Massage Therapy for Infraspinatus Sprain

Massage therapy is a fantastic treatment for decreasing posterior shoulder pain. Commonly injuries develop in the muscle in the back of the shoulder, especially with lifting or throwing activities. The pain can be anywhere from a mild dull ache to a sharp stabbing pain. Some people feel a burning or tingling, especially on the outside of their shoulder. A sprain at the end of the tendon often is misdiagnosed as rotator cuff syndrome.

The shoulder pain is more common in people with a forward head and shoulder posture. As the shoulders move forward it places more stress on the muscle when it stabilizes shoulder movements. Eventually the muscle becomes shortened, which reduces your ability to stabilize the scapulae, pull your arm backwards, and move the shoulder. This infraspinatus limitation makes it more likely for people to develop either infraspinatus tendinosis or supraspinatus tendinosis.

The infraspinatus and supraspinatus are two of the four muscles of the rotator cuff. The four muscles support the shoulder in its movements. Sprains are common where the muscle begins to turn into tendon. The tendons insert on the side of the humerus. These locations tend to be tender to palpation.

Infraspinatus Muscle Pain

The infraspinatus muscle starts on the back of the scapulae under the bony ridge and runs to the top of the humerus. It is triangular in shape, with it becoming more of a point near the humerus insertion. The muscle can become damaged anywhere but is more common closer to the shoulder. The muscle is often tender to the touch. When it is injured it can be painful to pull the arm backwards, reach straight out in front of your body, or grab your driver side seatbelt.

Most people are surprised by how much the infraspinatus muscle is involved in their daily activities until they strain the muscle, and feel the pain with use.

When the muscle is hurt the pain can radiate from the shoulder blade to the side of the shoulder. The muscle can be tender at the injury site, or radiate down the arm. A dull ache that becomes sharp with movement is common. A bad trigger point will radiate down to the elbow. A trigger point is an area of muscle that has been injured to the degree that it radiates pain to other areas. Mild muscle injuries hurt at the location of the injury only. Worse injuries radiate pain a couple inches. Bigger muscle injuries radiate pain to other areas of the body.

The pain is usually better with rest, stretching, and icing. People tend to complain of pain fluctuating over weeks. It will be bad for several days, and then get better for a few weeks. It then is easily aggravated with normal home and work activities. Lifting and sports tend to aggravate it quickly.

Treatment of Infraspinatus sprains and strains

Massage therapy works to decrease the infraspinatus spasms and pain. This will increase the flexibility and integrity of the muscle, which will decrease back and shoulder frequency, duration, and intensity of back and shoulder pain.

Massage therapy works to decrease muscle spasm, tenderness, and referral pain. It brings more blood to the area and reduces edema around the muscle. Massage therapy will help increase the elasticity and functional motion of the muscle and shoulder. People will often report greater freedom of movement and better ability to reach behind their back. The muscle pain decreases and their functional movements increase. When a trigger point is present, the massage therapist may produce pain radiating from the scapulae traveling down the arm every time the knot is worked.

Stretching is very important. Stretching at home will decrease the spasms and pain. The more you stretch the greater gains you obtain. Flexibility needs to be established before you can safely increase strengthening and endurance exercises.

If you feel like your shoulder pain may be caused by an infraspinatus sprain consider massage therapy as a treatment option. Please look for a skilled and trained therapist who frequently treats people with complex muscular problems.

Please contact us with any questions or if you feel massage therapy treatment will help you with your back and neck spasms and pain.

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