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| Do Not Shoulder the Burden! |
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by Lisa B. Minn, PT - April 4, 2011
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Shoulder pain is a common occurrence yet can be complex in nature. It can be the result of injuries old or new, wear and tear of the glenohumeral joint, or from stiffness of the joint capsule, a la the enigmatic ‘frozen shoulder’. Shoulder pain can be referred from the neck. A bulging disk or irritated nerve can make the shoulder hurt. Shoulder pain can even have a visceral origin, anything from a heart attack or liver disease to an irritated diaphragm. So, as you can see, it is important to pay attention to shoulder pain!
Once you’ve established that the etiology of the pain is indeed musculoskeletal, it is important to have good therapy to fully restore shoulder function and prevent chronic pain in the future. Last month PTJess blogged about some common shoulder pathologies and why it is so important to take good care of your shoulders.
Yoga, when done without regard to alignment, can actually injure shoulders. This is especially true for those who are very flexible, either by way of their genetic heritage or from years of practice. But the right kind of yoga with the right kind of teacher can be very effective for preventing shoulder injuries and even helpful in the rehabilitation process. Last week, Andria B. Davis of Yoga Ventures published a nice, comprehensive explanation of how yoga can help to prevent or relieve shoulder pain.
So if your shoulders begin hurt, see a PT for an evaluation of why you have pain and what can be done about it. Then relax, breathe and do yoga that will relieve your burdens.
 Lisa Minn is a licensed physical therapist and yoga enthusiast. She has been incorporating aspects of Yoga and Pilates into her physical therapy practice since 2001 and became a certified yoga instructor in 2004. Her experience ranges from working with athletes at West Point and Georgetown to instructing elderly and wheelchair-bound clients in the fundamentals of Hatha Yoga. Lisa has conducted several lectures and workshops across the US, as well as in Honduras and Peru, where she volunteered her services. She currently resides and practices in Northern California. This and other articles by Lisa can be found at The Pragmatic Yogi.
The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.
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