Case Study 1
Mr. J. Y., a man in his 60's, had suffered a shoulder strain when bowling at a cricket game 35 years ago. The injury, which had never been treated, prevented him from fully extending his right arm overhead or to the side beyond 90 degrees. Over the last few years, Mr. Y. had experienced increasing pain in his right shoulder, with shooting pains down the arm and in the ribs.
I found that Mr. Y's shoulder and neck muscles were contracted, especially on the right, resulting in the right shoulder being higher than the left and the joint rotated forward. The trapezius muscles were very tight and sore, as were the muscles of the neck. The rhomboids were tight and the pectoralis muscles hypercontracted. The right deltoid was sore with tension knots at the insertion point. It was clear that his incorrect posture had exacerbated the effects of the original injury, leading to tight and painful muscles around the whole of the shoulders and upper arms.
Mr. Y. began coming for regular remedial massage appointments. Over seven months, there was a marked improvement, where the pain became less intense, then intermittent and finally disappeared completely. After the eighth session, Mr. Y. had full range of movement in both arms for the first time in 35 years and is now able to pursue his hobby of bowling without pain.
Case Study 2
Mr. J. G. is an ex SAS officer in his thirties. He is above average height with powerful musculature. Having been extremely active during his army career, he is now mainly desk-bound.
Mr G. presented with an existing problem resulting from having carried an injured colleague to safety over a considerable distance whilst on active service in Iraq. His neck and shoulders were treated for strain at the time but this had not been maintained and he was suffering with pain and tightness in the trapezius and rhomboid muscles.
During a neck, back and shoulder massage, I found the whole upper back to be very tight and compacted, with a large area of scar tissue in the right upper trapezius. I used deep tissue massage techniques over the whole of the affected area. The density of the muscles required deep pressure using the point of the elbow in order to reach the scar tissue.
Mr G. has now been coming for regular monthly treatments for four months and the scar tissue is greatly reduced; there is no pain and Mr. G.'s range of movement in his neck and shoulders is much improved.
Case Study 3
Mrs. W. had been experiencing severe discomfort in her hips and legs since 2003. This had been correctly diagnosed as piriformis syndrome by a consultant. She has received physiotherapy and acupuncture but no treatment had been entirely successful. The condition had come back with a vengeance, meaning that she could only spend short periods of time in the car, even as a passenger, as the condition was exacerbated by having to sit in one position for any length of time.
Deep tissue treatments to the piriformis, IT band and lower back made a dramatic difference to the point where Mrs. W is no longer in pain, she is able to lead a normal life; and is able to tolerate long car journeys without discomfort.
Case Study 4
Mrs. K. is a retired nurse. She presented with pain in the left side of her neck and upper back, restricted arm and neck movements and pain when putting pressure on her left elbow (as in turning over in bed). She reported that she had a specific tender spot just to the left of the T3 vertebra.
She reported that she could not recall any injury, but that a viral infectiona few weeks previously had resulted in a severe cough which had persisted for some time.
On examining Mrs. K., I found marked tenderness under her left armpit, which sent shooting pains to the T3 tender area when palpated. Using Walker Technique lymphatic drainage and tissue loosening, I treated the underarm tenderness. Once this area was drained and cleared, the tenderness at T3 disappeared completely.
My assessment was that the upper trapezius muscle was in spasm as a result of tension caused by the client's coughing. I therefore treated the insertion of the trapezius muscle at the occipital process, which was sore on the left. After a short while, the client felt the muscle release and relax.
She was then able freely to move her neck, head and arms and (apart from some slight residual soreness) had no further pain or restriction of movement.