:00

So why would anyone need effective rotator cuff exercise? The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and their tendons that are responsible for the connection of the upper arm and the shoulder blade. The rotator cuff is a reference to four muscles in the shoulder complex. Many people who engage in various sports activities do not do any rotator cuff exercises or any other warm up exercises. While there are many causes of rotator cuff injury, the most common is when the rotator cuff tendons are squeezed between the humerus and the scapula. For those of you that love the science behind this stuff, the four muscles that comprise the rotator cuff are; supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis.

The tendons of the rotator cuff are made of tough fibrous connective tissue similar to connective tissue located elsewhere in the body. The rotator cuff tendons sit on top of the humerus and permit movement in all directions. Combining repetitive use with the aging process and stressful sports is a recipe for significant rotator cuff injury. As people get older, the tendons that comprise the rotator cuff become more prone to injury and degeneration.

Because of the wide range of motion that the shoulder joint has, plus the amount of work that the shoulder has to do doing activities in daily living, the rotator cuff becomes prone to overuse and injury. Trauma, particularly falls are also a common cause of rotator cuff injury. Even a modestly injured rotator cuff can slow or shut down the function of a shoulder.

Some sports, in particular golf, cause high levels of strain on the rotator cuff and commonly result in rotator cuff injury. Rotator cuff injuries impede a golf swing, and if you have ever injured a rotator cuff muscle you know how debilitating an injury it can be. Regular effective rotator cuff exercise will help you to build strength and endurance to the area, and will lessen the risk of getting hurt along the way.

This information invariably indicates to us it is necessary to keep the rotator cuff healthy and strong. To do this there is a great verity of rotator cuff exercises aimed at loosening the area and making it less vulnerable to stress and pain. Varying the type and intensity of your chosen exercise will help reduce some of the common overuse injuries like patellar tendonitis, shin splints and rotator cuff injuries.

These types of fitness stretch exercises are designed to specifically help your back and rotator cuff area. Shoulder rotation exercises rotate the arm internally and externally working the muscles of the rotator cuff. For prevention of rotator cuff tears, it is good practice to find reliable advice from experienced people who can teach you specific and effective rotator cuff exercise.

You can find effective rotator cuff exercise information that will help you get the strength back in your shoulders. Shoulder rotator cuff tear exercises.

How a Professional Juggler Cured His Rotator Cuff Injury

2008-02-01T22:21:00.001-08:00

Let’s start this off with an understatement: Tearing a rotator cuff is a drag!

It is such a common cause of pain and disability in the adult population that it was only a matter of time until it was my turn.

But as a professional juggler, I wasn't ready to put my balls away quite yet.

The rotator cuff is made up of four muscles and their tendons. These combine to form a "cuff" over the upper end of the arm. The rotator cuff helps to lift and rotate the arm and to stabilize the ball of the shoulder within the joint. Which means if you use your arms a lot to, oh, I don’t know – juggle – beware. Overhead actions, repetitive motion, stressful movement – all take their toll on this gentle piece of anatomy.

Risk Factors/Prevention

A rotator cuff tear is most common in active adults who are over 40. It may occur in younger patients following acute trauma or repetitive overhead work or sports activity. Common exceptions to the over-40 rule include:

* Workers who do overhead activities such as painting, stocking shelves or construction

* Athletes such as swimmers, pitchers and tennis players

A cuff tear may also happen with another injury to the shoulder, such as a fracture or dislocation, but this is less common.

Symptoms

Acute pain usually follows trauma such as a lifting injury or a fall on the affected arm. More commonly, the onset is gradual and may be caused by wear and degeneration of the tendon. You may feel pain in the front of your shoulder that radiates down the side of your arm.

At first the pain may be mild and only present with overhead activities such as reaching or lifting. It may be relieved by over-the-counter medication such as aspirin or ibuprofen. Over time the pain may become noticeable at rest or with no activity at all.

I had severe symptoms when lying on my right side at night.

Other symptoms may include stiffness and loss of motion. You may have difficulty using your arm to reach overhead to comb your hair (you’re lucky if you still have hair to comb – wasn't a problem for me) or difficulty placing your arm behind your back to thread your belt. When the tear occurs with an injury, there may be sudden acute pain, a snapping sensation and an immediate weakness of the arm.

Before the Knife

Do your reading! There are some excellent resources available that will help many people with rotator cuff pain. On my site http://www.torn-rotator-cuff.info I have links to articles and books which kept me off the operating table – and I am feeling better than new.

Barry Friedman is a four time World Juggling Champion (stop laughing -- it's a great gig) who spends a lot of time on airplanes where he writes websites.

His site: http://www.torn-rotator-cuff.info has articles, products, and information that can help you stay clear of the operating table, and get your rotator cuff back in shape.

His juggling life can be found here: http://www.raspyni.com

Knowing the Rotator Cuff Symptoms

2008-01-31T22:03:00.001-08:00

The rotator cuff is an amazing part of the body. It is actually the culmination of four muscles and their corresponding tendons that start somewhere in the area of the shoulder blade and extend out to form a covering, or cuff, over the shoulder. Not only does the rotator cuff help the arm to move in particular directions, but it also provides a covering for the shoulder socket and protects it from injury. Sometimes, however, the rotator cuff has problems, and knowing the rotator cuff symptoms when these problems occur can help you to know when to seek the advice of a professional.

Rotator cuff problems are usually brought about by one of two ways. Either the problem is accumulated over time, such as through the repetitive use of the rotator cuff (such as heavy lifting over the head) and the symptoms grow eventually. At first the rotator cuff symptoms are easily treated with over-the-counter pain medications, however over time the pain generally becomes more and more acute and eventually people tend to look to doctors for stronger pain medication. The problems with the rotator cuff can also occur because of a fall or because of some blunt force trauma to the shoulder area. The rotator cuff symptoms that happen in this instance are usually sudden and acute. They may be accompanied by a popping sound, sharp pain, and a sudden weakness in the affected arm.

Most times when a doctor's advice is sought and they would want to treat the rotator cuff problem either with physical therapy, immobilization of the affected arm, or surgery, or perhaps they combination of the three. After some time you may regain partial or full use of the arm again.

Overcome a painful rotator cuff injury and get rid of shoulder pain for life. Download our Special Report at http://www.rotator-cuff-help.info/

Rotator Cuff Exercises - an Online Special Report, Now Available to Download.

Rotator Cuff Treatment for Fast Recovery

2008-01-31T22:02:00.000-08:00

The rotator cuff is made up of a series of tendons and 4 muscles that originate in the shoulder blade area and continue on as a group to form a cuff over the shoulder area. This is a common problem area for many people, especially as the reach middle age or older. It is not uncommon for a rotator cuff tear to occur, either through repetitive stress, such as listing things over the head over and over at work for many years or through injury such as in a fall. When the rotator cuff problems are due to repetitive stress the symptoms seem to develop over time, causing pain that is at first easily controlled through drug store pain medications but over time requires stronger pain pills and at times therapy or even surgery. Rotator cuff injuries caused by injury are usually felt suddenly as pain and a weakness in the arm, however it is not always a rotator cuff tear as it happens sometimes the area is just bruised.

When a person has a rotator cuff problem they should seek the advice of a medical professional to see what the problem really is and what the underlying causes are, whether they are from a tear or from bruising. They will be able to make the determination of what kind of rotator cuff treatment is necessary, either therapy or surgery, or perhaps a combination of both. At times they may treat the rotator cuff by immobilizing it and allowing it to heal, and at other times they may treat it with therapy, mimicking the movements of the rotator cuff with progressive resistance to build strength.

Overcome a painful rotator cuff injury and get rid of shoulder pain for life. Download our Special Report at http://www.rotator-cuff-help.info/

Rotator Cuff Exercises - an Online Special Report, Now Available to Download

Exercises Rotator Cuff - Make Your Rotator Cuff Stronger

2008-01-30T22:01:00.000-08:00

Strengthening your body is a progressive thing, where you will need to gradually build up strength so that you do not cause injury from overexertion. This is true of all muscle groups of the body, and to have true strength you must exercise them all from the main muscle groups, such as the legs, core and chest muscles even down to the stabilizer muscles. Still other times people want to strengthen a part of their body, either to ward off problems that are bound to happen or to help expedite the recovery from an injury. One area where many people are interested in strengthening is exercises rotator cuff area.

The rotator cuff is actually made up of 4 separate muscles that originate in the area of the shoulder blade and then continue to form a cuff, or covering over the shoulder socket. The rotator cuff also includes some connecting tendons. Most rotator cuff injuries are caused by repetitive movements at work that tear the rotator cuff over a period of time, while others are caused by trauma to the shoulder area, through a fall or another injury. Many times these types of injuries need attention through physical therapy, and perhaps even surgery.

Exercises for the rotator cuff include those that mimic the movement that the rotator cuff governs. The shoulder socket is an amazing part of the body, allowing a wide range of movement of the arm, but the muscles that make up the rotator cuff are those that regulate the activity of the arm, such as lifting and swinging.

Overcome a painful rotator cuff injury and get rid of shoulder pain for life. Download our Special Report at http://www.rotator-cuff-help.info/

Rotator Cuff Exercises - an Online Special Report, Now Available to Download.

Rotator Cuff Therapy - What to Expect

2008-01-29T21:52:00.001-08:00

The human body is an amazing thing, and the interlocking structure of muscles and tendons just makes it all the much more amazing to me. The rotator cuff is a fine example of that, it being comprised of four separate muscles that originate in the area of the shoulder blade and then combine, with their corresponding tendons to form a covering, or a cuff for the shoulder socket. This serves several purposes. One of the things that it does is to protect the shoulder, to a reasonable degree, from injury and the other is to give our arm and shoulder area the ability to move in some unique directions. Sometimes, however the rotator cuff gives us some problems and rotator cuff therapy becomes necessary.

Rotator cuff problems are generally caused by repetitive stresses at work, such as lifting heavy boxes over your head for many years. At first the pain may be manageable by pain killers, but at other times you may need to seek out stronger pain medication or perhaps even go in for rotator cuff therapy or surgery. The other problem with the rotator cuff is caused by a sudden trauma to the area, sometimes through a fall. When this happens the rotator cuff is instantly damaged and is usually accompanied by sensations such as a popping sound, and a sudden weakness in the arm.

When you go in for rotator cuff therapy you can expect a progressive program of exercises according to your level of healing. They will have you do specific movements that mimic the motion of the rotator cuff, either with or without weights, and will progressively add weight to strengthen the rotator cuff area. The therapist may also give you exercises to work on at home to help expedite your recovery.

Overcome a painful rotator cuff injury and get rid of shoulder pain for life. Download our Special Report at http://www.rotator-cuff-help.info/

Rotator Cuff Exercises - an Online Special Report, Now Available to Download

Rotator Cuff Exercises - Prevent Injuries Before they Happen

2008-01-28T22:07:00.001-08:00

Many people who engage in various sports activities do not do any rotator cuff exercises or any other warm up exercises. Of course, the warm up has to be done before you start your main workout or any kind of sports games (golf, football, tennis etc.).

The reasons for not doing any warn up are usually laziness or ignorance, but the out can very well be severe.

Take Golfers for example. Many people believe that Golf is a game for people who are too lazy to do any other, more intensive sports. That may be so, but will you be surprised to learn that thousands of golfers each year suffer form rotator cuff injuries, and seek medical help accordingly?

These folks could have treated themselves better, and would have saved themselves a world of pain, and medical bills. Same story applies for people who do other sorts of sports, work out in the gum, swim in the pool etc.

Please don't get me wrong. I'm all for sports - it still has more advantages than dis advantages. And I do work out in the gum 3 times a week. The thing is - you need to acquire a few useful habits that will help you avid these kind of problems.

So, how could you make the best of your workout, and still have the best chance of avoiding rotator-cuff problems.

Well there are a few ways:

1. You need to warm up. Even 2 minutes of warm up before hitting the golf course, to the swimming pool will go a long way to help you stay on the safe side. There is a great verity of rotator cuff exercises aimed at loosening the area and making it lees vulnerable to stress and pain.

2. Stay fit and strengthen your muscles and tendons. The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and their tendons that are responsible for the connection of the upper arm and the shoulder blade. Indeed, a very important group. Take good care of them by regularly doing exercises to strengthen the area. This will help you cope with all the strain and effort that area observes while doing an activity like swimming or golfing. Thus, reduce the chances of injury.

3. Consult your doctor. Especially if you had problems before, Consult your doctor regularly. This just might save you from and potential problems.

4. Listen to your body. If your rotator cuff is in pain, don't push it. Take a rest, and see a doctor. Most problems are easy to fix if you attend them at the beginning and don't wait till it gets worse.

The best way to deal with a problem is to avid creating it. Regular rotator cuff exercises will help you to build strength and endurance to the area, and will lessen the risk of getting hurt along the way.

Dave Green gives much more info about rotator cuff exercises and how to overcome pain and stiffness in the shoulders. Come on and follow along as I reveal more useful information on the matter.

Torn Rotator Cuff Symptoms

2008-01-28T22:06:00.001-08:00

Rotator cuff tears are a very common type of injury and the adult population, that occur especially after the year 40 or so. Although at times rotator cuff tears are caused by a fall or some other trauma to the shoulder area, more often they are caused by repetitive stress syndrome, an injury over time that occurs by doing things like repetitive lifting of heavy objects over the head. The rotator cuff is made up of four muscles and their corresponding tendons, that began in the area of the shoulder blade and continue up over the shoulder forming a covering or cuff.

Torn rotator cuff symptoms can vary from person to person, however for the most part in the case of those that suffer from a torn rotator cuff due to repetitive stress syndrome the symptoms are gradual and can develop over a long period of time. Typically at the beginning the pain is easily managed using aspirin or some other over-the-counter pain medication, after some time, however, it generally becomes necessary to seek medical advice because the pain becomes unmanageable. In the case of a fall or some other sudden trauma to the shoulder area the pain is generally set and acute, and can't be accompanied by a snapping noise and sudden weakness in the arm.

