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October 23, 2004

Fall Results In Trapezius Strain

An elderly client trips up some stairs and barks their shin on a riser. They then fall, catching themselves with their arms. The force of the impact to the arms strains their shoulders.

Upon palpation with good communication about where things hurt and to what degree, I discover that one shoulder took more of the brunt of the fall than the other. Soreness in both shoulders is the result of strain to the trapezius muscle. But an almost crick-like knot has shown up on one side radiating pain up the neck and into the base of the skull.

First, I choose heat to ease the strain without digging deep to get the pain out. This will leave the client less sore the following day. Shoulder mobilizing techniques with gentle but firm massage opens the top of the shoulder where the crick lies. Finally, I work the delicate muscles of the neck and base of the skull with massage and Craniosacral therapy.

Only so much can be covered in a half hour session. I suggest the client rests during the weekend and if the crick doesn't clear up by Monday, they should book another appointment. The majority of symptoms of a crick usually clear up on their own with time, but the "seed" of the problem remains. This frustrating condition usually reoccurs and therefore needs to be cleared out completely.

Posted by linda at October 23, 2004 4:37 PM