Trigger Points and Shoulder Pain

Trigger points can be a huge culprit in many aches, pains and restrictions we feel in the body. Many of us at one time or another has experienced shoulder pain. Some of you have gone so far as to have surgery for a frozen shoulder or rotator cuff issue.

There are about 20 muscles that make up the shoulder. Since the shoulder is a highly utilized part of the body, the muscles can easily become overworked. What happens is a typical domino effect. One muscle gets a little bunched up with a trigger point or two. Since there are 19 other shoulder muscles, the bunched up muscle asks his neighbors for a little help. They pitch in and help keep the shoulder rockin' and rollin' until they develop trigger points of their own. And this results in a shoulder that full of trigger points and not very happy.

So suddenly, you are at happy hour and find that you have trouble holding on to your beer - at it's only the first beer of the night. You start to feel pain (this probably doesn't occur until after happy hour) and notice reduced range of motion in the shoulder joint and perhaps numbness. Then you find that simple daily activities become more challenging and that you wake up at night with pain or numbness. And God help some of us if we don't get good beauty sleep!

Before rushing off to the doctor for some fine injectibles, consider having a massage therapist work on your shoulder, preferably a massage therapist who understands trigger points. Sometimes by releasing the trigger points of the shoulder and surrounding muscle groups, pain can be reduced, range of motion restored and nerves become uncompressed! Once these trigger points have been released, physical therapy, exercise and stretching came be very helpful to maintain a healthy structural balance within the shoulder.

Sometimes trigger point therapy can be a tender therapy to receive. Your therapist should work within your comfort zone. But keep in mind, Rome was built in a day and it may take several treatments to relieve these trigger points. Long standing trigger points may be a little stubborn to release their tension at first. Patience!!

Shoulder pain can also be caused by joint degeneration or perhaps a misaligned spine. A good therapist will know if you need to be referred to medical professional for additional treatments.