A person with a torn rotator cuff may have several options in order to get better. These options could include resting the arm for a long period of time, at mobilizing the arm by the use of a sling, shoulder surgery, or perhaps some therapeutic exercises that are done either at home or in the presence of a qualified therapist.

Overcome a painful rotator cuff injury and get rid of shoulder pain for life. Download our Special Report at http://www.rotator-cuff-help.info/

Rotator Cuff Exercises - an Online Special Report, Now Available to Download.

Shoulder Injuries Rotator Cuff

2008-01-27T22:18:00.000-08:00

There aren't many people that have shoulder injuries to their rotator cuff. It's not uncommon for many people to even have rotator cuff tears that occur as a result of either some form of repetitive stress, such as heavy lifting over their head to work, or as a result of a fall or some form of trauma to the shoulder area. The rotator cuff is actually made up of a group of four muscles and their corresponding tendons that began in the area of the shoulder blade and continue on to cover the shoulder area, both protecting the shoulder and the shoulder socket from injury as well as allowing the shoulder to swing in an outward motion and in an upward motion. The symptoms of the rotator cuff tear generally occur over time. At first they are easily taken care of with some form of over-the-counter pain medications, but eventually they may get strong enough that a person will seek medical advice. In the case of a fall or a sudden trauma to the shoulder area the pain will be sudden and acute, along with a weakness in the arm and a possible snapping sensation.

Some of the possible shoulder injury rotator cuff treatments include immobilizing the arm with the use of a sling, minimizing the use of the affected area, rehabilitation exercises either at home or by using a professional therapist, and perhaps even surgery. Although it is generally not possible to avoid such things as falls or trauma to the area, it is possible to avoid injury due to repetitive injury such as lifting over the head at work. If you are already suffering from a rotator cuff shoulder injury that it is best to seek advice, as well as some possible exercises that you can do from a professional.

Overcome a painful rotator cuff injury and get rid of shoulder pain for life. Download our Special Report at http://www.rotator-cuff-help.info/

Rotator Cuff Exercises - an Online Special Report, Now Available to Download

Rotator Cuff Surgery Rehab

2008-01-27T22:17:00.000-08:00

Rotator cuff injuries are very common, generally more common than most people realize especially before they develop problem themselves. Injuries to the rotator cuff can happen gradually, over time, as in the case of some kind of repetitive stress syndrome. They can also happen suddenly, as in the case of a fall or some kind of sudden trauma that happens to the shoulder area. The rotator cuff is actually a group of four different muscles and their corresponding tendons that make up the area from about the shoulder blade through the area of the shoulder its self. It helps moving the arm especially in the manner of lifting the arm to the side, and also surrounds and protects the shoulder joint from injury. Sometimes this area gets injured, and the terror occurs, and surgery is necessary. If you have been unfortunate enough to have rotator cuff surgery, then here is what you can expect when you go in for rotator cuff surgery rehab.

When you first start your rotator cuff surgery rehab there will more than likely begin slow on you, and slowly build over time as you become stronger. They will use light weights and have you doing exercises that will utilize the rotator cuff muscles, such as holding your arm at a 90° angle with your elbow by your side and swinging the weight off to the side and back forward again. As your rehab progresses you will probably be given exercises to do at home as well in order to expedite your recovery.

Overcome a painful rotator cuff injury and get rid of shoulder pain for life. Download our Special Report at http://www.rotator-cuff-help.info/

Rotator Cuff Exercises - an Online Special Report, Now Available to Download.

Rotator Cuff Tendonitis and A Shoulder Tendon Rupture

2008-01-24T22:23:00.001-08:00

Sometimes patients who have been suffering from long term shoulder pain will develop a sudden worsening of this long term pain and have to revisit the doctor. Oftentimes this visit will involve an MRI in order to discover the nature of this resurgent pain.

It is not uncommon when someone has had years of shoulder pain to find a rupture of their biceps tendon, as is often the case in scenarios like the one above. This causes great distress amongst patients and typically represents accumulation of years of inflammation in the rotator cuff area.

Anatomically speaking, the biceps tendon longhead of the biceps tendon inserts deeply into the shoulder joint and attaches fairly close to where the primary inflammation of rotator cuff tendonitis. Frequently, when the rotator cuff is inflamed, the patient will have a cycle of inflammation, pain, and there is some collateral damage unfortunately when the longhead of the biceps tendon is surrounded by this inflammation and swelling.

The surprising aspect of this tendon rupture is that it does not particularly impair the patient’s functionality of their arm. The superior aspect of the bicep where it attaches to the upper arm has actually two attaches. The longhead of the biceps tendon accounts for anchoring the smaller portion of the muscle. Additionally, when this part of the muscle has been exposed to so much inflammation, it will become weaker over time, but may not necessarily impair their shoulder's daily functionality.

In this case, the patient may have this loss of the tendon, but the other superior attachment of the biceps tendon will basically be able to give them adequate strength and function. So, if someone’s bicep tendon does rupture, it typically means they have a fairly severe rotator cuff problem. What it does not mean is that it is absolutely necessary that they get surgery. Sometimes patients shoulders' will get better with physical therapy, a comparatively easier solution. This is why all people should have a trial attempt at physical therapy even if they go to their doctor at their initial assessment with a ruptured biceps tendon. Certainly some of these people will end up with rotator cuff reconstruction, however, the patient should know that most of the time; the biceps tendon is not reattached because it frankly doesn’t need to be.

Michael Carroll, MD is a board certified family physician with a special interest in sports medicine. He is the founding partner of Creekside Clinic, LLC, a progressive primary care center in Traverse City, Michigan and a member of both the American College of Sports Medicine, and the American Academy of Family Physicians.

He also holds an interest in conditions that affect the shoulder joint, such as rotator cuff tendonitis. He is also the author of Shoulder Pain Talk, a blog dedicated to educating the thousands of Americans who face shoulder pain on a daily basis.

The Rotator Cuff Tear Symptoms

2008-01-24T22:22:00.001-08:00

The shoulder really is an amazing part of the body. It is the part of the body with the widest range of movement. For example, try swinging your leg in a circle from straight up to straight down. The muscles that are in the area of the shoulder are collectively known as the rotator cuff, although they are actually four separate muscles and a series of tendons that form one muscle over the shoulder area. They are responsible for the lifting and rotating motions of the arm as well as protecting the shoulder from injury. Most rotator cuff tears are a result of repetitive stress that is generally from lifting objects over your head repetitively for many years, such as stocking shelves at a warehouse. It could be also that you have been injured recently, such as falling on, or breaking your shoulder. This could also cause a rotator cuff tear. If you suspect that you have this injury then here are the rotator cuff tear symptoms to see how your symptoms match up.

Generally, in the case of repetitive stress rotator cuff injuries the pain will come on over a long period of time. At first it is little more than something that can be treated with aspirin, but eventually the pain will become enough that it warrants being checked out. If the tear is from an injury, such as falling, the pain will generally be acute and immediate. Some other rotator cuff tear symptoms are weakening in the arms, an inability to lift the arm over your head or pain when the arm is lifted over the head, muscle atrophy and pain when you sleep while laying on that side of your body.

Overcome a painful rotator cuff injury and get rid of shoulder pain for life. Download our Special Report at http://www.rotator-cuff-help.info/

Rotator Cuff Exercises - an Online Special Report, Now Available to Download

The Exercises for Rotator Cuff Injury

2008-01-23T22:46:00.002-08:00

The rotator cuff is made up of 4 separate muscles and a series of tendons that are found in the shoulder area, originating with the wing bone and forming one tendon group. Their primary purpose is to help with the lifting and rotating of the arm as well as protecting the arm socket at the shoulder. Injury to the rotator cuff is either sudden, as is the case in a shoulder break or injury, or it can come on over a period of time, such as happens when a person has a repetitive stress injury. This type of injury will show signs of pain for some time, but can be treated at first with over the counter medications. It is common in older adults, over the age of 45 that use repetitive motion at work, especially lifting heavy objects over their head. Eventually it may get bad enough that the person will seek medical attention in order to help get their shoulder and arm movement back to where it should be.

When a person gets checked for a rotator cuff injury the doctor will many times immobilize the arm in order to allow the rotator cuff to heal. Then they will institute a series of exercises for rotator cuff injury that the person may do with a physical therapist, or perhaps they may be able to do them at home. The exercises will generally consist with lifting light weights in a twisting or lifting motion while in various positions. The muscles of the rotator cuff can be targeted in this fashion in order to help to strengthen and heal the muscles, and to get the person back or close to their original strength and abilities quickly.

Overcome a painful rotator cuff injury and get rid of shoulder pain for life. Download our Special Report at http://www.rotator-cuff-help.info/

Rotator Cuff Exercises - an Online Special Report, Now Available to Download.

The Exercises for a Rotator Cuff Tear

2008-01-23T22:46:00.001-08:00

Rotator cuff tears are common in the adult population, particularly in those above about the year 40. The problem can be caused by an injury to the shoulder or it can happen gradually through repetitive motion, such as is the case in those that work lifting heavy things over their heads on a regular basis. Pain may come on suddenly, as in the case of an injury or it may develop over time from repetitive movements and stress. While the causes and development of the rotator cuff tear vary from person to person it is an unpleasant and painful experience and usually requires some kind of exercise in order to rehabilitate the individual with the problem. But what exercises for a rotator cuff tear are you likely to need to do?

The rotator cuff is made up of 4 different muscles and corresponding tendons in the shoulder. It's primary functions are to help with the lifting process and movements over the head, as well as to regulate the twisting movement of the arm and protect the shoulder socket. When an injury occurs and medical treatment is necessary the doctor will likely immobilize the arm for a period of time in order to help the rotator cuff to heal and then will institute some form of therapy to help regain the full, or close to full use of the rotator cuff. These exercises will include such things as lifting of light weights using a twisting motion of the arm in various positions in order to help regain strength in the rotator cuff.

Overcome a painful rotator cuff injury and get rid of shoulder pain for life. Download our Special Report at http://www.rotator-cuff-help.info/

Rotator Cuff Exercises - an Online Special Report, Now Available to Download

Rotator Cuff Strengthening Exercise That Works

2008-01-22T22:27:00.001-08:00

The shoulder area is actually an amazing part of the body. It has more of a range of motion than any other part of your body and is protected by a group of four muscles and a related group of tendons. The muscles start in the area of your shoulder blade, or scapula, and form into one mass that covers over the area of the shoulder. These muscles are the ones that are responsible for the twisting motion of your arm and shoulder as well as giving you the strength to life objects over your head. That is why when someone has a rotator cuff injury it generally is painful to make these types of movements. If you have an injury and are trying to rehabilitate it, or if you just want to do a rotator cuff strengthening exercise to keep in shape and try to help prevent any history then here are some suggestions.

The rotator cuff strengthening exercises that are done in order to build up the strength of a healthy rotator cuff, or in weightlifting exercises is much the same as those that are given for the rehabilitation of someone with a rotator cuff injury. They are meant to mimic the action and movements of the rotator cuff in going through a natural range of motion. For example, of the more common rotator cuff strengthening exercises is where you would hold out your arm at a 90 degree angle with the elbow close to your body. You would hold a weight in your hand. Then swing your arm out to the side, keeping your upper arm and elbow in place and then swing it back in. This used the rotator cuff muscles and helps to strengthen them.

Overcome a painful rotator cuff injury and get rid of shoulder pain for life. Download our Special Report at http://www.rotator-cuff-help.info/

Rotator Cuff Exercises - an Online Special Report, Now Available to Download.

Rotator Cuff Rehabilitation Exercises

2008-01-22T22:26:00.001-08:00

Rotator cuff injuries are actually more common than many people think. The muscles that make up the rotator cuff are actually four separate muscles and a series of tendons that start in the area of the shoulder blade and cover over the shoulder area. They are the muscle group that takes care of lifting over your head, the rotation of the arm and shoulder and also for protecting the area of the shoulder socket from injury.

While most people think of a tear as being something that happens suddenly it is very common for a rotator cuff tear to happen over the course of time, sometimes over the course of many years. This is generally when someone is involved in some kind of repetitive motion at work where they are doing something like lifting heavy boxes over their heads all day. The tear can also happen suddenly, as in the case of a severe shoulder injury from something like a fall. In this case the pain is generally sudden and extreme from the start. Here is what you can expect to be doing in the way of rotator cuff rehabilitation exercises to heal your shoulder injury.

Most doctors will want your arm immobilized for a period of time when you are first diagnosed with the rotator cuff injury. This is to give the muscles and tendons some time to heal before you begin with the rotator cuff rehabilitation exercises. You will then be given a series of exercises to do, either with a physical therapist or in your own home (sometimes both) that will use light weights and will use the motions of the arm and shoulder that the rotator cuff is responsible for. This will be things such as twisting of the arm from the front to the side, and light lifting upward and eventually overhead.

Overcome a painful rotator cuff injury and get rid of shoulder pain for life. Download our Special Report at http://www.rotator-cuff-help.info/

Rotator Cuff Exercises - an Online Special Report, Now Available to Download

Rotator Cuff Tendonitis Exercises

2008-01-20T22:19:00.001-08:00

The shoulder is one of the parts of the body with the widest range of motion. It is used often at work and at play, especially in the play of someone involved in athletics. It is common to have some injury to the rotator cuff when it is exposed to the types of repetitive stresses such as swimming, playing baseball or tennis, any activity where there is a swinging of the arm from the shoulder or lifting above the head can cause the injuries. If you suffer from tendinitis in the rotator cuff you will no doubt be given some rotator cuff tendinitis exercise in order to be able to heal and strengthen from your injury as quickly as possible.

Rotator cuff tendinitis exercise are much the same as the types of exercises that are given to someone that is suffering from a rotator cuff tear. The rotator cuff is actually a group of 4 muscles in the shoulder area and some connecting tendons. They are responsible for the lifting motions as well as the twisting of the arm and protecting the should socket from injury. When these muscles are damaged or hurt through a tear or tendinitis then the exercises would mimic the motions that the rotator cuff would regulate, such as twisting and lifting. For example, one of the basic exercises is standing with a weight in one arm and it out in front of you and bent at a 90 degree angle. You would then swing the weight out to your side and back while maintaining the 90 degree angle. The other exercises are similar, and are generally done in the presence of a physical therapist or can be given to you to do at home.

