Pain Between The Shoulder Blades And Massage Therapy

Pain between the shoulder blades, called Interscapular Pain, is never pleasant and can lead to frustration while trying to relieve it. Massage Therapy and Bodywork are very effective in treating Interscapular Pain arising from musculoskeletal issues. In my San Antonio, Texas based Massage Therapy and Bodywork practice I often treat Interscapular Pain. Like many painful conditions Interscapular Pain responds quite well to massage therapy and bodywork.

What is Interscapular Pain?

Interscapular Pain is pain felt between the shoulder blades (scapula). The pain may be felt all across the area between the two shoulder blades but is very often felt only on one side between the shoulder blade and spine.

What is the cause of Interscapular Pain?

There are a number of possible causes for Interscapular Pain including:
- Direct trauma to the area from impacts.
- Cervical Acceleration/Deceleration (whiplash) injury affecting the lower neck and upper back area from motor vehicle accidents or sports injuries.
- Overwork or injury to the upper back’s paraspinal muscles or shoulder muscles such as the rhomboids or serratus anterior. The overwork/injury of muscles in the area can come from excessive or improper exercise, occupationally based repetitive stress, or even postural disorders like Upper Crossed Syndrome.
- Slight displacement of the joints between the ribs and vertebra. This is actually quite common and often the displaced ribs are mistakenly believed to be muscular knots.

Massage Therapy and Bodywork for Interscapular Pain

There are many ways that massage therapy and bodywork can be used to treat Interscapular Pain. The massage therapist may employ a number of techniques to relieve the condition. For example the massage therapist may use Neuromuscular Therapy or Trigger Point Therapy to eliminate myofascial trigger points in the muscles of the area including paraspinal muscles, lower neck muscles, and shoulder muscles. The massage therapist could also use Myofascial Release techniques or Deep Tissue Massage techniques to release adhesions between the muscles and surrounding tissues. Positional Release therapies such as Ortho-Bionomy and Strain-Counterstrain may also be used to encourage the body's nervous system to release muscles and improve joint movement of the shoulder, ribs and vertebrae in the area. Additionally the massage therapist might use Myoskeletal Alignment Therapy* to gently encourage movement of painful joints. Comprehensive treatment with massage and bodywork, in conjunction with a home program of stretching and gentle exercise, usually helps to completely resolve Interscapular Pain.

Other Treatments for Interscapular Pain

While massage therapy and bodywork are an excellent treatment for Interscapular Pain there are other treatments you should discuss with your physician:

Chiropractic or Osteopathic Adjustment
Anti-inflammatory & pain medications (NSAIDS)
Ultrasound
Therapeutic Exercise

The information on this page has been provided for information purposes only. It is not meant to provide a medical diagnosis, only a licensed physician may diagnose Interscapular Pain. If you feel that you have the symptoms of Interscapular Pain please see your physician for a proper diagnosis and plan of treatment which may include massage therapy and bodywork. There are a number of serious conditions that seem similar to Interscapular Pain caused by muscular issues that could require immediate medical attention.

If, after consulting your physician, you would like to pursue treatment of Interscapular Pain with Massage Therapy and Bodywork please contact me at my San Antonio Massage and Bodywork practice, Massage By Ben at 210-269-3314 or contact a Massage Therapist near you.

*Myoskeletal Alignment Therapy is a non-forceful, soft-tissue based system of body therapy. It is not a Chiropractic or Osteopathic adjustment system.