I would never have thought over the years that I would actually be glad to have an injury!  No, I am not saying that getting an injury is great… but, once you have an injury, it really helps you to learn more about your body and its capabilities (notice I did not say limitations).  Yes, this is a “glass half full” approach to my recent diagnosis of a tear in my shoulder.

Shoulder injuries are very common due to the structure of the joint.  It’s one of the most mobile joints in the human body and is surrounded by muscles, tendons, ligaments, bursa, nerves and blood vessels.  Damage to any one of these structures can cause pain and loss of function, according Dr. Franchesca Harper in her article on Shoulder Injuries from Weight Lifting.

But, you don’t have to be an athlete to have a shoulder injury.  A repetitive action over time can lead to a plethora of possibilities for something to go wrong in this area of your body.  An injury could be very specific to a particular movement like an overhead throw for a pitcher, or as simple as reaching behind you to pull your traveling suitcase.  Activities combined with poor posture and muscle imbalances can all contribute  shoulder injury.

According to the  American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery, injuries to the tissue  surrounding the shoulder socket can occur from acute trauma or repetitive shoulder motion.  Some examples include falling on the outreached arm, a direct blow to the shoulder, or a sudden pull when trying to lift a heavy object or overhead reach.

Well, after ample research and some self assessments, my injury falls under the category of the overhead reach combined with a repetitive shoulder motion.  Yikes!  How could that have happened?

As a fitness “expert” and massage therapist, one would think I would have known better.  Years of weight training, swimming endurance events and just the nature of me getting older are several variables that contributed to this process.  The reality is that the term “modification of activities and movement” is now part of my vocabulary and upcoming lifestyle.

With that being said, I find that it is important to look at the big picture and really define wellness.  According to Dr. Dorette Nysewander’s Seven Dimensions of Wellness, physical is only one of them.  The other six dimensions of wellness include occupation, spiritual, emotional, intellectual, social and environmental.  Having an injury helps to learn how balanced you are with the other dimensions and how to create a homeostasis – even with an injury.

So, what is ahead?  Now that I’ve had a formal diagnosis made, it’s off to see a physician that can prescribe a treatment plan.  Keeping my fingers crossed, I am leaning towards medication and rehabilitation exercises. This combined with regular massages has worked in the past for some of my past injuries.  Massage helps to reduce the tension around the joint region and additional strain placed on the injury.  It also helps with circulation, bringing fluid needed to repair the tissue, while helping to reduce scar tissue that could develop.  educing scar tissue that could develop.

Surgery is not my preference, but may be necessary to avoid further damage.  Stay tuned for the results of consultation!

-Posted by Pauline Lockard, CMT