Overcome a painful rotator cuff injury and get rid of shoulder pain for life. Download our Special Report at http://www.rotator-cuff-help.info/

Rotator Cuff Exercises - an Online Special Report, Now Available to Download.

Rotator Cuff Exercise

2008-01-20T22:18:00.000-08:00

The pain, discomfort and restricted motion caused by injury to shoulder muscles and tendons have always been well known problems to athletes. In recent times, as more people take up sport and exercise for its health benefits, ordinary people who are not professional sportsmen or sportswomen can find that wear and tear on their shoulder has given them a rotator cuff injury.

Those who participate in swimming, baseball pitching and football are particularly prone to this injury, but anyone who uses vigorous arm movement in any sport or activity can get it. Repeated overhead arm motion is often the root cause of rotator cuff injury – it is the long term and repetitive nature of the motion, rather than one particular jerk or twist of the shoulder which is often the problem.

After the injury has been diagnosed, rotator cuff exercise is often recommended to rehabilitate and strengthen the shoulder, and so avoid future injury or rotator cuff tears. This type of exercise should only be done after the pain and swelling have passed, following a period of rest.

Rotator cuff exercise programs are more complex than many exercise regimes, because of the number and inter-relationship of the muscles and tendons which hold the humerus to the shoulder blade, and allow the upper arm to perform its full range of motions. Rotator cuff exercise usually incorporates many different individual exercises designed to strengthen particular muscles one at a time.

These exercises include holding and raising a light dumbbell, while the elbow is supported; lying on the side and raising a dumbbell toward the ceiling; and (while standing) raising a dumbbell towards the horizontal, holding it with the thumb pointing down.

It is often a physical therapist who will demonstrate these exercises, and make sure you are doing them properly, but with the availability of good medical information on the Internet, it is now possible to get rotator cuff exercise guidance from various specialist web sites. Often these sites are created by physical therapists themselves, who have experience in the treatment of all types of rotator cuff injury. This type of injury might include impingement, shoulder weakness, rotator cuff tendonitis, rotator cuff tears, and bursitis.

Many people who take up rotator cuff exercise want to know how long they have to persist with an exercise program before they will see some positive results and improvement in their shoulder strength and mobility. Most therapists agree that three to six weeks is needed before recovery is achieved, though some people may need even longer.

If you do decide to follow an online program of rotator cuff exercises, bear in mind that they are mostly designed to be done at home, and you will need access to basic equipment like light dumbbells and a stability bar or bench.

Now read more - to see our collection of specialist rotator cuff exercise resources, check the rotator cuff exercise page at eastcairn.com.

Barbara Eastcairn writes about all the health issues which really matter.

New Treatments - Shoulder Pain and Rotator Cuff Tendonitis

2008-01-18T21:57:00.001-08:00

Given that 90 + percent of shoulder pain is due to rotator cuff tendinitis, it is worthwhile to consider those therapies that focus on rotator cuff tendinitis in order to combat shoulder pain itself. This idea has become even more justified following the results of a recent study presented at The American College of Sports Medicine. This study saw impressive results when patients used a nighttime brace to treat rotator cuff injuries and tendinitis.

The study at The American College of Sports Medicine took patients who were suffering from shoulder pain from rotator cuff injuries and tendinitis and treated them all with traditional care methods that included hands on inflammatory medications and physical therapy. However, half of the patients then received an additional treatment of a nighttime brace that they wore for one month. The study was blinded. The results of the study were remarkable, as those who used the brace saw a 100% improvement in their shoulder situation when compared to patients who did not use the shoulder brace.

During the study, it was found that the patients did not need to wear the brace for more than three weeks before results were realized. Compared to those who used the brace, only 50% of those members of the study who were not given the nighttime brace became better over a similar one month period. This small but powerful study did reach statistical significance. The results of this study lend many to believe that this brace represents a new and exciting therapy to deal with this incredibly common problem of rotator cuff tendinitis.

Michael Carroll, MD is a board certified family physician with a special interest in sports medicine. He is the founding partner of Creekside Clinic, LLC, a progressive primary care center in Traverse City, Michigan and a member of both the American College of Sports Medicine, and the American Academy of Family Physicians.

He also holds special interest in shoulder pain and rotator cuff injuries specifically with regard to cutting-edge treatments and is the author of a Shoulder Pain Talk

Rotator Cuff - The Cycle of Injury

2008-01-18T21:56:00.000-08:00

There is a frequent pattern of injury amongst those who suffer from rotator cuff inflammation. The shoulder goes through a cycle of injury, which is followed by healing, which gives the patient a certain period of pain-free time only to re-injure it. As this cycle continues, very quickly, the pain-free periods of time come to be less and less, and there are more movements that cause pain. This all contributes to the lessening threshold for re-injuring of the rotator cuff.

This cycle is perpetuated because the rotator cuff is continually injured as it is impinged under the coracoacromial arch. The rotator cuff has a very sensitive area on its superior muscle called the supraspinatus. The rotator cuff is made up of four different muscles. 90% of the injuries originate at the supraspinatus muscle. As a person goes through years of this cycling, the rotator cuff becomes scarred; becomes less flexible; it becomes more easily torn; it becomes less subtle. In affect, this rotator cuff prematurely ages and in this cycle of injury, inflammation, healing, scar tissue, the rotator cuff at some point becomes torn.

The key to treatment is to break that cycle of repeated injury to allow the rotator cuff to restore some of its flexibility to reduce some of its scar tissue. Constant re-injury needs to be avoided at all cost. It delays the healing process and contributes to scare tissue and overall decreases the range of motion.

If you have a shoulder injury, it is critical to heal it quickly and completely.

Michael Carroll, MD is a board certified family physician with a special interest in sports medicine. He is the founding partner of Creekside Clinic, LLC, a progressive primary care center in Traverse City, Michigan and a member of both the American College of Sports Medicine, and the American Academy of Family Physicians.

He also holds special interest in shoulder pain and rotator cuff injuries, specifically with regard to cutting-edge treatments and is the author of a Shoulder Pain Talk

Shoulder Tendonitis Surgery - Rotator Cuff Tendonitis

2008-01-17T22:04:00.001-08:00

First let's find out what shoulder tendonitis or rotator cuff tendonitis is? There are several other names that this can be called. Some are known as tennis shoulder, pitcher's shoulder and even a shoulder impingement. These are all common names for a very similar problem.

So what is it? Shoulder tendonitis or rotator cuff tendonitis is the inflammation and can be an irritation and swelling of the tendons of the shoulder. The shoulder joint is a ball and socket type joint. The top part of the arm bone (humerus) forms a joint with the shoulder blade (scapula). The rotator cuff holds the head of the humerus into the scapula.

What is the most common cause of rotator cuff tendonitis?

A lot of the time the problem occurs with sports. Inflammation of the tendons of the shoulder muscles occur in sports using the arm being moved over the head repeatedly. Such sports are tennis, baseball (pitching mainly) swimming and even lifting weights over the head. What happens sometimes is you get the inflammation or injury and can cause the tendons of the rotator cuff to tear. Sometimes this occurs in people over 40 years of age.

Some of the symptoms

Pain when the arm is moved Arm is weak when rising over your head Pain in shoulder at night, especially when lying on the affected shoulder. Pain in arm when performing overhead activities

How to find out if you have shoulder tendonitis

X-ray’s or MRI. X-ray’s can show a burn spur. The MRI can show the inflammation in the rotator cuff. There could also be a tear in the rotator cuff and the MRI will show this.

Shoulder Tendonitis Surgery

Before shoulder tendonitis surgery, you should try physical therapy to strengthen the muscles of the rotator cuff. If the pain is too great to start physical therapy a steroid injection (cortisone) may reduce pain and inflammation enough to start effective therapy.

If there is a tear in the rotator cuff or therapy has not helped and symptoms persist, shoulder surgery may be necessary. For most shoulder surgery, this can be accomplished with arthroscopic surgery. This type of surgery is effective in removing the bone spur and inflamed tissue around the shoulder.

You can also treat small tears with shoulder tendonitis surgery and arthroscopic surgery. There are even some new techniques that allow even large tears to be repaired with arthroscopic surgery. Now there are some large tears that are going to require open surgery to repair the torn tendon.

Shoulder Tendonitis Surgery Expectations

Once the shoulder tendonitis surgery is completed and the bone spur or tear has been repaired arthroscopic ally, you can expect the use of the shoulder to pre-injury levels. The activities that you performed prior to the injury should be able to perform them once again.

There are a couple of factors in determining the success of the shoulder tendonitis surgery. People with tears of their rotator cuff that have had the shoulder tendonitis surgery (arthroscopic) will do well. It will depend upon the size and the duration of the tear. The age of the patient will also have a bearing on the outcome and what the pre-injury level of function was.

So there are some things that you can do and the success of the shoulder tendonitis surgery should have a successful outcome in most cases. In another article I will discuss the rehabilitation of shoulder tendonitis surgery. Other Tendonitis topics visits: Shoulder Tendonitis Surgery

Have had many articles published on a variety of subjects. Co author of the best selling golf ebook called "Putt Lights Out". You can find this ebook at http://www.puttlightsout.com. For more information on tendonitis topics visit http://www.tendonitistypes.com

Rotator Cuff Tendonitis: A Shoulder Injury For All of Us

2008-01-17T22:03:00.000-08:00

When you hear rotator cuff injury, what comes to mind?

For most people, the first thing they think of is your local team's pitcher, who was just placed on the disabled list. Most recently, Orlando Hernandez and Jarid Wright are two of the big names on their respective team’s disabled list because of a rotator cuff injury.

However, shoulder injuries are not issues restricted to baseball players even though they are particularly susceptible to it given the throwing motion and how that impacts the upper part of the shoulder. Essentially, baseball pitchers and players have something called impingement syndrome which eventually leads to rotator cuff tendonitis. Impingement syndrome is commonly referred to as the weekend warrior syndrome.

For those who are not professional baseball players, this syndrome can be exasperated by playing basketball, by serving a tennis ball, by throwing a football, etc. While it is routine to feel somewhat sore after increased activity, particularly as one ages, it is not routine to experience pain in less intense shoulder motions. If routine movements such as turning off the alarm clock or reaching on the top shelf become painful, you need medical attention as it is a symptom of rotator cuff tendonitis. Most of the time rotator cuff tendonitis can be healed and managed with physical therapy and full activity can be restored. Occasionally, steroid injections are needed and more rarely than that , surgery is recommended.

The critical aspect is to treat this problem early, before there is major scarring or rotator cuff tears. Keep in mind that 90% of all rotator cuff tears are the original result of chronic inflammation. It is essentially something that starts small and gets progressively more difficult. If the shoulder is hurting, medical attention should be sought more quickly rather than less.

Michael Carroll, MD is a board certified family physician with a special interest in sports medicine. He is the founding partner of Creekside Clinic, LLC, a progressive primary care center in Traverse City, Michigan and a member of both the American College of Sports Medicine, and the American Academy of Family Physicians. He also holds special interest in shoulder pain and rotator cuff injuries, specifically with regard to cutting-edge treatments

How To Cope With Rotator Cuff Tendonitis

2008-01-16T23:09:00.000-08:00

Rotator cuff tendinitis is inflammation of the tendons of the rotator cuff. It can be caused by overuse, repeated impingement and shoulder joint instability where the muscles and tendons of the rotator cuff are called upon to stabilize the shoulder joint over and above the call of duty due to loose or weak ligaments.

People who regularly participate in certain sports are more at risk of such injuries than others. Swimmers, pitchers (or others who engage in sports involving a lot of throwing) and weight trainers/bodybuilders are particularly at risk.

Whatever the cause of rotator cuff tendinitis it can be a very unpleasant and restrictive injury giving pain with various everyday arm or shoulder movements (particularly overhead movements) and even while sleeping if you happen to sleep on the injured side. It causes weakness in the affected shoulder and can take a long time to heal and at worst it may become chronic.

There are a number of treatments available from physiotherapy to anti-inflammatory medications and cortisone injections and in very extreme cases surgery.

As with most soft tissue injuries there is no “magic pill” to fix the injury and while there are a number of things that can help, unless the injury is extreme the best thing you can do is give your body every possible chance to utilize its amazing capacity to heal itself. You can do this in a number of ways including, applying cold/warmth to reduce pain and speed healing, avoiding certain movements and activities until the injury is healed, exercising to strengthen the muscles and gentle stretching to keep the muscles flexible and the joint mobile.

At the first sign of rotator cuff tendinitis, especially where the culprit is likely to be overuse or repetitive strain, the most important thing to do is stop doing the activity you suspect to be causing the problem. Now this may seem like common sense but often athletes will try to “train through” pain or “train around” an injury by just going lighter on the weights or trying to train body-parts around the affected area.

If you suspect tendinitis from overuse continuing to train regardless will just cause further aggravation and intensify the injury and further prolong healing. This is the last thing you want to do because the low blood supply of tendons mean they already take a long time to heal. Where a “strained” muscle can heal in a few days tendon injuries typically take 4 to 6 weeks to heal and often even longer depending on how long the injury has existed. (However, I have found that using a specific combination of little known techniques has, in my own experiences, brought relief usually within two weeks.)

So the first and most important thing to do is stop whatever is causing the problem. Applying ice packs can help numb the pain and may also help speed healing but be careful in the way you apply the ice so as not to cause “ice burn”. Physiotherapy can also help speed up recovery as can gentle exercise and stretching (not in the acute phase of an injury) and also applying heat to the injured area. If you regularly sleep on your side you may want to try sleeping on your back or at least avoid sleeping on the injured side.

Everybody is different so it is important to listen to what your own body is telling you and adjust your actions accordingly. As a general rule: if a movement hurts (especially if it causes sharp pain) - don’t do it. Also remember that, as with all overuse injuries, by the time you start feeling the pain the problem has already existed for some time so the sooner you take remedial action to manage and treat the injury the better.

