Your shoulder is a relatively unstable and complex joint involving many muscle groups that sees extensive, repeated use and abuse. Good shoulder function is a necessity for almost all sports and when there’s an injury in this region or when there’s a lack of stability, it can have a dramatic impact on performance.
There are many muscles and forces that act on the shoulder and when any of these is over or underactive, problems can arise. Indeed, with so many moving parts there are almost unlimited possible causes for shoulder pain. Ligaments, bones, tendons, muscles, cartilage and nerves can all contribute, the result of past injury, stress, poor biomechanics and in many cases, posture.
Almost all of us are guilty of poor posture, slumping in our seats or hunching over computers. Also, when we get stressed, we unintentionally shrug, screwing the shoulder joints tightly into place causing pain in the neck shoulder and upper back. The simple solution is to lower your shoulders, but that’s easier said than done – we almost always get sidetracked and forget.
Kinesiology tape offers a great solution for this challenge. Placed above the rear, medial and front deltoid, the rhomboid major and minor, the infraspinatus and the latissimus dorsi, the tape can help remind you through what’s called ‘proprioceptive cueing’, lightly tugging on the skin whenever we start to shrug. It offers the brain a gentle reminder to lower your shoulders and with regular use, can help you form positive biomechanical habits.
If you have a shoulder injury, inflammation, or any sort of pain, Kinesiology tape can help you. Click the ‘Book Now’ button to set-up an appointment with one of our trained RMTs.
