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techniques for scapulae

Hello all,

When I place the client's hand low on their back and then lift that shoulder, most scapulae lift right up off the ribcage. However, I see several
60+ yr old women whose shoulder blades don't lift up in this position. What types of
strokes should I work with and how in which areas to help free that up?

Thanks!
O.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Diedre Seeley on November 9, 2010 at 9:22am

If you use any acupressure work in your practice, you can have the client in side position. Work SI#9 and SI#10 until you feel a release, then work all along the scapulae.

Permalink Reply by Olga Chwascinska on November 9, 2010 at 9:44am

Nice! Thanks for the tip, Diedre. I have indeed been drawn to work on these particular clients side-lying, as they also tend to really congest in the sinuses face-down. I love how it all fits together. Thanks, O.

Permalink Reply by Viktor Bek on November 9, 2010 at 3:06pm

if they are regular clients and don't have pacemakers
I would spend some time opening the fascia of peck major /minor
and if I had even more time start with bicipital aponeurosis ( proximal forearm) a whole biceps/radiobrachialis/brachialis
trinity that has a play in " old-man-shuffle " posture
usually that allowed some slack back into the area

Permalink Reply by Olga Chwascinska on November 10, 2010 at 1:41pm

Viktor, thank you - that sounds like another great tip for what I'm observing. Indeed, the two women I have in mind both have rounded shoulders. I'll see them both next Monday and - if anything is quickly obvious - will report back. Thanks again, O.

Permalink Reply by Diedre Seeley on November 12, 2010 at 7:47am

Olga -- Viktor has added something I do as well for shoulder release, but it has more to do with acupressure, and that is working Lung meridian -- especially LU #1 and #2, as well as Large Intestine #15 in side position.

Permalink Reply by Michael Kapsos on February 5, 2011 at 6:42pm

Hi Olga,

I'm new to this group and I see that your question is old, but I'll respond anyways. Hopefully, you've had success with some of the suggestions. I think Viktor is right on about pec maj/min, you can do some great forearm work in that area to release and lengthen the fascia and muscle. Just make sure your working at an oblique angle. I might also do some work on serratus anterior, this muscle is overlooked by many MT's. Tight serratus anterior may account for tightly depressed scap and prevent access below the medial border. Acupressure work is very effective, but requires a different intent in your work. I personally benefit from it on a regular basis because my wife practices Zen Shiatsu. Good luck with your work.

Michael Kapsos

Permalink Reply by Olga Chwascinska on February 14, 2011 at 1:58am

Hello Michael!

Thank you so much for your added suggestions.

I have indeed have some level of success thanks to all of the suggestions, above - Diedre's lead is very inspiring and I've applied Viktor's practical tips to many clients.

I'm fascinated that working on forearms can release shoulderblades and will begin to explore this. ...and serratus anterior - of course! Overlooked and yet critical.

Thank you!

Permalink Reply by Kathleen Benanti on February 16, 2011 at 9:21am

Check ROM of Subscapularis. There's a chance that the scapulae are adhered to the ribcage. The scapula should glide smoothly on the ribcage. There could be adhesions between any of the layers of fascia between the scapular fascia, Subscap and ribcage, intercostals. Mobilization can be restored via several techniques including release of the Subscap and Supraspinatus, multi-directional friction, mobilization techniques and AIS just to name a few. As I specialize in endurance athletes, I'm not well educated in geriatric massage. I might consider my above suggestions as contraindications for work with the elderly. Even with my younger clients, I never completely release a frozen or overly tight joints. The body needs time to adjust to the new movement. It is my experience that fully releasing a joint area in one session makes the area unstable and prone to injury. Neurologically and otherwise, the body needs time to adjust and stabilize in smaller increments of release. Just as one who is hypermobile is generally less stable than one who is overly tight.

I'd suggest speaking with someone who is certified in geriatric massage before attempting any corrective work in the area.