Sean Jacey is a former personal fitness trainer who developed his own powerfully effective method of healing rotator cuff injuries after his physiotherapist told him she was unable to help him further with his chronic shoulder injury. Sean runs RotatorCuffRemedy.com where others can find out how to heal rotator cuff tendonitis

Rating a Surgery versus a Rotator-Cuff Tear Physical Therapy

2008-01-13T22:21:00.001-08:00

You may have experienced having gone through a physical examination, x-rays and all, then a diagnosis of a rotator-cuff tear. Now what started as an arm and shoulder pain ends with a doctor’s suggestion of an immediate surgery. But hold your fire; an effective rotator-cuff tear physical therapy may just save you from having to go through any surgery. You can even have it your way, that is, through an educated and therapist- assisted home care.

The tear of a rotator-cuff tendon on the shoulder is the most common tendon tear in the human body. It is usually the result of chronic impingement due to tendon abrasion between the shoulder cap and the shoulder joint ball. This is similar to kneeling until the knee-part of your pants fray and your knees finally tears through. Tears of this kind occur with little or no trauma. Yet in the case of patients over 40-years old, rotator-cuff tear and shoulder-dislocation may occur despite normal tendon strength. In the younger patients, however, rotator-cuff tear occurs due to acute tendon overload from strenuous throwing sports. This may also result from incorrect weightlifting practice.

Having a rotator-cuff tear cured takes a realistic expectation which is important in planning to return to normal daily activities whether sports or work. Often jobs must be modified for many months, especially when tears are large enough to prevent return to activities that may provoke re-tear of the cuff. The rotator-cuff rotates the shoulder, helps to stabilize the shoulder, and acts to depress or hold the shoulder down. With these rotator functions, it is thus best to get the best less risky and damaging treatment.

Rotator-cuff tear physical therapy centers on strengthening of the intact rotator cuff tendons and deltoid, and restoring the functional use of the upper extremity of the shoulder. The rotator-cuff tear physical therapy reduces the painful symptoms in part or in total.

Anti-inflammatory medications used together with the rotator-cuff tear physical therapy may help to ease the symptoms; but if these are not effective, then diagnostic tests and surgery may be the next step.

You may be diagnosed for surgery and you might as well take it. But before you go you must know that the most frequent complication of a rotator-cuff tear surgery is the incomplete resolution of pain, if not, the inadequate restoration of full active motion and strength. On the other hand, infection is seen in less than 0.5% of patients, and neurological or anesthetic complications are exceedingly rare. Overall, resolution of pain and improvement in functional capabilities occurs in over 85% of patients.

Nonetheless, you would still need an after arthroscopy surgical aftercare. Rotator-cuff tear physical therapy is of utmost importance in the first 2-months after surgery. Shoulder motion should be regained rapidly through passive exercises only, helping to minimize pain and stiffness while protecting the repair. Eventually though, slowly active motion and strengthening shall be regained, through an educated and therapist- assisted home care.

Milos Pesic is a successful webmaster and owner of popular and comprehensive Physical Therapy information site. For more articles and resources on Physical Therapy related topics, Physical Therapy exercises and much more visit his site at:

=>http://physical-therapy.need-to-know.net/

Rotator Cuff Injuries

2008-01-13T22:18:00.000-08:00

The term "rotator cuff" defines the group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder. These muscles and tendons essentially "cuff" around the head of the humerus, otherwise known as the long bone of the arm, holding it to the scapula, otherwise known as the shoulder blade. Responsible for much of the shoulder's stability, the rotator cuff is made up of four muscles, the supraspinatus, the infraspinatus, the teres minor, and the subscapularis. A rotator cuff injury happens when one of these four muscles is damaged. This can occur suddenly, or it can develop gradually over time. The injuries can also be minor, with no permanent damage, or be severe enough to require surgery.

What are the Causes
Rotator cuff injuries can be caused by a variety of things. First of all, chronic tears, or tears that progress over time, are often found in jobs that require excessive rotator cuff use. These can include painters, construction workers, and baseball players. On the other end of the spectrum are acute tears. These are tears that occur suddenly and usually involve a large amount of force. These tears can happen when lifting an extremely heavy object, or falling on a shoulder. Rotator cuffs can also tear because tendonitis.

But, Rotator cuff injuries aren't always the result of an occupation, an accident, or a condition. They can also be caused by advanced age. Rotator cuff injuries from old age often occur when the tendons comprising the cuff are rubbed up against a bone. In a normal rotator cuff there is a small sac of fluid (the subacromial bursa) that cushions the tendons against the bones. When inflammation sets in, due to things like calcium deposits, this cushion becomes smaller, allowing the tendons to be squeezed and ultimately rubbed against the bones. This causes damage to the tendon, leaving the tendons, over time, stringy, weak, and more likely to tear.

Risks of Rotator Cuff Injuries
There are several risk factors that can cause rotator cuff injuries. To begin, people who are born with irregularly shaped bones can have a rotator cuff that moves abnormally, causing quicker degeneration of the tendons. A person's age is also a risk factor. People who are older are more likely to have normal wear and tear of the rotator cuff, as well as decreased blood supply to the tendons and thinning of the tendons. Age aside, people who engage in repetitive activities that involve force on the shoulder are more likely to be subject to a rotator cuff injury. Additionally, joint looseness and an imbalance of the muscles can also play a large role in how easily a rotator cuff will tear.

The risk of a rotator cuff injury can also be increased with any kind of lifestyle that impedes a person's health. Smoking, for instance, decreases blood flow and blood supply, slowing the healing process of any injuries that have been sustained.

Symptoms of Rotator Cuff Injuries
The most common symptom of a rotator cuff injury is pain, but stiffness and an overall weakness of the shoulder are also typically present. A person with an unknown tear may find activities such as parting their hair, brushing their teeth, or getting a can of soup out of the pantry difficult or impossible. The pain is usually localized to the front and side of the shoulder, as well as the upper arm.

While the pain may be stable, and involve different degrees, it will almost always increase when the arm is raised overhead. Rotator cuff injuries that are minor are usually classified by pain only when active, particularly when raising the arms. Minor injuries are usually not painful when a person is at rest. Those with moderate damage will have pain during activity and directly after activity. There may also be pain at night and an interruption of sleep. For those with severe damage, continuous pain will be present.

Prevention of Rotator Cuff Injuries
While not all injuries can be prevented, there are a few things that can be done to decrease their risk. For instance, keeping the muscles strong and flexible through exercise will provide the rotator cuff with more resistance to damage. Abstaining from activities that require excessive and repetitive use of the rotator cuff, such as throwing a baseball, can also help reduce the risk. Along these lines, using good judgment, and not catching or lifting objects that are too heavy can help keep the rotator cuff from tearing. Finally, taking frequent breaks when overhead use of the arms is required, such as when painting a house, and giving these muscles an adequate amount of rest in between movements can help prevent injuries.

Treatment of Rotator Cuff
In the invent that a rotator cuff does tear there are a variety of treatment options. These options all aspire to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and reclaim strength, function, and flexibility. While all maintaining a common goal, these treatment options can vary depending on the age, activity level, and occupation of the injured.

While severe rotator cuff injuries may be repaired surgically, many can be helped in non-surgical manners. These treatments may include resting the shoulder in a sling, gently moving it from time to time to avoid stiffness; using a heating pad, a bag of ice, or pain medications; avoiding activities and positions that seem to aggravate the pain; and strengthening the surrounding shoulder muscles.

Physical therapy is also a form of treatment sought by many with rotator cuff injuries. Through physical therapy, a person is taught exercises and stretches that strengthen the muscle, gradually restoring function. Many of these exercises can even be performed at home. Physical therapy also provides the injured with information on muscle function, support, and tips for prevention.

About Us: The Center for Osteopathic Medicine in Boulder, Colorado believes in The Osteopathic Difference. In a medical industry focused on treating symptoms, The Center is more focused on finding the cause of these symptoms. The Osteopathic Difference is the application of "Hands on Therapeutics" for both the diagnosis and treatment of complaints, disorders, and pain. The Osteopathic Difference will apply the time proven osteopathic fact that function is directly related to structure, and poor structure will lead to poor function.

While The Center tries to focus on health, and above all else, prevention for all those who cross into its threshold, sometimes the best that can be done is to recognize the source of the “DIS-EASE," and to teach every individual how to manage their symptoms. Believing that it is the most important aspect of any treatment regime, and that it is the primary job of the health care practitioner, The Center works to empower the patient in the maintenance of their own health.

Achieving health is also an elusive place, and The Center will work tirelessly to create a path to health which, when embraced by the patient over time, will allow the patient to enjoy a positive return on their rehabilitation investment. The Center teaches a Mindfulness Yoga Program that aims to educate the patient in the power of the mind to minimize, if not rid the body of, aches and pain. Although the ultimate goal of health is to live without the use of drugs, natural or otherwise, The Center for Osteopathic Medicine recognizes the importance of medicinals and their appropriate use. All styles of "Hands on Manipulation" are practiced at The Center. By combining these Manipulative techniques with Structural Integration, massage, meditation and Western Medicine, The Center for Osteopathic Medicine helps people to identify disease before it manifests, quiet pains that have been previously diagnosed as Chronic, and embrace a holistic mindset to Live in the Present- and within that presence, live completely well.

The information discussed in this article is for informational and educational purposes only. If you are experiencing symptoms of a health problem, please visit your doctor. The material discussed on this website is not meant to replace the opinion or diagnosis of a medical professional.

Jennifer Jordan is a senior editor for http://www.centerforosteopathicmedicine.com. Specializing in articles related to health and wellness, the material she writes is intended to arm people with the resources they need to live a life of wellness and completeness.

Squaring the Golf Club at Impact, the Rotator Cuff, and Golf Fitness

2008-01-12T01:37:00.001-08:00

We all know the clubface must be square at impact and the club releases thereafter. Generally speaking a large amount of golf swing mechanics center upon returning the clubface to square at impact. Additionally, the golf swing is a “total body” movement incorporating every joint in the body. In order for the clubface to be square at impact all of these joints must work in coordination to allow this to occur.

In relation to the body, specific muscles are very active in returning the clubface to square. One joint directly involved in the squaring of the clubface at impact with the golf ball is the shoulder joint. The shoulder joint is a “ball and socket” joint allowing for the arms to move through a large range of motion. Review of the biomechanics of the golf swing, it becomes very evident the arms move through a large range of motion.

That being said, there are specific muscles involved in the rotation of the arms. Again, these are not the only muscles involved in squaring the clubface, but from an anatomical perspective, these muscles are active in the internal and external rotation of the arms during the golf swing.

Going back to squaring the clubface, internal and external rotation of the arms is required. To get a sense of internal and external rotation, simply stand up with your arms hanging at your sides. Rotate your hands inward and outward. This is a simple description of internal and external rotation of the arms. Now if you relate this movement to the golf swing you can see how the arms internally and externally rotate during the backswing, downswing, and follow through.

Certain muscles within the shoulder complex have a direct effect on internal rotation, external rotation, and stabilization of the shoulder complex in the golf swing. The muscles we are talking about are the rotator cuff muscles. Yes, the rotator cuff.

Not necessarily a group of muscles that go “hand-in-hand” with the golf swing and probably more thought of when we talk about baseball and pitching. Nevertheless, these muscles are an active in the golf swing. The rotator cuff is a reference to four muscles in the shoulder complex. For those of you that love the science behind this stuff, the four muscles that comprise the rotator cuff are; supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis.

The rotator cuff has a couple primary functions when it comes to the shoulder complex. First off, they act to stabilize the shoulder capsule. The skeletal structure comprising the shoulder is a ball and socket joint. The “socket” part of this joint is very shallow. As a result the muscles of the rotator cuff in addition to muscles in the “back-side” of the shoulder assist in stabilizing the shoulder during movement. An over simplification would state these muscles assist in keeping the arm in the socket. If the rotator cuff muscles did not assist in stabilizing the shoulder, the arm would literally come out of the socket every time you swing a golf club.

Secondly, these four muscles are actively involved in elevating, internally, and externally rotating the arms. All of which are movements involved in the golf swing. Beginning in the take-away and completing with the follow through, the muscles of the rotator cuff are active in every phase of the golf swing. That being said, we know the muscles of the rotator cuff are under stress each every golf swing.

It is important to understand the muscles of the rotator cuff are very small. They are not big muscles such as your quadriceps or deltoids. They are very small muscles asked to perform a myriad of activities. As a result of the size and workloads placed upon these muscles. They can become fatigued quite easily. Once muscles become fatigued they begin to falter in performing their required activities. In addition once muscles are fatigued, they can easily become injured.

During my years on tour, I have never seen someone injure a cuff muscle from swinging a golf club. I have seen rotator cuff injuries impede a golf swing, and if you have ever injured a rotator cuff muscle you know how debilitating an injury it can be. The point being this: The rotator cuff muscles are actively involved in the golf swing. Injury to a rotator cuff muscle can be very debilitating to your golf swing or any activity for that case. Knowing what we know about the mechanics of the golf swing, the rotator cuff, functions of the rotator cuff, and how they affect the golf swing. This information invariably indicates to us it is necessary to keep the rotator cuff healthy and strong. How can one achieve this goal? Simply by adding a golf fitness program incorporating rotator cuff exercises.

Rotator cuff exercises will focus on these four muscles. These types of exercises will develop higher levels of strength and endurance within these muscles. This will assist in these muscles handling the workloads placed upon them during the golf swing or any athletic activity. So I strongly suggest if you are an avid golfer or a weekend warrior. Add some golf fitness and rotator cuff exercises to your training program. This will help keep you in the game and off the sidelines.

Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2005 PGA & 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. To learn more about Sean and his golf fitness programs go to http://www.seancochran.com

Physical Therapist's Solution to a Rotator Cuff Tear That May Help You Avoid Surgery

2008-01-10T22:27:00.001-08:00

After a thorough physical examination, including x-rays, my Doctor diagnosed my arm and shoulder pain as a rotator cuff tear and naturally suggested immediate surgery. “The Ultimate Rotator Cuff Training Guide” by Physical Therapist Brian Schiff has so far saved me from having to go through that surgery.

