When it comes to discomfort in the human body, 80% of all potential discomfort is related to soft tissue. Many people today are losing their range of motion for various reasons such as shortened muscle fibers, muscle strains, bone spurs, thickened bursa, compressed nerves and blood vessels. Soft tissue work such as P.N.F. stretching, multidirectional frictioning, eccentric muscle resistance, myofascial spreading, compression, and trigger point therapy can dramatically reduce or eliminate the true source of your dysfunction.

There are four rotator cuff muscles in each shoulder, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis. These muscles support the integrity of the humerus as it articulates with the scapula and surrounding structures. Subscapularis is seldom injured because of its location as well as the size and strength of the humeral tendon attachment. Infraspinatus and teres minor are generally over stretched which can create a perfect environment for muscle strains within those tissues. The supraspinatus muscle is usually the biggest culprit in shoulder injuries. This rotator cuff muscle travels under a bony prominence called the acromian process and attaches to the superior portion of the humerus.

Through our daily activities we shorten the muscle fibers, and in turn the tendon thickens, creating limited space between the acrimony process and the humerus. This may eventually result in R.O.M. problems, bursitis, muscle strains (micro tears in tissues) or even adhesive capsulitis (Frozen Shoulder). There are other injuries such as anterior, medial, or posterior deltoid strains, bicipital tendon strains, coracobrachialis strains as well as muscle strains to the pectoralis muscles. Many of these conditions may mimic rotator cuff problems. All of these conditions can be assessed through specific muscle testing and treated with great success using specific orthopedic techniques, most of which are pain free.

Scott Kingsbury is a Licensed Massage Therapist, certified Reflexologist and Reflexology Instructor. Please call 321-693-3879 for information and appointments. (MA30910)