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--- In , "T. Kevin Blanc" <t.k.blanc@a...> wrote: > Thank you for your thoughtful response, Deb. I'm getting a bit off > topic here, so this'll be my last post on the subject. It can always be taken to e-mail. D...Yes, please feel free to write me at my email DeborahFederLMT@..., and maybe the Shovelglovvers who are groaning will be appeased, LOL. > > I originally hurt my shoulder taking a punch to a pad during Karate (the dude doing the punching threw a hard roundhouse after the instructor told everyone to stop. D...Nice Guy, don't worry Karma will take care of him : ) Mild librum tear, nothing protruding in the joint, > which is still smooth as a baby's bottom, according to the Doc. But, frozen shoulder since November. Negative MRI. And, of course, it derailed my progress towards a black belt. D...Kevin, I am taking a guess that you mean Labrum..I know what you are talking about though : ) Glad you didn't shatter any cartillage, that would be awful...Okay, MRI will generally be unrevealing with soft tissue conditions. Frozen shoulder is often a result of two perpetrators Supraspinatus, which is the "booster rocket" in shoulder abduction, and then the Delt's take over after the arm is starting to raise up to shoulder level..Supraspinatus is probably your main problem, if infact, abduction is your problem...Abduction is the action of lifting your arm straight out and up away from your body--visual aide, picture that famous Leonardo Davinci sketch of a mans body, you know the one with the really wavy hair and arms outstretched) The other very common culprit is the Subscapularis...Almost always involved in "Frozen Shoulder"....This muscle is pretty darn hard to access, but if you find your arm is more "frozen" in medial rotation you will have limited ROM in lateral movements...Take this ROM test for Subscapularis involvement, it probably is limiting your ability to laterally rotate your humerus (upper arm bone : ) Pretend you are about to wave "Hi" to someone by bringing your arm up to shoulder level, ie 90 degree angle to body, and then, as you raise your upper arm to finish the "hi there" wave, notice if you are getting alot of resistance in your scapula. As you "flip your lever" (vague reference to Shovelglove to appease the masses) into the reverse position, ie you are doing a mirror image but now your forearm is hanging down and your palm is facing backwards, shoulder still flexed to 90 degrees of abduction, do you feel less pull and more comfort...If the answer is yes to one of these positions, it is likely to be yes to both, which would intimate Subscapularis as a key player in your frozen shoulder. > I'm a 45 year old insulin-dependent diabetic: I've learned to roll > with it. I don't expect a shoulder miracle. I just want it strong > enough to use it and reasonably free in range so I can shoot hoops > with my 10 year old (not yet) and bump the volleyball with my 13 year old. Then maybe go back for my black belt. D...Those are nice goals Kevin, I think that you already have a shoulder miracle, because I know people who have degenerative cartillage problems which started just exactly in the same scenario as you...My friend Dave had a boxing injury, but opted for surgery because his cartillage was shattered on the head of the humerus...Incidentally, the surgery didn't do anything for his frozen shoulder...This condition will definitely improve if you find someone to help you. Remember too, if you don't know already, that Diabetes can seriously affect wound resolution and healing...Stay positive and take what happened to you as a sign to pay attention. You probably miss Karate terribly, but if you weigh the importance of being able to shoot hoops with your son and play volleyball with the other,,,hmmmm...I might rethink this impact sport...You have to do what you like, but decide if you really want to take a chance on another "roundabout" from left field...Another massage therapist I know, used to be a black belt and wound up snapping his head in some tight spot...He has permanent arthritis in his cervical spine, and swore off the sport since that day...Still do what you like, but I am firmly convinced from my own life experiences, that when an "accident" happens...It is our duty to listen and heed the signs. I'm in the D.C. area. > Got any colleagues? :0) D...My advice is to contact your local chapter of the AMTA, American Massage Therapists Association, and see if they can send you some references...Go for the person who you feel most compatible with and of course with experience in therapeutic work. Good Luck Grasshopper :) Debbie |
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