Remedy Wellness Centre: Massage, Chiropractor, Physiotherapy, Acupuncture, Counseling
  • Home
  • Telehealth
    • LOG IN FOR TELEHEALTH APPOINTMENTS HERE
  • Services
    • Acupuncture >
      • Five Element Acupuncture
      • Acupuncture for Acne
      • Acupuncture for Allergies
      • Acupuncture for Cardiovascular Health
      • Acupuncture for Digestive Health
      • Acupuncture for Fertility
      • Acupuncture for Inflammatory Conditions
      • Acupuncture for Migraines and Headaches
      • Acupuncture for Muscle Pain
      • Acupuncture for Runners
      • Acupuncture for Stress
    • Athletic Therapy >
      • Athletic Therapy for Hypermobility
    • Chiropractic
    • Counseling For Chronic Pain >
      • Depression
      • Anxiety
      • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
    • Craniosacral Therapy
    • Neurokinetic Therapy
    • Kinesiology & Clinical Exercise Physiology >
      • Kinesiology For Running Injuries
      • Small Group Kinesiology
    • Rehab Pilates
    • Registered Massage Therapy >
      • Massage Therapy for Pregnancy
      • Massage Therapy for Arthritis
      • Stress Management
    • Shockwave >
      • Shockwave Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis
      • Shockwave Therapy for Achilles Tendonitis
      • Shockwave Therapy for Trigger Points
    • Physiotherapy
    • Traditional Chinese Medicine >
      • Acupuncture and TCM for Eczema
      • Acupuncture and TCM for Gout
      • TCM for Immune Support
      • TCM and Massage for Insomnia
      • TCM for Panic Attacks
    • Wellness Workshops
    • Direct Insurance Billing
  • Team
    • Join Our Team
    • Bogdan Pyasta, Registered Massage Therapist
    • Caroline O'Hara, Acupuncturist
    • Daniel Rashid C., Physiotherapist
    • Dong Wei Li, Registered Acupuncturist and TCM
    • Douglas Kropp, RMT
    • Izzy Shafey , Registered Massage Therapist
    • Jenn Maurice, RMT
    • Justine Achelberger, Athletic Therapist
    • Kasey Thompson, RMT
    • Ken Alexander, Chiropractor
    • Kira MacFayden, RMT
    • Laura Bondy, Registered Massage Therapist
    • Lindsay Daniels, Registered Massage Therapist
    • Megan Phillips, Kinesiologist & Clinical Exercise Physiologist
    • Sandra Kriese, RMT
    • Steve Ferris, RMT
    • Tania Castilho, Registered Clinical Counsellor
    • Taylor Watson, RMT
  • Contact
    • Privacy & Cancellation Policy
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • FAQs
  • Blog
  • Resources
  • Book Online
    • Book an Appointment
  • Covid19 Updates
  • Home
  • Telehealth
    • LOG IN FOR TELEHEALTH APPOINTMENTS HERE
  • Services
    • Acupuncture >
      • Five Element Acupuncture
      • Acupuncture for Acne
      • Acupuncture for Allergies
      • Acupuncture for Cardiovascular Health
      • Acupuncture for Digestive Health
      • Acupuncture for Fertility
      • Acupuncture for Inflammatory Conditions
      • Acupuncture for Migraines and Headaches
      • Acupuncture for Muscle Pain
      • Acupuncture for Runners
      • Acupuncture for Stress
    • Athletic Therapy >
      • Athletic Therapy for Hypermobility
    • Chiropractic
    • Counseling For Chronic Pain >
      • Depression
      • Anxiety
      • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
    • Craniosacral Therapy
    • Neurokinetic Therapy
    • Kinesiology & Clinical Exercise Physiology >
      • Kinesiology For Running Injuries
      • Small Group Kinesiology
    • Rehab Pilates
    • Registered Massage Therapy >
      • Massage Therapy for Pregnancy
      • Massage Therapy for Arthritis
      • Stress Management
    • Shockwave >
      • Shockwave Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis
      • Shockwave Therapy for Achilles Tendonitis
      • Shockwave Therapy for Trigger Points
    • Physiotherapy
    • Traditional Chinese Medicine >
      • Acupuncture and TCM for Eczema
      • Acupuncture and TCM for Gout
      • TCM for Immune Support
      • TCM and Massage for Insomnia
      • TCM for Panic Attacks
    • Wellness Workshops
    • Direct Insurance Billing
  • Team
    • Join Our Team
    • Bogdan Pyasta, Registered Massage Therapist
    • Caroline O'Hara, Acupuncturist
    • Daniel Rashid C., Physiotherapist
    • Dong Wei Li, Registered Acupuncturist and TCM
    • Douglas Kropp, RMT
    • Izzy Shafey , Registered Massage Therapist
    • Jenn Maurice, RMT
    • Justine Achelberger, Athletic Therapist
    • Kasey Thompson, RMT
    • Ken Alexander, Chiropractor
    • Kira MacFayden, RMT
    • Laura Bondy, Registered Massage Therapist
    • Lindsay Daniels, Registered Massage Therapist
    • Megan Phillips, Kinesiologist & Clinical Exercise Physiologist
    • Sandra Kriese, RMT
    • Steve Ferris, RMT
    • Tania Castilho, Registered Clinical Counsellor
    • Taylor Watson, RMT
  • Contact
    • Privacy & Cancellation Policy
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • FAQs
  • Blog
  • Resources
  • Book Online
    • Book an Appointment
  • Covid19 Updates

The Second Opinion by James McDonald, Athletic Therapist

12/11/2018

1 Comment

 
This is the first in a series of articles on common problems, of the aches and pains, that active people regularly put up with and alternative solutions that an Athletic Therapist can suggest given our background in working with both active individuals and elite performers.  As a clinician and coach with extensive experience in high-level sports including work with Hockey Canada, in the Western Hockey league and multiple provincial and national level programs in a variety of different sports, I can help someone see things most would miss.  The perspective I can offer as an Athletic Therapist is different from other professions and will help you fully understand your injury or limitation and how we can work together to help you move, play and feel better.

