|
New Location
Don't worry, I haven't gone far. I'm still at the Downingtown Spirit of Yoga Wellness Center. I just moved to a different room, next to Pam's office. It's slightly larger and has a closet, so you no longer have to look at my boxes of table paper. It makes for a cleaner, more relaxing space and I'm very happy.
The Human Shoulder
We can do amazing things with our arms. Lift them overhead, cross our chests, even link our hands at our spines. In fact, the shoulder is the most mobile joint in our bodies, thanks to its "ball and socket" configuration. See how the head of the humerus (upper arm bone) fits into the scapula (that triangular bone in your upper back) like a baseball into a glove? It can spin on the smooth, round surface to provide a spectacular range of motion.
 Just as with national politics, there's always a trade-off between freedom and stability. The complexity of this joint makes it prone to a varity of injuries. Cartilage lines the articulating joint surfaces to create a smooth track for movement. If torn, it takes a very long time to heal and may require surgery. There's the bursa, a fluid-filled sac that provides cushioning. Inflammation here, called bursitis, can be very painful. Rest, ice, anti- inflammatory drugs, and of course acupuncture are the best treatments. The well-known rotator cuff is actually a set of four deep muscles that stabilize the joint and work to rotate the humerus. Three (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and teres minor) can be seen in the drawing below of the back view of the shoulder. The fourth, subscapularis, attaches to the front of the scapula and goes to the front of the humerus and the joint capsule. If torn, they will require rest and then specialized exercises to repair.
Overtop the rotator cuff is a layer of larger muscles, such as the latissimus dorsi & teres major (back), and the pectoralis muscles (front), and the deltoid (that roundy bit at the corner). These are your heavy duty movers. Ironically, since the lats and pecs both attach to the front of the humerus, unbalanced exercising can lead to an internally rotated shoulder, or "ape" posture. This is a great example of the importance of an intelligent, balanced workout plan. Then of course there are all the muscles that continue down the arm to control the elbow, including the triceps and biceps.*
If any of these muscles are dysfunctional, the bursa is irritated, or the cartilage is torn, you can have shoulder pain and loss of range of motion. Connective tissue can adhere, and scar tissue builds up over time. In extreme cases, you can develop Frozen Shoulder, which is exactly what it sounds like. There are other causes of shoulder pain, too, ranging from nerves being pinched at the neck to gallbladder disease, but these musculoskeletal problems are the most common.
Acupuncture can reduce inflammation, increase bloodflow, relax tight muscles, and speed healing. Osteopathic bodywork will break up scar tissue, release myofascial adhesions, and retrain the neurological system. This allows chronically tight muscles to return to normal. In most cases, therapeutic exercise is important for complete healing.
*Please
note that I'm simplifying the anatomy quite a bit for the purposes of
this newsletter. If you're interested in all the marvelous details of
our bodies, I highly recommend Netter.
Point of the Month: St-38,
Tiao Kou (Ribbon or Narrow Opening)
Like all acupuncture points this one will work locally, so it's good for leg problems, but what really makes ST-38 useful is it's effect on opposite shoulder pain. I tend to find this point a little more laterally (to the side) than its classical location. Feel around for a tight or sore spot and press on it for a few seconds. It will be more tender if it's needed. Remember to use the left side for right shoulder issues and vice versa.
Thanks for reading! Next month... Knees!
|