After I heard the Doctor’s diagnosis and suggestion, I searched the library and the internet for non-surgical solutions. I may have found a possible answer. I started using Brian Schiff’s Training Guide and followed his very explicit directions for the stretching, range of motion moves and exercises. I am in week 2 of a 4-6 week regime and have noticed a marked improvement.

In this article I am attempting to explain how this Training Guide has worked for me and would suggest that you to try this method before considering surgery.

Brian Schiff graduated from The Ohio State University in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science degree of Physical Therapy in Allied Health Professions. Since then, he has practiced as a licensed physical therapist specializing in sports medicine. Through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, Brian became a certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) in 1998.

By doing the exercises in “The Ultimate Rotator Cuff Training Guide”, I came to understand that it was a highly efficient system for relieving pain in the shoulder. Brian Schiff put together the guide for people with frozen shoulder, osteoarthritis, Rotator Cuff tendonitis, Rotator Cuff tears, impingement or bursitis.

Don’t be intimidated by the fancy words, Brian explains what they all mean and how to use the exercises to alleviate pain. He goes into a detailed description of each particular problem and how to best use the different exercises to your greatest advantage.

There is one disadvantage. It is recommended that the stretching and range of motion moves be done everyday. To some this may seem daunting, but it is definitely worth it to work this into your daily schedule. This is not a magic pill; it will take at least 4-6 weeks to start feeling the relief from your regular routine.

In the Ultimate Rotator Guide one of its most valued points is that Brain doesn’t just write out how to do each motion, he has pictures of him actually performing each move. This is extremely helpful in showing you the right form for each exercise. The right form is essential in making the motions work for you. So, not only does he outline how to do the moves in the eBook, he has added pictures in all aspects of each move. In the very beginning of the eBook he answers frequently asked questions that he knows from experience.

Another invaluable part of getting his eBook is that if you have any other questions you can email him. I did, and he always got back to me on the same day.

The Ultimate Rotator Guide is a truly concise map to overcoming shoulder pain. The eBook logically and easily pulls you through the process of using these exercises to eliminate pain in an attempt to avoid shoulder surgery.

Do not think this will instantly heal you, it will take practice. You must do the exercises on a consistent basis. It is critical that you follow the directions to achieve your goal of a pain free shoulder.

When I first started the program I thought that it was impossible to take this much time everyday. However, after the first week when I had practiced the moves it didn’t take nearly as much time as in the beginning. I was able to smoothly do all the moves in less than thirty minutes.

Normally there are always some weaknesses in eBooks but I couldn’t find any in the Ultimate Rotator Guide. My experience is that it is taking away most of my Rotator Cuff pain and is keeping me away from Rotator Cuff surgery. Remember, I am in week two and much has been accomplished.

Wouldn’t you use a program that would take away most, if not all of your shoulder pain? If you want to learn how to strengthen your shoulder and relieve your aching I would highly recommend “The Ultimate Rotator Training Guide”. In fact, I give it 9 out of 10. I can’t thank Brian enough for supplying this valuable information and hopefully saving me from surgery.

Visit Mary Hanna’s websites at: Web Marketing Reviews Cruise Travel and Review of the Rotator Cuff Guide

Squaring the Golf Club Face, the Rotator Cuff, and Golf Fitness Exercises

2008-01-10T22:26:00.000-08:00

The first of these components is your golf swing mechanics. The biomechanics of the golf swing are an intricate series of movements, in a sequential order, and executed with a specific timing. The golf swing mechanics if performed correctly allow for the clubface to return square at impact. In conjunction with golf swing mechanics the body executes these biomechanics.

In relation to the body, specific muscles are very active in returning the clubface to square. The golf swing is a “total body” activity involving the entire neuromuscular system in the execution of the golf swing. Looking at a specific part of the body and squaring of the clubface, we can see a significant connection to certain muscles. During certain phases of the golf swing we see a rotation of the clubface in the backswing, returning of the clubface to square at impact, and release of the club in the follow through. These three actions within golf swing require rotation of the arms.

The action occurring within the arms is elevation, internal, and external rotation. This allows the club to rotate, return to square, and release during the follow through. That being said, there are specific muscles involved in the rotation of the arms. Again, these are not the only muscles involved in squaring the clubface, but from an anatomical perspective, these muscles are active in the internal and external rotation of the arms. Going back to squaring the clubface, internal and external rotation of the arms is required. The muscles we are talking about are the rotator cuff muscles. Yes, the rotator cuff.

Not necessarily a group of muscles that go “hand-in-hand” with the golf swing and probably more thought of when we talk about baseball and pitching. Nevertheless, these muscles are an active in the golf swing. The rotator cuff is a reference to four muscles in the shoulder complex. For those of you who love the science behind this stuff, the four muscles that comprise the rotator cuff are; supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis.

The rotator cuff has a couple primary functions when it comes to the shoulder complex. First off, they act to stabilize the shoulder capsule. The skeletal structure comprising the shoulder is a ball and socket joint. The “socket” part of this joint is very shallow, and the rotator cuff muscles help to stabilize and essentially keep the arm from coming out of the joint. The rotator cuff provides tension during movement to keep the shoulder joint stabile. The rotator cuff creates what is called a musculotendinous joint for the shoulder, stabilizing the shoulder.

Secondly, these four muscles are actively involved in elevating, internally, and externally rotating the arms. All of which are movements involved in the golf swing. Utilize a picture of the golf swing and the actions involved in the phases of the golf swing to create the connection. During the backswing, downswing, and follow through these muscles assist in the biomechanics of the golf swing. The rotation of the arms in the backswing, squaring of the clubface at impact, and release of the club during the follow through are some basic components of the golf swing where the rotator cuff is involved in the golf swing.

The shoulder joint and rotator cuff muscles are subject to overuse and early degeneration. The repeatable action of the golf swing, and involvement of the rotator cuff in the golf swing add to this situation. These two factors; the repeatable nature of the golf swing, and subject of the rotator cuff to over use injuries point to the need of injury preventative rotator cuff exercises. Injury preventative rotator cuff exercises should be a part of a comprehensive golf fitness program. The goals of a golf fitness program are two fold; number one to prevent injury to the body from the stresses placed upon it by the golf swing. Number two is performance improvement.

Rotator cuff exercises within a golf fitness program fall into category number one. These types of golf fitness exercises develop additional strength and endurance within the rotator cuff muscles. The purpose of the added strength and endurance is to prevent overuse injuries from occurring. The added strength and endurance allow for the golfer to execute the biomechanics of the golf swing over and over again without fatigue or comprise the joint structure of the shoulder.

During my years on tour, I have never seen someone injure a cuff muscle from swinging a golf club. I have seen rotator cuff injuries impede a golf swing, and if you have ever injured your rotator cuff, you know how debilitating an injury it can be. The point being this: The rotator cuff muscles are actively involved in the golf swing. The biomechanics of the golf swing are a repeatable athletic action, stressing the muscles of the rotator cuff every swing. In order to combat a rotator cuff injury from occurring, the implementation of rotator cuff exercises in a comprehensive golf fitness program can be beneficial. These types of golf fitness exercises are injury preventative.

Assisting to develop high levels of strength and endurance in the muscles of the rotator cuff. Preventing breakdown from over use. Injury to rotator cuff can be very debilitating to your golf swing or any activity for that case. And I suggest regardless if you are avid golfer or a weekend warrior. Implementing a series of rotator cuff exercises to them healthy is a good idea.

Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2004 Masters, 2005 PGA, and 2006 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. To learn more about Sean and his golf fitness programs go to http://www.seancochran.com

Shoulder Pain: Rotator Cuff Injuries

2008-01-10T02:59:00.001-08:00

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Rotator Cuff

2008-01-10T02:58:00.000-08:00

Getting Rid of Shoulder Pain!
Learn how to: Relieve Rotator Cuff Pain and frozen shoulder. Increase the mobility of your shoulder joint…simply by changing your pillow!

"Ouch! I think I slept on my bad side again…" Don't you hate waking up or going to work with a searing pain in your shoulder?

If you sleep on your side, you're probably putting your shoulder through tremendous strain and pressure. For those who sleep with an arm under their head, it can get worse, as your arm works non-stop to support the weight of your head and to align your neck with the upper back.

There is a high risk of rotator cuff tears in people over 40 and those who engage in repetitive 'overhead' activities - which involve hours of work with your arm raised over your head, such as writing on a blackboard. Many vigorous sports such as baseball, weight lifting and swimming can lead to rotator cuff injuries.

An existing shoulder injury can become worse with the wrong sleeping posture, where the injured side is not allowed to get sufficient rest to recover and regain its normal range of motion.

Understanding Shoulder Pain: Rotator Cuff Injuries and Frozen Shoulder

The most prominent sign of a rotator cuff injury is the limited range of motion of the shoulder joint. Certain movements such as reaching overhead, trying to put on a jacket or reaching your back pocket can become excruciatingly painful.

The shoulder joint has the widest range of motion, as compared to any other joint in the human body. That makes it possible for us to perform a multitude of tasks, making it particularly vulnerable to injury.

A complex system of muscles, tendons and ligaments is needed to support and stabilize the shoulder joint. Tears in the supporting muscles or tendons are common, and if the pain is ignored it can lead to chronic rotator cuff injuries and persistent pain.

A minor injury that begins with inflammation and swelling can become progressively worse, with the buildup of scar tissue- which is less flexible and much weaker than the original tendon tissue.

If your shoulder joint hurts, one of the first things you should do is to give it a complete rest, especially when you sleep. Many people who sleep on the side tend to roll over to the injured side, putting the shoulder joint under repeated stress.

What's worse, is that the shoulder is practically 'trapped' under the head and locked in the same position for hours. This inhibits the supply of oxygen-rich blood to the affected joint and leads to painful muscle cramps. No wonder it feels worse every morning!

Finally- you can do something about your rotator cuff pain, enjoy better sleep and wake up refreshed. All it takes is a scientific contoured pillow that is designed to free up your shoulder and arm, in the side-sleeper position.

A scientific contour pillow that has proved itself in extensive test surveys is the "Better Sleep Pillow", designed by leading neurosurgeon Dr. Burke.

The "Better Sleep Pillow" is made of visco-elastic Memory Foam, which provides added stability and support for side sleepers. The Memory Foam will mould itself to your side contours, leading to instant comfort and fewer position changes through the night.

The special channels on the underside of the pillow allow your arm to slide in and out easily, without disturbing your head or neck position. Even with your arm positioned under your head, you will feel no pressure at all, as your head and neck are perfectly supported by the Better Sleep Pillow.

If you suffer from shoulder pain, frozen shoulder or have a history of painful rotator cuff injury, you can ease the pain, prevent further damage and enhance your natural healing process by switching to the "Better Sleep Pillow".

http://www.bettersleeppillow.com

7 Tips to Immediately Reduce Rotator Cuff Pain

2008-01-09T03:01:00.000-08:00

1. Support the affected arm during activities of daily living. This includes driving, typing at the computer, sitting in a chair and relaxing in your lazy boy at home. Gravity pulls the arm down when it is unsupported, and this increases strain on the rotator cuff. It is best to use a soft pillow or cushion when available.

2. Use ice along the top of the shoulder daily. I always suggest a frozen bag of veggies or soft wrap that conforms to the shape of the shoulder. Be sure to support the arm as mentioned previously while icing. Keep the ice on for 15-20 minutes and then off for an hour. You may ice more than once per day if desired based on pain. I usually suggest icing before bed to improve sleep.

3. Avoid raising the arm overhead in painful ranges of motion unless absolutely necessary. The rotator cuff gets compressed when the arm is elevated above 90 degrees and this often further aggravates the symptoms. This is problematic with getting dressed, fastening the seat belt or placing carry-on baggage in a plane. Overhead athletes will simply need to rest for a given period of time to let the inflammation subside.

4. Do not perform single arm or overhead heavy lifting during periods of inflammation. This position coupled with external loads will prolong your pain and slow the recovery process.

5. Perform arm pendulums (clockwise and counterclockwise circles) with arm hanging down in a dependent position to reduce pain and loosen the shoulder joint up. This gentle motion stimulates receptors in the shoulder joint and helps to increase joint space and reduce pain. This also a good warm-up activity prior to shoulder exercises. You can eventually add a small weight or soup can to increase the effect.

6. Use a pillow under the arm at night to better support the injured arm. I also recommend trying to sleep on the other side if possible, as lying on the sore side compresses the bursa and will typically increase pain and wake you. Another no-no is sleeping with your arms overhead or on your stomach with arm tucked above your head. This is sure to create a shoulder ache.

7. Perform a routine rotator cuff strengthening program within a pain free range of motion. Lower intensity and higher repetition exercises designed to work the rotator cuff muscles are essential to promote healing, reduce inflammation and return you to pre-injury activity levels again. You will not be able to break free of the pain cycle without this type of exercise. More importantly, effective rehab exercises will prevent future injuries and more damage to your shoulder.

Brian Schiff, PT, CSCS, is a respected author, physical therapist and fitness expert. For additional information and a proven exercise program for solving rotator cuff pain and related shoulder injuries, visit http://www.rotatorcufftraining.com

Rotator Cuff: Exercises and Strategies to Prevent Injury

2008-01-09T03:00:00.000-08:00

Have you ever experienced a dull ache or sharp pain in your shoulder or upper arm? Maybe you are unable to sleep on one side because your shoulder wakes you up at night. Perhaps, you have discomfort reaching behind your back to tuck in your shirt or grab your wallet. If so, you may be suffering from a rotator cuff injury.

Rotator cuff injuries, such as tendonitis, bursitis and tears plague several people in our population. The rotator cuff consists of four small muscles, which form a sleeve around the shoulder and allow us to raise our arm overhead effectively. These muscles, consisting of the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor and subscapularis, oppose the action of the deltoid and depress the head of the humerus (upper arm) during shoulder elevation to prevent impingement.