Today’s example is one I’m sure that any person working in an office or sedentary industry can easily relate to.  Perhaps it shows up in the mid afternoon or during an especially long commute home. It is that nagging pain in your upper back, just near your shoulder blade.  Your first instinct is you try to reach around and massage it, but you can’t quite get it and besides you look like your giving yourself a one arm hug while sitting in the Colwood crawl.  You try rolling your shoulder around and maybe you find a position where it’s manageable, but you just end up looking like a turtle.  While a little bit of self massage, a few Advil or a glass of wine when you get home might help a bit, really what’s going on is a battle for stability around your shoulder and you are the main casualty. 

The two combatants in this situation are potentially the Rhomboids (they are located around where you feel the discomfort in your upper back) and the Pectoralis Minor situated where your chest and the front of your shoulder meet, just under the much large Pectoralis Major.  Many of us spend a large amount of time sitting at work and mouse or slumped over our phone and generally not moving enough.  When this happens, the front of our chest tends to move into a tightened position and the pec minor gets the signal to remain shortened and contracted to help stabilise our shoulder blade (scapula) and this can lead to a shoulder shrug like motion and a forward rounding of our shoulder. 
Picture
​Think about how often you might reach forward to use a keyboard or mouse while at work or your steering wheel while driving.  With this anterior tightening, the Rhomboid at the back, tends towards becoming neurologically weakened and disconnected from its responsibilities.  Consequently, it become stuck in a weak and lengthened position, often leaving us a literal pain in the neck (and back) at the end of the work day.  There are many potential after effects that can come from such a dysfunctional relationship, including our breathing becoming altered, shoulder impingement, and pain developing in our neck as the body attempts to correct this jigsaw puzzle.
Picture
While the first instinct to release the area with something like heat or massage is not wrong, it is only a part of the larger picture.  The real lasting correction to this problem could be to release (with massage or stretching), the tight Pectoralis Minor first.  Then once the Pectoralis Minor is relaxed, the brain and the Rhomboid just need to get reacquainted with very easy exercises.  So, if this is a situation you face, give the following a chance next time that upper back pain sneaks up on you at work.  Find a doorway, raise your arm up like you are asking a question and rest the arm on the doorway.  With your elbow at or slightly above the height of your shoulder, step through the doorway and turn both your chest and head away.  You should feel a nice stretch across your chest and specifically in the most lateral part near your armpit.  Hold this stretch for at least 30 seconds, even if your coworkers are laughing at you.  Then once completed, stand up with a tall posture (think Superman) and perform a rowing motion with that same arm, imagine opening a door with it’s handle at your waist and gently squeeze your shoulder blades together.  Perform six to eight repetitions of this pulling motion, in a controlled and easy manner (don’t break a sweat).  Try repeating this pair 3-4 times a day since it only takes about a minute and I suspect your afternoon guest will disappear in no time.
Picture
Picture
Now the relationship mentioned above is not the source of every problem in the upper back, since there are no cookbook type of answers with the human body.  The important thing is to get your issues assessed and examined by a qualified professional, such as an Athletic Therapist.  Whoever you see, should provide you with a very personalised and one or one plan to help you find and correct the real sources of your injuries or problems.
 
James McDonald is a certified Athletic Therapist and Strength and Conditioning coach, experienced in a wide variety of clientele, from recreation level runners, MMA fighters, Pro Hockey player to amateur Quidditch players.  FREE individual consultation sessions as well as one on one treatment sessions can be booked online with Remedy Wellness.
1 Comment

    Author

    This blog is collaborative collection of information provided by several of our therapists. We hope you find some useful information and tips.

    Archives

    December 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    August 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    May 2018
    June 2017

    Categories

    All
    Acupuncture
    Back Pain
    Cancellation Policy
    Chiropractic
    Chronic Pain
    COVID 19
    COVID-19
    Kinesiology
    Movement
    Neck Pain
    Physiotherapy
    Sick Days
    TCM
    TeleHealth
    Traditional Chinese Medicine

    RSS Feed

We Would Love to Have You Visit Soon!


250-590-5221
214-852 Fort St.
​Victoria, BC Canada
​V8W 1H8

Hours

M-F: 9am - 7pm
Sat: 9am- 3pm
​Sun & Holidays: Closed

​Home
Team
​Services
​
Telehealth




​Events and Promotions
​
Privacy Policy
Blog
Book Online

​Contact Us

​Acupuncture
​Athletic Therapy
Chiropractic
Counselling
​
Kinesiology
Massage Therapy
​
NKT

TCM
Pilates
​Physiotherapy
Shockwave Therapy
Wellness Workshops
​Resources