Rotator Cuff Stuff!
Today I want to talk about Anatomy and Physiology a little bit. I am going to focus on your rotator cuff, AKA: your shoulder muscles. Your shoulder is a ball in socket joint that is entirely held in place with muscles, tendons and ligaments. Obviously we use our shoulders constantly whether for driving, carrying loads or equipment, even typing & using a mouse or just reaching for things! All of us say we carry our tension in our neck and shoulders, and it is my passion… nay my calling to help you live life well! Part of that is helping your muscles go back to their healthy, natural state that they already want to go back to for you!
- Muscle Whisperer
My goal is that you will never get a massage from me and leave feeling like it was ineffective! I had a new client recently tell me that after I worked on them that, “all the other massages that they had ever had before were ineffective and insignificant!”
My “Muscle Whispering” Technique includes a variety of therapies but today I want to focus on specifically Neuromuscular Therapy or Muscle Activation Technique. This is one of the most effective forms of massage that I utilize. It involves me applying pressure to the muscle group while the client activates the muscle slightly and then releases. This causes the fibers to work and then let go a little bit more every time until it has fully let go!
Now, I never want anyone to feel that they are subjected to what I want to do or my agenda! I always use a pressure scale with my clients & communicate with them throughout the massage because honestly sometimes less is more!
Ok, so the rotator cuff is made up of the SITS muscles or Supra Spinatus, Infra Spinatus, Teres Minor and Subscapularis. This is where they are located
- Scapula has a lateral spine ~ Supra above and Infra below
- Teres is on the lowest part of the scapula. But it is the “Humdinger” of the 4 in my opinion! When that thing gets overtaxed it can single-handedly lock up the whole rotator cuff causing major pain and really limited range of motion!
- The Subscapularis is located “under” the Scapula, so in your armpit!
Really quickly I am going to have you all try a little Neuromuscular Therapy on yourselves for your rotator cuff! Lift your right arm out to your side like you are going to wave to someone. Your arm should be 90 degrees from your body. Now put your left thumb into the bottom of your armpit! Rotate your arm down to the table and while pushing into your armpit press your hand into the table slightly. That is your subscapularis! This muscle works so hard and it will be sore, so be nice to it! If your do this a couple times you will feel it begin to let go or relax!
So when someone comes in to see me and is complaining of decreased range of motion, weakness, numbness or tingling, pain or cramping of any area of the shoulder or arm I will automatically work the whole rotator cuff or SITS muscles.
I have seen more often than not, immediate improvement after a massage, from little to no pain and increased range of motion and eventually total recouperation. Many people have come to me as a last ditch effort before they check out surgery! So if you are dealing with any of these symptoms or if you hear anyone complaining of any kind of shoulder pain send them into Heidi’s Healing Hands your “Muscle Whisperer”!