Understanding and Managing Shoulder Pain: How Massage Therapy Can Help

If you've ever experienced shoulder pain, you know how disruptive it can be. The shoulders are involved in nearly all upper body movements, and when pain sets in, even simple activities like working at a computer, walking the dog, or playing a round of golf, can become uncomfortable or even impossible. Sleep is often affected as well, making recovery even harder.

In my clinical experience, massage therapy is a highly effective approach for managing many types of shoulder pain - particularly those related to muscle overuse, poor posture, and stress. While there are various causes of shoulder pain, some of the most common in day-to-day practice include:

• Overuse injuries from repetitive tasks

• Muscle tension due to prolonged sitting or computer use

• Chronic poor posture

• Stress-related muscle tightness

There are three muscles that are frequently involved in persistent shoulder pain:

• Infraspinatus: Part of the rotator cuff, this deep shoulder muscle is commonly affected in people who spend extended hours working at a desk or computer. When irritated, it can push pain deep into the shoulder and down the arm, and may make it hard to find a comfortable sleeping position.

• Trapezius: A large upper back and neck muscle, the trapezius often becomes tight with stress or poor posture. Trigger points in this muscle can lead to upper shoulder pain, neck stiffness, and tension headaches.

• Levator Scapulae: This muscle helps lift the shoulder blade and is a frequent source of neck pain and tightness. Almost everyone experiences discomfort in this muscle at some point, often described as "knots" along the upper shoulder.

How Massage Therapy Can Help:

Massage therapy can be particularly effective for muscle-related shoulder pain. Benefits include:

• Relaxing tight muscles and breaking the cycle of chronic tension

• Improving blood circulation, which may help reduce inflammation and promote healing

• Enhancing lymphatic drainage, potentially decreasing local swelling

• Reducing trigger point activity, helping to relieve pain

• Breaking down adhesions and scar tissue in chronically tight muscles

When integrated with proper ergonomics, posture corrections, and where necessary, physiotherapy or medical care, massage therapy can be a powerful tool for restoring function and comfort. While results vary from person to person, many individuals report noticeable improvements after just a few sessions.

Edited and updated from an article written by Matthew Tian in 2018

 Matthew Tian is a registered massage therapist, certified practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture. He is the clinical director of Meridian Massage & Physiotherapy located in South Oakville Centre. Matthew was a neurologist before he immigrated to Canada. He was both trained in traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine. He also earned a Master’s degree in physiology.