shoulder tendonitus

[Charles Long]

I'm recovering from a workplace accident that left me with what I was told was massive tendonitus of the bicep tendon that attaches to the front of the shoulder. This was in the middle of January. I'm not 100% yet but getting there. I'm trying to regain the strength in my shoulder now as I couldn't work out with the injury. Any advice on recovery and what to do to prevent it happening again?

Charles Long

[James Boelter]

'Tendonitis' of the biceps head is actually a misnomer most of the time (I've suffered this problem myself, and had a rheumatogist explain the distinction). What they probably really mean is that you strained the head of the tendon, tore some of the fibers where it attaches to the corocoid process or wherever.

If you can, have a good PT or massage therapist work on the area while it is healing. The problem with strains is that the collagen fibers tend to grow back in in a 'spagetthi snarl' instead of the nice longitudinal rows they are meant to be aligned in, and so you wind up with an adhesion that can interfere with optimal function of the area months and years down the road. This body work can take several different forms: cross fiber and stripping friction to realign the fibers as they grow back in and solidify, and 'traction' type stretches which help keep the shoulder area 'open' instead of permanently tightening up as a results of the trauma.

If regular use of a MT or PT is beyond your means (or scheduling), please have a look at a new book by Zake and Golden, 'The Ultimate Bodyrolling Workout'. It contains several useful, simple routines (based around the use of a 4-6 inch plastic ball) that will allow you to self-administer the massages and stretches I described at your leisure.

Here's the link if you want to pursue it:
www.yamunabodyrolling.com

Hope this helps!

[Charles Long]

I was going to PT but they cut me loose a couple of weeks ago and last week the doctor did. I checked out the link you gave me and bookmarked it. I'm going to pursue it as it appears to be something I could get some use out of. Thanks.

Charles Long

[rbibbs]

Charles, I've had a DC demonstrate to me the effect of very simple, brief pressure... which he described as "pulling tendons out of, and pushing them back into, the holes they live in in the bone". The result was an instantaneous weakening/strengthening of my quads and hip flexors (where he demonstrated the effect).

Now, it's probably not as simple as "pushing tendons into their holes"... but I've used the process on myself... and since I can't see how it could possibly "harm" anything... it consists of using finger/thumb/knuckle/palm pressure in a slow, exploratory motion FROM the muscle end TOWARD the point of attachment. As to frequency of this therapy... like rehabilitative circular motion... I'd say do it every time the injury enters your consciousness. 30 seconds at a time will probably achieve the benefits. And the (obvious) admonition, not to load that structure significantly until it no longer bothers you.

Rick

[Charles Long]

Thanks, Rick. I tried it just now and will try to remember to do it throughout the day.

Charles Long