The most commonly injured muscle is the supraspinatus. It is responsible for initiating and aiding in elevation of the arm. If torn, the individual typically experiences persistent pain in the upper lateral arm and significant difficulty raising the arm without compensatory motion from the scapula (shrug sign). The hallmark signs of a tear are nocturnal pain, loss of strength, and inability to raise the arm overhead.

However, acute tendonitis may also present with similar signs and symptoms, as pain can inhibit motion and strength. Yet, symptoms associated with tendonitis normally respond to rest, ice, anti-inflammatory medication and therapeutic exercise.

Rotator cuff tears are most common in men age 65 and older. Tears and/or injury are typically related to degeneration, instability, bone spurs, trauma, overuse and diminished strength/flexibility related to the aging process. However, youth are also at risk for injury if they are involved in repetitive overhead sports, including swimming, volleyball, baseball, softball, tennis, gymnastics, etc.

Many people can function adequately with a torn rotator cuff provided they have a low to moderate pain level. The primary reason for performing rotator cuff surgery is to alleviate pain rather than to restore function. It is common for post surgical patients to lose some mobility/range of motion. Strength recovery is dictated by the size of tear, quality of the torn tissue at the time of surgery, time elapsed between injury and repair, and the surgeon’s ability to recreate the proper anatomical relationship.

It may take up to 18 months following surgery to completely recover, although most people return to normal activities of daily living in 3-6 months. On the contrary, tendonitis usually resolves within 4-6 weeks, depending on the management of the injury.

The key to avoiding rotator cuff injury is performing adequate conditioning prior to stressing it with vigorous activities. Many weekend warriors try to pick up the softball, baseball, football, etc. and begin throwing repetitively and forcefully without properly warming up. In addition, they are not likely to condition before the season like competitive athletes.

This often leads to excessive strain on the rotator cuff and swelling. The inevitable result is soreness, especially with overhead movement or reaching behind the back. The act of throwing is the most stressful motion on the shoulder. The rotator cuff is forced to decelerate the humerus during follow through at speeds up to 7000 degrees/second.

Without proper strength and conditioning, the shoulder easily becomes inflamed. Since the rotator cuff muscles are small, it is best to utilize lower resistance and higher repetitions to sufficiently strengthen them. Sample exercises include theraband or light dumbbell external and internal rotation exercises, which can be performed at various degrees of abduction.

Other common exercises include forward elevation to shoulder height in the plane of the scapula (scaption), press-ups, prone dumbbell horizontal abduction with external rotation, and diagonal arm patterns with bands, weights or medicine balls. In addition to cuff specific exercises, it is also important to strengthen the muscles around the shoulder blade. These exercises include wall push-ups with a plus (rounding shoulder blades), shrugs, rows and lower trapezius exercises.

Finally, it is important to note some precautions with general exercises routinely performed in health clubs. I recommend the following suggestions to prevent rotator cuff problems:

• Avoid lat pull downs and military presses behind the head, as they place the shoulder in a poor biomechanical position encouraging impingement.

• Do not lower the bar or dumbbells below parallel with incline/flat bench press for the aforementioned reason.

• Refrain from using too much weight with lateral shoulder raises. This exercise increases the load on the shoulder to 90% of the body weight, so there is no need to use heavy weight. It is best to maintain an arc of movement slightly in front of the body with lateral raises to decrease stress on the rotator cuff, while avoiding elevation above 90 degrees.

• Specific rotator cuff exercises can be incorporated into upper body workouts. Perform 2 sets of 15-25 repetitions for each exercise. These exercises should be done no more than three times per week to avoid overtraining.

Brian Schiff, PT, CSCS, is a respected author, physical therapist and fitness expert. For more information on his e-book on resolving rotator cuff pain, visit http://www.rotatorcufftraining.com. This article was originally published in Business First Columbus, Ohio in 2004.

Important Rotator Cuff Repair & Injury Information

2008-01-08T01:45:00.001-08:00

The rotator cuff are the muscles that cover the shoulder joint. They allow the arm to rotator and lift. As you become older, this joint become thinner and weaker, and can often be injured by light accidents. Younger individuals often have damage due to more extreme injuries. The tear normally occurs wear the muscle meets the tendon and since blood flow is minimal, rotator cuff repair can take take a long time.

If the rotator cuff tears fully then it is impossible for repair to happen naturally and surgery is needed. This procedure is 90% effective at "improving" the injury. This improvement is better than not having surgery since there will be no power or movement in the shoulder otherwise. The improvement may be good or lousy depending on the post-surgery activities.

If the tear is partial then surgery may not be the best option. The surgery will often leave the muscle weaker with less movement. Rotator cuff repair is often better with natural physical therapy help. An expert should be sought with knowledge of this injury.

Either way, injuries often cause uncomfortable pain when lifting the arm and at night. Lack of movement and power is common. Rotator cuffs do not repair themselves well with time. A exercise program is very much needed to help restore power, motion and blood flow to speed up the repairing process.

Remember that the most important step is physical therapy for rotator cuff repair in avoiding surgery or speeding up the healing process dramatically. Knowing the repair exercising will have a big effect on whether your shoulder repairs quickly or takes months with plenty of pain medications.

If you would like to know exactly the exercises you need for rotator cuff injury & tear repair then please visit this webpage: http://RotatorCuffHelp.com/repair

3 Ways to Avoid Rotator Cuff Injury

2008-01-08T01:44:00.001-08:00

Chances are if you are at all familiar with your rotator cuff it is because you have injured it at some stage. Unfortunately this group of four small muscles that support the shoulder joint can be quite vulnerable to injury in certain circumstances. Sudden stresses and strains that occur in some sports such baseball and martial arts can be very stressful to the rotator cuff and so can sloppy form or poor bio-mechanics while weight training. Even excessive repetition of certain movements in regular daily activity can exact their toll on the rotator cuff.

A rotator cuff injury is not pleasant and can be quite debilitating. If you?ve ever injured your rotator cuff you will have realized how much you took these muscles for granted prior to the injury. An injured rotator cuff can restrict your shoulder and arm movement (especially overhead movement) and can be very painful if you?re used to sleeping on your side. The injury can be very persistent, taking a long time to heal, and in extreme cases may even require surgery. That?s the bad news.

The good news is that there are steps you can take to minimize your chances of having to deal with this unpleasant injury. Here are three of them:

1. Keep your rotator cuff muscles healthy (i.e. strong and supple).
2. Always warm up properly before vigorous exercise.
3. Avoid or minimize activities and movements with a high risk of injury to the rotator cuff.

Let?s briefly look at them one at a time.

You can keep your rotator cuff muscles strong and supple in the same way you can any muscle group - by exercising and stretching the muscles regularly. There are a number of exercises and stretches that effectively target or isolate the muscles of the rotator cuff but an overall balanced routine should be sufficient unless you are recovering from an injury or participate in activities that are ?high risk? with regards to rotator cuff injury.

Always warming up properly before exercise is a rule we all know but it is also a rule many choose to ignore. Ignore this rule at your peril. When you warm up your body before exercise you are increasing blood flow to the muscles and preparing them for more strenuous work. You should do an overall warm up and if a particular part of the body will be worked especially vigorously then do a specific warm up for that area as well. Warming up is a vital factor in injury prevention. When the body and muscles are adequately warmed up you will not only perform better but you will reduce the risk of injury.

Avoiding or minimizing activities and movements with a high risk of injury to the rotator cuff may be easier said than done for some. Athletes in sports such as baseball need to pay special attention to the above two ways since their sport inherently places a lot of stress on the muscles of the cuff due to the amount of throwing involved. For the rest of us it is a little easier to avoid or minimize activities that place the shoulder in a vulnerable or painful position.

In every day activity try and keep your movements within the body?s natural range of motion. If an activity or movement makes your shoulder feel uncomfortable or slightly strained then don?t do it ? chances are you are putting the joint and muscles at risk.

If you follow these three tips then you should be able to avoid injuring your rotator cuff and at the same time improve your overall health and wellbeing.

Sean Jacey is a former personal fitness trainer who developed his own powerfully effective method of healing rotator cuff injuries after his physiotherapist told him she was unable to help him further with his chronic shoulder injury. Sean's website is RotatorCuffRemedy.com where you can find out how to heal your own rotator cuff injury.

Weight Training And Rotator Cuff Injury

2008-01-08T01:43:00.000-08:00

Bodybuilders and others who train with weights can be very susceptible to rotator cuff injury. This is because of the nature of the activity. Many isolation exercises and machines force the body to move in ways that are less than natural in terms of everyday movements. These kinds of movements place stresses on joints and muscles in ways they are unaccustomed to being stressed and this increases the likelihood of injury.

Chances are if you are at all familiar with your rotator cuff it is because you have injured it at some stage as it is a part of the body that usually goes unnoticed until something goes wrong. The rotator cuff comprises of four muscles and their respective tendons: the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor and subscapularis. These muscles work together to support the shoulder joint and unfortunately can be quite vulnerable to injury in certain circumstances. Poor form and poor exercise choice (with regard to biomechanics) as well as overuse can take their toll on the rotator cuff.

A rotator cuff injury is not pleasant and can be quite debilitating. If you?ve ever injured your rotator cuff you will have realized how much you took these muscles for granted prior to the injury. An injured rotator cuff can restrict your shoulder and arm movement (especially overhead movement) and can severely impact your ability to train effectively as the shoulder joint is used in every upper body exercise. It can also be very painful at night if you usually sleep on your side. The injury can take a long time to heal and may leave weaknesses that make the cuff susceptible to re-injury. Extreme cases may even require surgery.

Exercises and physical therapy are non-surgical ways of treating an existing rotator cuff injury but as with anything, prevention is better than cure.

So how can rotator cuff injury be prevented?

An awareness of your rotator cuff and its vulnerabilities, caution while training, strict form, warming up and cooling down effectively, good exercise choice and a balanced routine should all add up to provide solid insurance against injury and swift recovery in the event of an injury.

Anyone who engages in weight training regularly should already have good body awareness and be following a balanced routine. They should also be warming up and cooling down properly. These are the ?common sense? factors that are widely known by most weight trainers.

However, fewer weight trainers know which exercises can either place undue stress on the muscles of the rotator cuff or increase the danger of impingement and thus should be avoided or used with extreme care. One such exercise the upright row.

The upright row is usually done with heavy weight and places a lot of stress on the elbow joints and wrist joints as well as the shoulder. To look at it is a very unnatural seeming movement and this alone should give us caution. As far as the rotator cuff is concerned the problem is that at the top of the movement, where there is the most stress, the shoulder is in internal rotation and this greatly increases the chance of impingement which can result in degeneration of the rotator cuff, bursitis and tendonitis. If you find this movement in the slightest bit uncomfortable then you should seriously consider dropping it from your routine.

The upright row is just one example of a ?standard? exercise that places the rotator cuff at risk. There are others and if you train regularly you should find out if any of the exercises you routinely do are likely to be putting you at risk of injury.

Remember, prevention is better than cure.

Sean Jacey is a former personal fitness trainer who developed his own powerfully effective method of healing rotator cuff injuries after his physiotherapist told him she was unable to help him further with his chronic shoulder injury. Find out more at Sean's website: http://www.RotatorCuffRemedy.com

Rotator Cuff Muscle - Shoulder Pain

2008-01-07T04:39:00.001-08:00

Rotator cuff muscles|shoulder pain (1): Supraspinatus
This is one of the three rotator cuff muscles infamously known for giving rise to shoulder pain. It arises from the fossa above the spine of the shoulder blade bone known as supraspinous fossa. It inserts into the upper facet of the greater tuberosity of the arm bone and from the capsule of the shoulder joint.

It assists the deltoid in moving the arm away from the side of the body (abduction). It also helps to roll the arm outward (external rotation). It is supplied by the suprascapular nerve from the upper trunk of the brachial plexus. The suprascapular nerve carries the C5 and C6 nerve nerve root fibers (especially the C5 nerve root fibers) to this muscle. The tendon of this muscle is commonly involved in degenerative processes and may rupture. It can also be entrapped under the acromion.

Rotator cuff muscles|shoulder pain (2): Infraspinatus
Shoulder pain symptoms are commonly associated with a rotator cuff problem. The infraspinatus is the largest of the three muscles comprising the rotator cuff, the other two being supraspinatus and teres minor muscles.

The infraspinatus muscle arises from the infraspinous depression (fossa) of the shoulder blade bone and attaches to the middle portion of the greater tuberosity on the arm bone (humerus). It also arises from the capsule of the shoulder joint.

It functions primarily to roll the arm outward as in turning the palm forward so that the thumb is away from the midline of the body (external rotation). It is supplied by the suprascapular nerve from the upper trunk of the brachial plexus which carries the fibers of the C5 and C6 nerve roots, primarily the C6 nerve root.

Rotator cuff injuries occur because there is power mismatch between the muscles that roll the arm inward as in turning palm backward so that the thumb is toward the midline of the body (internal rotation).

There are very few muscles that can perform external rotation, namely the three rotator cuff muscles (supraspinatus, infraspinatus and teres minor) and the posterior deltoid muscle.

In contrast, there are many internal rotator muscles and they are large and powerful. These include the latissimus dorsi, teres major, pectoralis major and subscapularis muscles. Most of the activities that we do daily are performed with the shoulder in internal rotation. Therefore the internal rotators become extremely strong and tight.

The external rotator muscles are used in lengthening contraction to stabilize the shoulder joint when it is internally rotated. Also, it is prone to attrition when caught under the acromion especially with the shoulder in internal rotation. As a result, the external rotators consisting of the rotator cuff gradually fail to the point that it can even rupture.

