Comments on: Rotator Cuff Injury: Regaining Your Freedom of Movement

By: Jamie Gaskins

Jamie Gaskins — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 02:39:19 +0000

Thank you! I have been using the therapy balls on my injured shoulder and have seen a great improvement. I still feel I have limited range of motion, but the daily pain is gone and my strength is returning.

By: Jackie Whately

Jackie Whately — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 02:39:07 +0000

Thank you for this post! I have massage clients and yoga students with shoulder injuries and this was very helpful!

By: Millie

Millie — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 15:11:47 +0000

After yesterday’s YTU therapy ball sessions working the shoulder and arm, I have new found respect and knowledge of the musculature of the shoulder cuff and surrounding areas. This is an area of the body that has eluded my understanding to my regret I only wish I’d found YTU sooner. The hands on work we are doing is giving me mental picutres of intricate details I have never been able to call upon. And my classmates amaze me with their knowledge and creativity. I am learning so much from them, an huge bonus to this training. Thanks to all.

By: anhchi

anhchi — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 21:29:04 +0000

i love this picture of the rotator cuff muscles, i keep thinking of them as encapsulating the shoulder blade but of course, there are attachments to the humeral head as well and this picture shows this clearly. thanks for sharing, and also explaining why its so important to release and relax this area. i haven’t been spending enough time on the shoulders with my YTU balls!

By: Alexa

Alexa — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 02:02:20 +0000

I wish I had read this post a few months ago when my mother injured her shoulder moving something that was about a third of her weight. After many years of habitual internal rotation of her shoulders (from working at desks, writing, needlework, etc.) the sudden compression and force forced on the inflamed muscles of her rotator cuff was one insult too many. She decided to power through the pain by assaulting her shoulder with more activity like aggressive gardening and swinging golf clubs. The pain got worse and range of motion in the shoulder smaller. After 6 weeks, she finally went to see a specialist who said surgery might be needed to reattach torn tendons and ordered her to stop treating her poor shoulder like a drill sergeant. After the observation of RICE and a few weeks with a physical therapist, the shoulder will not need surgery and is healing nicely. YTU therapy balls are next. Your explanation of why working an inflamed muscle is unwise makes a lot of sense. Thank you.

By: Dawn Adams

Dawn Adams — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 03:51:00 +0000

I really appreciate the breakdown of the rotator cuff mechanics and the advice for self-massage. Having had both shoulders injured (one many years ago, and one relatively recently), I feel the adhesions/scar tissue in both, and the differences between the older injured shoulder and the more recently injured shoulder in all type of activities (yogic and ADLs). I particularly love the YTU quick fix videos (5 and 10 minutes), and have especially come to appreciate the Pranic Bath for its gentle awakening of the entire shoulder girdle. The therapy balls are also excellent in the rotator cuff sequence, but I agree with Dinneen and Dilshad that a gentle exploration is called for, at least until those areas have more oomph to experience opening.

By: najla

najla — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 23:25:03 +0000

very helpful! and the therapy balls are an amazing tool for pinpointing this area. thanks!

By: dilshad keshwani

dilshad keshwani — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 19:41:22 +0000

Thanks Jeffrey for this and the related articles on rotator cuff injury and the process of healing. The article is very informative and I enjoyed reading it. Your explanation of the objectives of relaxed muscle is so crucial to understand. I certainly believe that Yoga Therapy balls are effective once the R.I.C.E is done. However one has to work through the surrounding area a little further away, first and then explore very gently around the area.

By: Dinneen

Dinneen — Wed, 11 May 2011 02:21:01 +0000

R.I.C.E! YAAAY! It’s sooo easy. And cheap too!
When aggravated or moderately injured, the body will heal itself if given the proper environment. Practicing the first Astanga series or doing vinyasa flow while ignoring pain signals from the shoulder is not so great for joint longevity. Ice and rest and conscientiously limiting arm movement while the area is inflamed will exponentially increase the body’s ability to heal itself.
As a Health and Nutrition Coach who specializes in reducing chronic inflammation in the body, it is a joyous moment to hear the old R.I.C.E. get trotted out in a rotator cuff injury discussion! Many of us have heard the acronym but perhaps can’t recall that it simply means Rest Ice Compress and Elevate the injured area. I really appreciate how you give the reasons WHY reducing inflammation is important to the rotator cuff joint.
It’s also important to add the YTU balls should be used very, very gently and in an “exploratory” manner on mildly inflamed tissue, The flip side is that digging the balls into red, angry tissue may exacerbate the condition.

By: Peggy

Peggy — Tue, 10 May 2011 00:59:51 +0000

You will always met someone who has a rotator cuff problem. After experiencing the YTU Balls and the rotator cuff series, I this would truly be a great way to correct problems and aid in the healing process.