“Your body is not a car. Thing’s don’t just “wear out” – it’s a complex biological process and when things fall apart, there is a root cause, there is a reason. We can address these reasons.” – Me
Shoulder Pain – It’s Actually Part of My Origin Story
Back in 2011 I was still working as an engineer. I had developed a passion, or even maybe an addiction to fitness. My career had become stagnant and boring, and I was looking for ways to challenge myself and get better. So when I wasn’t working, you would find me in my garage – working out, perfecting my form, stretching, and learning how to cook and eat better.
One day I came out from under the bar with a weird sensation in my back. Between my shoulder blade an my spine it felt a little numb, or strange back there. Over the next few days it developed into a pretty severe pain, a pain that many describe as “waking up with a crick in your neck” It lasted a few days or a week, and then it was over. That’s the story I told myself as a young engineer who was still mostly ignorant of how the body worked.
Six months later and I couldn’t steer my car with my left arm. It was too painful to lift my arm, so I just switched which arm was on the top of the wheel. But I had had enough, and was ready to find a solution.
I spent some time running through the medical establishment. Made an appointment with my doctor. Got a referral to physical therapy. Started doing physical therapy, once a week for 8 weeks. I spent about an hour there, and each session involved a little bit of exercises with a student, some ice and e-stim, and 10-15minutes with a physical therapist. The time with the physical therapist felt like it made changes, but the rest felt like a waste of time….
Understanding Shoulder Pain and Its Causes
The shoulder is, I would argue – the most versatile joint in the body. It’s actually a deeply *human* joint, because one of our nearest ancestors, the Neanderthal – did not have a shoulder joint like ours. The ball-and-socket of the shoulder joint is actually very short on the “socket” part, because the socket is actually very shallow. This enables a very wide range of motion (and ranged combat options like spear throwing). The Neanderthal instead relied on the much riskier hand to hand combat. This increased mobility in homo sapiens sapiens version of the shoulder makes us more vulnerable to a number of problems:
- Frozen Shoulder: Stiffness and pain caused by inflammation.
- Rotator Cuff Injuries: Strains, tears, or overuse of shoulder muscles.
- Adhesions and Scar Tissue: Often caused by repetitive strain or surgery.
- Repetitive Motion Injuries: Common among athletes or professionals with repetitive arm movements.
These conditions are the bodies way of protecting us from worse damage, but over time they can become counterproductive.
What Is Active Release Techniques® (ART®)?
ART® is a hands-on therapy that teaches practitioners how to to locate and resolve soft tissue issues. This essentially means I place my hands on various structures related to the shoulder, and apply different pressure, tension, and motion to help the body heal more completely.
- Assessment: Identifying areas of tightness or restricted movement in the shoulder.
- Application of Pressure: Using precise, controlled force to release adhesions.
- Movement Integration: Guiding the joint through its range of motion while applying pressure, ensuring full release of restrictions.
“Muscles respond to force. With ART®, we can apply force in a skilled, controlled way to break down restrictions and restore function.” – Me (again)
Back to My Story….
After dealing with the bureaucracy of our modern medical system, with referrals, copays, wait times, and appointments that only felt useful for 15minutes out of 60minutes – I decided I would just pay out of pocket and find someone to treat me, longer, more thoughtfully, and more thoroughly. I found an ART® practitioner, and the results were incredible – complete resolution of my symptoms following 2 treatments. Not only was I treated diligently, and for the entire time – the technique – ART® *felt* different. Better. Meaningful. Effective. I never went back to my physical therapist after that. It was a waste of time, and they say time is money….
Benefits of ART® for Shoulder Mobility and Pain Relief
- Treats the Root Cause: Unlike pills that mask symptoms, ART® addresses the underlying scar tissue or adhesions.
- Non-Invasive: No surgery, no medication—just hands-on care.
- Quick Results: Patients often experience noticeable improvements after a single treatment
- Improved Performance: Athletes benefit from restored strength and range of motion.
- Customized: Each ART® treatment protocol is chosen based on what you present with. There is no cookie cutter approach, as those are less likely to produce good results.
Back Under the Bar – Shoulder Pain Relieved with ART®
My experience of having my pain completely resolved with ART was a huge relief and an eye opening experience. It really made me question things…and eventually question everything I thought I knew. So much so that I am now on a completely different career path, instead of engineering I am here helping people be pain free. I specialize in helping people who:
A) Have not been helped anywhere else
B) Want their pain resolved quickly with as little wasted time as possible and in a holistic fashion
What to Expect During Your First ART® Session
All my new clients must proceed through a qualification process with a 15minute phone consultation. I make sure you are someone that I can actually help, that a likely treatment plan is in your budget, and that you won’t be a waste of *my* time either (some people have lives that don’t enable them to execute my assigned exercises).
Assuming we are a good fit, we proceed with a 75-90 minute consultation and assessment, wherein I gather all the relevant information from our interviews and assessments, evaluate your response to treatment, and recommend a treatment plan.
Clients who complete my treatment plans have a 90-95%+ success rate. The process isn’t always easy and treatments can be painful, but usually any treatment related pain is temporary. Many clients feel complete resolution before their treatment plan has been completed.
Take the First Step Toward Shoulder Freedom
Shoulder pain doesn’t have to limit your life, and in my case – it can change your life!
I’m here to solve problems and make a difference in peoples lives. Contact me to schedule your consultation and take the first step towards freedom from pain!