Therefore in all cases of nerve related shoulder joint pain using the eToims Twitch Relief Method, localized activation has to be performed first to the internal rotator muscles particularly the latissimus dorsi, teres major and subscapularis muscles. The pectoralis major muscle performs shortening contractions regularly, is not subjected to lengthening contractions and therefore treatments to this muscle can be included only after treating the other three internal rotator muscles.www.stopmusclepain.com

Jennifer Chu, M.D. emeritus professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, pioneered eToims Twitch Relief Method that utilizes surface electrical stimulation to locate motor points (trigger points). The motor points are then stimulated to induce strong local muscle contractions, termed twitches. This results in reduced muscle pain and discomfort in the areas that were stimulated. The involved pain/discomfort-relieving mechanism is thought to include local muscle exercise and stretch effects. eToims Soft Tissue Comfort Center? specializes in diagnosis and treatment which ends muscle discomfort and pain. http://www.stopmusclepain.com

How To Cope With Rotator Cuff Tendonitis

2008-01-07T04:38:00.000-08:00

There are a number of treatments available from physiotherapy to anti-inflammatory medications and cortisone injections and in very extreme cases surgery.

As with most soft tissue injuries there is no ?magic pill? to fix the injury and while there are a number of things that can help, unless the injury is extreme the best thing you can do is give your body every possible chance to utilize its amazing capacity to heal itself. You can do this in a number of ways including, applying cold/warmth to reduce pain and speed healing, avoiding certain movements and activities until the injury is healed, exercising to strengthen the muscles and gentle stretching to keep the muscles flexible and the joint mobile.

At the first sign of rotator cuff tendinitis, especially where the culprit is likely to be overuse or repetitive strain, the most important thing to do is stop doing the activity you suspect to be causing the problem. Now this may seem like common sense but often athletes will try to ?train through? pain or ?train around? an injury by just going lighter on the weights or trying to train body-parts around the affected area.

If you suspect tendinitis from overuse continuing to train regardless will just cause further aggravation and intensify the injury and further prolong healing. This is the last thing you want to do because the low blood supply of tendons mean they already take a long time to heal. Where a ?strained? muscle can heal in a few days tendon injuries typically take 4 to 6 weeks to heal and often even longer depending on how long the injury has existed. (However, I have found that using a specific combination of little known techniques has, in my own experiences, brought relief usually within two weeks.)

So the first and most important thing to do is stop whatever is causing the problem. Applying ice packs can help numb the pain and may also help speed healing but be careful in the way you apply the ice so as not to cause ?ice burn?. Physiotherapy can also help speed up recovery as can gentle exercise and stretching (not in the acute phase of an injury) and also applying heat to the injured area. If you regularly sleep on your side you may want to try sleeping on your back or at least avoid sleeping on the injured side.

Everybody is different so it is important to listen to what your own body is telling you and adjust your actions accordingly. As a general rule: if a movement hurts (especially if it causes sharp pain) - don?t do it. Also remember that, as with all overuse injuries, by the time you start feeling the pain the problem has already existed for some time so the sooner you take remedial action to manage and treat the injury the better.

How to Strengthen Your Rotator Cuff for Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation

2008-01-07T04:37:00.000-08:00

Chances are if you are at all familiar with your rotator cuff it is because you have injured it at some stage. Unfortunately the group of muscles that make up the rotator cuff are quite vulnerable to injury, especially when subject to sudden stresses and strains that occur in some sports. For example, throwing a ball can be very stressful to the rotator cuff. That being said, it?s not only those participating in sports activities who are at risk of rotator cuff injury ? the rigors of just regular daily activity can also exact their toll on the rotator cuff, especially where excessive repetition is involved.

So how do we avoid injuring our rotator cuff and if it?s been injured in the past then how do we ensure the quickest recovery and minimize the likelihood of injuring it again?

The answer lies in strength. In truth there, are a number of factors but strength is a major factor and the one we will consider in this article. Quite simply: a strong rotator cuff is more likely to withstand the demands of everyday life as well as the exertion of sporting activities. Strong and healthy muscles are less likely to be strained or torn and are more resilient to higher than usual demands being placed on them. Injury recovery will also be quicker.

So how do you strengthen your rotator cuff? The same way you strengthen any muscles: exercise. There are a number of exercises that directly work the muscles of the rotator cuff and one of the easiest and most effective to do is the one I will describe below.

Before we get to the exercise I should insert a quick few words of warning: if you are already suffering an injury you should check with your doctor before performing any exercise that works the injured area. Also, if you feel any pain while exercising then back off a little ? either reduce the weight or resistance you?re using or decrease the range of motion to within pain free limits, or, if neither of these actions eliminate the pain then you should not perform that exercise until you can do it without pain.

With that out of the way, here?s how to perform the exercise:

To exercise the rotator cuff on your right hand side you lie on your left side, on a bench if you have one or otherwise the floor is fine. Position yourself so your upper right arm lies along the length of your upper body and is bent 90 degrees at the elbow to make an ?L? shape with your forearm resting across your body. Place a folded up a hand towel and position it under your right elbow so your upper arm is supported and is parallel to the floor. This is the starting position.

Take a very light dumbbell (it is essential to start with a very light weight especially if recovering from an injury) and as you exhale slowly and deliberately rotate your forearm to a vertical position all the while keeping your elbow resting on the towel and your upper arm along your body. So the finish position has your upper arm along your body and your elbow still bent at 90 degrees with your forearm vertical and your fist pointing at the roof. Lower slowly and repeat for at least 12-15 repetitions for each set.

This is just one simple exercise, easily and comfortably done by anyone, that will increase the strength of your rotator cuff. With a strong rotator cuff you will be less likely to injure it and more likely to recover quickly if you do happen to sustain an injury to the cuff. You can also use this exercise as part of a post-injury rehabilitation program but be sure to do so only under the advice of your doctor or physical therapist.

Sean Jacey is a former personal fitness trainer who developed his own powerfully effective method of healing rotator cuff injuries after his physiotherapist told him she was unable to help him further with his chronic shoulder injury. Sean's website is RotatorCuffRemedy.com where you can find out how to heal your rotator cuff injury easily and effectively.

Help After Rotator Cuff Surgery

2008-01-07T04:36:00.002-08:00

If you know that you have a torn rotator cuff then you have been to the doctor already. The

rotator cuff is the muscles that surround the shoulder and help your arm move from the shoulder

every way the it moves. If you have a torn rotator cuff you either have less ability to move your

arm and or no strength if nothing else in at least one direction. Your question is do I have to

have surgery or not. Well in a perfect world the answer is almost always yes. The problem is that

we don't live in a perfect world. Maybe you can't take off the time just because. Maybe you don't

have any insurance. We will discuss this and let you see if maybe you do have some options.

First let's look at the fact that you can't take that much time from work. Well if you don't have

a job that requires you to lift things and are making it now then it is possible that with

limitations you can make it. You probably will have problems later like arthritis but sometimes

things are what they are. I still encourage you to exhaust all possibilities if you can to get

the problem fixed. If you have a job however that does require lifting and you can't manage now

you probably won't be able to manage later. The muscles that are torn will not grow back. Not if

they were completely torn. If they were partially torn then it is possible this problem gets

better. Talk to your doctor about the possibilities. You maybe able to do some exercises for the

other muscles to counter the torn one or ones but will need a little personal instruction to find

which muscles to work. This might or might not work but if you are desperate you don't have a lot

of choice. It won't be the same even in a best case scenario but you have got to do something.

Finally let's talk a little about just not being able to afford it. You may not know this but the

doctor might be able to charge less for private pay. Yes you can negotiate your healthcare.

Preferably before the fact. You can probably even make payments if necessary. Don't just try one

doctor either. With anything you negotiate no offer is exactly the same. Don't however think that

the doctor is the only bill in surgery. You have to talk to the surgery center or hospital,

whatever applies. Yes you have options on that too. You also have to talk to the anesthiologist.

Just to be covered, find out from the doctor's office everyone that can be involved in the

billing and talk to them. You may be able to put yourself in a situation that you can afford

this. Necessity is the mother of invention.

The points to take home here are these. If you have a complete tear then you do need surgery to

get normal but at least get some exercises to compensate. If it is a partial tear it may get

better. Talk to your doctor and don't let cost kill this if you need it.

Windham Mattingly has been in the healthcare field for over 15 years. He writes articles to help you help yourself and your doctor.

Why Rotator Cuff Surgery is Not the Answer for Your Pain

2008-01-07T04:36:00.001-08:00

There is nothing fun about being injured. Not only do we have to endure pain, but we?re often faced with the thought of staggering medical bills. Many of us just pretend to ignore pain, hoping it will go away. If you climbed out of bed and have been feeling constant shoulder pain, you may have sustained a rotator cuff injury. The good news is that you don?t necessarily need rotator cuff surgery. It just depends on the extent of your injuries.

If you?re experiencing a great deal of pain in your shoulder, it?s likely that you?ve injured one of your four shoulder muscles. You may know how this occurred. In the case of athletes who throw balls every day, this could be a problem that occurred over time. These are called chronic injuries. It may, however be a one time incident such as falling or landing on your arm. These are called acute injuries. Whether chronic or acute, the Treatment depends on the seriousness of the injury. The severity of your injury will dictate whether or not you need rotator cuff surgery.

Rotator cuff surgery is not the answer to rotator cuffs that aren?t torn. If you have sustained an injury but not a tear, it is probably that your rotator cuff is inflamed. This is called ?impingement?. The good news is that impingement does not require rotator cuff surgery or really any sort of treatment at all. It will basically get better on its own, although it may take a while. Your doctor can prescribe anti-inflammatory medications or muscle relaxers to help your journey to recovery be a smoother one.

Many torn rotator cuffs do require rotator cuff surgery. This is because, if left untreated, the condition could worsen over time. Not only would you begin to experience more and more pain and discomfort. You could also end up suffering from arthritis.

It?s important to realize that you can?t diagnose yourself. A doctor can?t even tell you if you?ll need rotator cuff surgery merely by conducting a physical exam. If you sustain a rotator cuff injury, your doctor will order an anthrogram. This is a process where radioactive dye is injected through the veins and flows through to highlight the damaged areas of the shoulder, appearing on the X-ray. The doctor will then be able to determine if you have a true tear or not.

If you have sustained a serious tear, your doctor will probably advise rotator cuff surgery. If the word surgery alone sends your mind whirling with panic, don?t be alarmed. Rotator cuff surgery is usually an outpatient surgery. You probably won?t even have to spend the night in the hospital, and in many cases, this is performed under local anesthetic. This means that you won?t feel anything, but you won?t be put to sleep either.

The very next day, you will begin exercises, and within a few months you could be back to normal. Nobody wants to have surgery, but rotator cuff surgery really is a fairly straightforward procedure that can offer you mobility and pain relief.

Ralph rodriguez is interested in help sleep disorders, for further information visit us at Rotator Cuff

Rating a Surgery versus a Rotator-Cuff Tear Physical Therapy

2008-01-04T02:57:00.001-08:00

You may have experienced having gone through a physical examination, x-rays and all, then a diagnosis of a rotator-cuff tear. Now what started as an arm and shoulder pain ends with a doctor?s suggestion of an immediate surgery. But hold your fire; an effective rotator-cuff tear physical therapy may just save you from having to go through any surgery. You can even have it your way, that is, through an educated and therapist- assisted home care.

=>http://physical-therapy.need-to-know.net/

Rotator Cuff - Information about Rotator Cuff Injuries and Treatments

2008-01-04T02:56:00.001-08:00

Rotator Cuff. Probably one of the most necessary muscles in the human body, but also one of the most painful when injured. Located in the shoulder area, the rotator cuff is made up of the tendons of four muscles. These four muscles are the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and the subscapularis. The rotator cuff's job is to connect these tendons to the shoulder blade. Basically, the rotator cuff is responsible for a full range of motion in the shoulder.

Rotator cuff injury can be a painful and agonizing experience. Having personally experienced such an injury from weight lifting, I can tell you that it is one of the most painful injuries I have ever sustained. Everyday motions become painful and uncomfortable. Sleeping on the affected area is agonizing and makes it hard to enjoy a full night's sleep. If you're active in any sports, performing to your full potential with a rotator cuff injury is almost impossible.

A rotator cuff injury can be caused by many different things. In my case, incorrect form in lifting weights and continual exercise through the pain caused a tear. However, some people are just more apt to develop problems. As people age, they become more at risk. Many athletes are also more likely to tear or injure their rotator cuff as well. A partial tear in the rotator cuff will allow for full range of motion, but it will be painful or tender in most areas of the shoulder. A full tear, however, will leave the person unable to fully raise their arm.

There are many different rotator cuff exercises in which strengthen the muscles and can help lead to a full recovery. Your best bet is to visit your local doctor so you can get a proper diagnosis of the problem. In many cases, other areas of the shoulder may be injured and not the rotator cuff itself. Through a combination of ultra sound heating, deep massages, and a variety of different rotator cuff exercises and stretches, almost any rotator cuff injury can be cured and you can get back to living a normal, pain-free life!

In the rare case that rotator cuff exercises do not help solve the problem, surgery is available to repair the damage. However, it is recommended that you at least first attempt to use exercises and other methods to help fix the problem before resorting to surgery. In many cases, rotator cuff surgery leaves a patient with a longer recovery time before being able to use their shoulder pain free. As always, discuss all options with your doctor or a medical professional before starting any exercise regimen.

http://www.rotator-cuff.net

Rotator Cuff - Rotator Cuff Inuries - Facts and Information

Avoiding A Bench Press Blowout - Rotator Cuff Training

2008-01-04T02:54:00.002-08:00

Another article about the bench press you ask? Whether you agree or not the barbell bench press is one of the most highly regarded weight room exercises period. Have you heard this conversation in the gym lately?

"So how much weight can you use for preacher curls?"

"I'm moving some heavy weight, how much can you use for kickbacks?"

"I've been struggling on those and I have a kickback meet coming up in a few months!"

I'll take a wild guess and say this conversation has never and will never take place. The truth is the vast majority of individuals measure their strength and even their manhood based on how much they can bench. You could be at the gym, or even at a bar having a beer but when the topic of working out comes up people are almost certain to ask the infamous question, "How much you bench?" If you don't care how strong you are then I don't know why you're lifting weights anyway. The bench press is a benchmark of your strength plain and simple.

