The stories behind shoulder problems are as diverse as the individuals seeking relief in our clinic. Some recall a specific injury, a fall, or a traumatic event. Others, however, are puzzled by the insidious onset of pain, with no clear culprit in sight. The story behind the shoulder problem helps us work out what injury or condition you’re dealing with. What’s interesting though, is that we don’t need to hone in on a specific diagnosis in order to commence effective treatment; it's about unveiling and addressing the hidden culprit – Your body’s protection mode.
Defensive Movements: Similar to how we adjust our gait on a slippery surface, our shoulders adapt to injury or pain by altering movement. From cradling the arm close to the body to avoiding certain activities, these defensive behaviours, while initially protective, can become a hindrance to recovery if prolonged.
Breaking the Cycle: The key to commencing effective treatment lies in taking steps to disrupt a cycle of pain and guarding. By identifying and addressing defensive movement behaviours, we can pave the way for a smoother recovery. We only want helpful defensive movements, we can do without superfluous guarding; we want to allow injured structures the chance to get the benefit of just the right amount of protection from movement.
Defence vs. Defect: We can think about it as a process of treating "defence" in parallel with treating "defect." This approach ensures that serious pathology is not overlooked while avoiding the pitfalls of treatments being too narrowly targeted at specific pathologies. It's about giving your shoulder a chance to be nothing more than a simple, solvable problem.
So, if you find yourself with a stubborn shoulder problem, remember, it might just be defensive movement behaviours holding you back. By addressing these unhelpful adaptations, you not only pave the way for recovery but also unravel the mystery behind your shoulder discomfort. It's time to shift the focus from what might be wrong to empowering your shoulder to be its best self.