Back to the conversation we didn't hear at the gym. What our friends above should have been asking each other isn't how much weight they use when doing kickbacks but rather how much weight they use when they're performing a lower pulley external rotation exercise. Did I lose you there? I know, I know we declared the bench press is the true measure of our strength not all these isolation and stabilizer exercises right?

This is true, but have you ever heard the expression, you're only as strong as your weakest link? When you bench press there are four tiny muscles that play a major role in whether your bench press takes off or if you're going to suffer from a bench press blowout. Build these muscles up and you can dramatically decrease the chance of blowing out your shoulder. If you're benching heavy weight and not paying attention to these muscles you run the risk of muscular imbalances, shoulder pain, and getting stuck in a serious plateau.

When bench pressing it essential to have stability and strength in the shoulder. The four relatively small muscles predominantly responsible for stabilizing the shoulder - teres minor, infraspinatous, supraspinatous and sucscapularous - are known collectively as the 'rotator cuff'. When these muscles contract they pull on the rotator cuff tendon, causing the shoulder to rotate. While bench pressing you may experience some rotator or shoulder pain, during part of the movement. This is likely due to weak muscles in this area. Weak muscles are often but not always the cause of rotator cuff impingement syndrome and associated rotator cuff tears. If you have the rotator cuff strength of a little girl, your body has no choice but to limit the amount of weight you can stabilize and move to prevent injury. It's not uncommon to see an individual break through a bench press sticking point simply by incorporating direct rotator cuff training.

OK maybe now I have your attention. So how do you make sure your rotator cuff isn't the weak link in your bench press? Or even more importantly how will you prevent a bench press blowout where you damage the rotator cuff? Like we discussed you need to strengthen the muscles, so let's take a look at this workout routine. Remember if you already have an injury you should not use this routine as a rehab program but rather visit a sports medicine physician. If you want to prevent a future injury and break past a bench press sticking point then follow this routine twice a week. If you're not in pain now, that's an even better reason to follow my advice. Trust me if you have a nagging injury you're not going to be growing or getting any stronger. Train smart, so that you can hit the weight hard when you do bench.

The first thing you need to do is stretch the muscles you are about to train. Make sure you have warmed up for a good five minutes on the bike or treadmill before you start stretching. This will help you acquire greater flexibility. You already know stretching is important so just do it. You don't need any equipment for this stretch. You can do it one arm at a time or with both arms at the same time. Extend your arms out from the torso at a right angle. Now bend your elbows at a 90-degree angle. Place your forearms on the frame of the doorway and lean forward. You will feel the stretch in your pecs and the back of your shoulders. Hold the stretch for 20-30 seconds. Next I want you to hang from a pull up bar for 20-30 seconds. This isn't a grip strength test so no you don't have to hang on for the full 30 seconds.

Cuban Press Rotation

Grab an EZ Curl bar and perform a wide grip upright row until the bar is a few inches below your collar bone. Now keep your elbows stationary while you externally rotate the bar as if you were trying to tap your forehead. Next you will press the bar overhead. Lower the weight along the same plane and repeat for ten reps. You will not be able to use the same weight you use for standard overhead presses due to the external rotation. This exercise won't build your ego right now, but you'll be thanking me when your bench press increases.

Cable External Rotation

Raise the pulley until it is even with your elbow. You'll be standing sideways next to the weight stack so if your right hand is holding the handle, your left foot should be closest to the weight stack. Grasp the cable attachment with your far arm while keeping your elbow close to your side and forearm across your stomach. Your palm should be facing in. Pull cable attachment away from body by externally rotating your shoulder. Return and repeat. Turn around and continue with opposite arm.

Cable Internal Rotation

Again raise the pulley until it is even with elbow. You'll be standing sideways next to the weight stack but this time if your right hand is holding the handle your right foot should be closest to the weight stack. Grasp the cable attachment with the closest arm. Keep your elbow close to your side with your palm facing in. Pull the cable attachment across your body by internally rotating your shoulder. Return and repeat. Turn around and continue with opposite arm.

90-Degree Dumbbell External Rotation

To finish off the infraspinatus, hold a dumbbell in each hand, and perform a lateral raise to 90-degrees while keeping the elbows bent at 90-degrees. Once your upper arms are parallel to the floor, externally rotate your arm so that your forearms are perpendicular to the floor. It will look like starting point of a dumbbell military press. Now lower and repeat. Remember to use light weight. The infraspinatus is a tiny muscle so it can't handle a heavy load. The shoulder horn is a great piece of equipment that keeps your arms in place while you perform this motion.

Do three sets of ten repetitions for each exercise. Perform the routine once a week in conjunction with your current workout. This is important so listen up. The last thing you want to do is pre-exhaust your rotator cuff before training the bench press. Never do this workout prior to a heavy bench press or shoulders session or you run an even greater risk of aggravating the area. You can give these exercises a try at the end of your workout, but be sure you always give your rotator cuff muscles 48-hours rest after a workout before training chest or shoulders.

Points To Remember:

The muscles of the rotator cuff are very small. Even if you're pushing five bills on the bench press you'll still be using five-pound dumbbells for many rotator cuff exercises. So leave your ego at the door!

Avoid lat pulldowns and military presses behind the head as they place the shoulder in a poor biomechanical position which enourages impingement.

Training your rotator cuff muscles can help you avoid pain, prevent future injuries, and fix muscular imbalances.

It's not uncommon for a trainee to add 20+ pounds to their bench press simply by strengthening the rotator cuff muscles.

Never perform a rotator cuff routine prior to bench pressing or overhead pressing movements.

If you feel serious pain in your shoulder it may be too late. Go see a sports medicine physician.

We all know people who were really into bodybuilding/powerlifting and looked forward to bench pressing only to eventually drop out after a few years of hardcore training. Why? In many cases nagging injuries especially those of the shoulder, simply took the fun out of it. This doesn't have to happen to you so you're ahead of the game. The best thing you can do to keep your shoulders healthy, and make sure your bench press continues to improve is strengthen your rotator cuff muscles so that they will never be your weakest link! After all your bench press will be going nowhere fast if you're injured. Pick up the girlie weights for a few sets once a week so you'll experience a bench press blastoff instead of a bench press blowout.

Mike Westerdal is the President of Critical Bench, Inc. He earned his BS from Central CT State University and holds certification as a personal trainer with the American Council on Exercise. Westerdal also has experience coaching and playing professional football. His articles are published throughout the Web and in numerous weight lifting magazines. His personal best RAW bench press is 450 lbs. Mike can be contacted at his Web site http://www.criticalbench.com or by emailing mike@criticalbench.com. For more information on increasing your bench press read about the Critical Bench Program here.

Physical Therapists Solution to a Rotator Cuff Tear that may help you Avoid Surgery

2008-01-04T02:54:00.001-08:00

After a thorough physical examination, including x-rays, my Doctor diagnosed my arm and shoulder pain as a rotator cuff tear and naturally suggested immediate surgery. "The Ultimate Rotator Cuff Training Guide" by Physical Therapist Brian Schiff has so far saved me from having to go through that surgery.

After I heard the Doctor's diagnosis and suggestion, I searched the library and the internet for non-surgical solutions. I may have found a possible answer. I started using Brian Schiff's Training Guide and followed his very explicit directions for the stretching, range of motion moves and exercises. I am in week 2 of a 4-6 week regime and have noticed a marked improvement.

In this article I am attempting to explain how this Training Guide has worked for me and would suggest that you to try this method before considering surgery.

Brian Schiff graduated from The Ohio State University in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science degree of Physical Therapy in Allied Health Professions. Since then, he has practiced as a licensed physical therapist specializing in sports medicine.? Through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, Brian became a certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) in 1998.

By doing the exercises in "The Ultimate Rotator Cuff Training Guide", I came to understand that it was a highly efficient system for relieving pain in the shoulder. Brian Schiff put together the guide for people with frozen shoulder, osteoarthritis, Rotator Cuff tendonitis, Rotator Cuff tears, impingement or bursitis.

Don't be intimidated by the fancy words, Brian explains what they all mean and how to use the exercises to alleviate pain. He goes into a detailed description of each particular problem and how to best use the different exercises to your greatest advantage.

In the Ultimate Rotator Guide one of its most valued points is that Brain doesn't just write out how to do each motion, he has pictures of him actually performing each move. This is extremely helpful in showing you the right form for each exercise. The right form is essential in making the motions work for you. So, not only does he outline how to do the moves in the eBook, he has added pictures in all aspects of each move. In the very beginning of the eBook he answers frequently asked questions that he knows from experience.

Another invaluable part of getting his eBook is that if you have any other questions you can email him. I did, and he always got back to me on the same day.

When I first started the program I thought that it was impossible to take this much time everyday. However, after the first week when I had practiced the moves it didn't take nearly as much time as in the beginning. I was able to smoothly do all the moves in less than thirty minutes.

Normally there are always some weaknesses in eBooks but I couldn't find any in the Ultimate Rotator Guide. My experience is that it is taking away most of my Rotator Cuff pain and is keeping me away from Rotator Cuff surgery. Remember, I am in week two and much has been accomplished.

Wouldn't you use a program that would take away most, if not all of your shoulder pain? If you want to learn how to strengthen your shoulder and relieve your aching I would highly recommend "The Ultimate Rotator Training Guide". In fact, I give it 9 out of 10. I can't thank Brian enough for supplying this valuable information and hopefully saving me from surgery.

Visit Mary Hanna's websites at: Web Marketing Reviews Cruise Travel and Review of the Rotator Cuff Guide

Squaring the Golf Club Face, the Rotator Cuff, and Golf Fitness Exercises

2008-01-04T02:52:00.000-08:00

We all know the clubface must be square at impact and the club releases thereafter. Generally speaking a large amount of swing mechanics are centered upon returning the clubface to square at impact. In order to square the clubface at impact a combination of separate but connect components work together. The first of these components is your golf swing mechanics. The biomechanics of the golf swing are an intricate series of movements, in a sequential order, and executed with a specific timing. The golf swing mechanics if performed correctly allow for the clubface to return square at impact. In conjunction with golf swing mechanics the body executes these biomechanics. In relation to the body, specific muscles are very active in returning the clubface to square. The golf swing is a "total body" activity involving the entire neuromuscular system in the execution of the golf swing. Looking at a specific part of the body and squaring of the clubface, we can see a significant connection to certain muscles. During certain phases of the golf swing we see a rotation of the clubface in the backswing, returning of the clubface to square at impact, and release of the club in the follow through. These three actions within golf swing require rotation of the arms. The action occurring within the arms is elevation, internal, and external rotation. This allows the club to rotate, return to square, and release during the follow through. That being said, there are specific muscles involved in the rotation of the arms. Again, these are not the only muscles involved in squaring the clubface, but from an anatomical perspective, these muscles are active in the internal and external rotation of the arms. Going back to squaring the clubface, internal and external rotation of the arms is required. The muscles we are talking about are the rotator cuff muscles. Yes, the rotator cuff. Not necessarily a group of muscles that go "hand-in-hand" with the golf swing and probably more thought of when we talk about baseball and pitching. Nevertheless, these muscles are an active in the golf swing. The rotator cuff is a reference to four muscles in the shoulder complex. For those of you who love the science behind this stuff, the four muscles that comprise the rotator cuff are; supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis. The rotator cuff has a couple primary functions when it comes to the shoulder complex. First off, they act to stabilize the shoulder capsule. The skeletal structure comprising the shoulder is a ball and socket joint. The "socket" part of this joint is very shallow, and the rotator cuff muscles help to stabilize and essentially keep the arm from coming out of the joint. The rotator cuff provides tension during movement to keep the shoulder joint stabile. The rotator cuff creates what is called a musculotendinous joint for the shoulder, stabilizing the shoulder. Secondly, these four muscles are actively involved in elevating, internally, and externally rotating the arms. All of which are movements involved in the golf swing. Utilize a picture of the golf swing and the actions involved in the phases of the golf swing to create the connection. During the backswing, downswing, and follow through these muscles assist in the biomechanics of the golf swing. The rotation of the arms in the backswing, squaring of the clubface at impact, and release of the club during the follow through are some basic components of the golf swing where the rotator cuff is involved in the golf swing. The shoulder joint and rotator cuff muscles are subject to overuse and early degeneration. The repeatable action of the golf swing, and involvement of the rotator cuff in the golf swing add to this situation. These two factors; the repeatable nature of the golf swing, and subject of the rotator cuff to over use injuries point to the need of injury preventative rotator cuff exercises. Injury preventative rotator cuff exercises should be a part of a comprehensive golf fitness program. The goals of a golf fitness program are two fold; number one to prevent injury to the body from the stresses placed upon it by the golf swing. Number two is performance improvement. Rotator cuff exercises within a golf fitness program fall into category number one. These types of golf fitness exercises develop additional strength and endurance within the rotator cuff muscles. The purpose of the added strength and endurance is to prevent overuse injuries from occurring. The added strength and endurance allow for the golfer to execute the biomechanics of the golf swing over and over again without fatigue or comprise the joint structure of the shoulder. During my years on tour, I have never seen someone injure a cuff muscle from swinging a golf club. I have seen rotator cuff injuries impede a golf swing, and if you have ever injured your rotator cuff, you know how debilitating an injury it can be. The point being this: The rotator cuff muscles are actively involved in the golf swing. The biomechanics of the golf swing are a repeatable athletic action, stressing the muscles of the rotator cuff every swing. In order to combat a rotator cuff injury from occurring, the implementation of rotator cuff exercises in a comprehensive golf fitness program can be beneficial. These types of golf fitness exercises are injury preventative. Assisting to develop high levels of strength and endurance in the muscles of the rotator cuff. Preventing breakdown from over use. Injury to rotator cuff can be very debilitating to your golf swing or any activity for that case. And I suggest regardless if you are avid golfer or a weekend warrior. Implementing a series of rotator cuff exercises to them healthy is a good idea.

Sean CochranSean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2004 Masters, 2005 PGA, and 2006 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. He has made many of his golf tips, golf instruction and golf swing improvement techniques available to amateur golfers on the website www.bioforcegolf.com. To contact Sean, you can email him at support@bioforcegolf.com.