What causes shoulder blade pain? Which part should I massage for shoulder blade pain?

The scapula is the bone behind our shoulders. When we carry heavy objects or play guitar, we use the strength of our shoulders. In this case, we may feel pain in the scapula after using the shoulders for a long time. So where does the pain in the scapula usually come from? Where is the best place to massage?

What causes shoulder blade pain?

There will be pain in the shoulder blade when bearing weight. Two causes should be considered and the treatment methods are also very different. One is the strain of the back muscles and fascia, and the other is the disorder of the thoracic facet joints.

1. Back fasciitis

You can try palpating both sides of the back to see if there are any cord-like adhesions and muscle tension and pain. If the pain is on one side, treat that side. You can massage with a strength that is comfortable for the pain, once a day for about 5 minutes each time, until the back muscle pain points disappear and the back muscles regain normal elasticity and function.

2. Thoracic facet joint disorder

You can lie on your stomach and ask your family to try to touch it. If you can touch the spinous process (back bone) on the back, and there is an unnatural transition, some are high, some are low, and there is pain and discomfort when pressing it, then you should consider thoracic facet joint disorder, which can be corrected through bone setting.

Shoulder blade pain which part to massage

Pain in the upper corner of the shoulder blade

Pain in the upper corner of the scapula is caused by damage to the levator scapulae. Long-term bending over to play with a mobile phone or working at a desk will cause the levator scapulae to be stretched and damaged. In addition, long-term tension in the pectoralis minor will pull the scapula forward, which will also cause passive tension in the levator scapulae and cause damage.

To treat the levator scapulae problem, you must first treat the pectoralis minor. After the pectoralis minor is released, the scapulae will return to its normal position and the levator scapulae will also relax, achieving the purpose of treating pain by relaxing. If you only treat the levator scapulae, it will only temporarily lengthen the muscle and have only a short-term effect.

Use your fingertips to find the tender spot at the pectoralis minor muscle, and massage it horizontally. Massage each pain point carefully, twice a day. Then find the pain point at the upper corner of the shoulder blade, and massage it horizontally with your fingertips, two minutes each time, twice a day.

Pain along the inner edge of the shoulder blade

Pain along the medial edge of the scapula is caused by an injury to the rhomboids or scalene muscles.

Long-term rounded shoulders and hunched back posture will cause the scapula to move forward, over-stretching the rhomboid muscle and causing damage. In this case, the culprit is still the pectoralis minor muscle, so the pectoralis minor muscle should be treated first. The treatment method is the same as above. Place the fascia ball on the area between the inner edge of the scapula and the thoracic spine, roll against the wall to find the tender point of the rhomboid muscle, and roll and massage after finding it. Massage each painful point for two minutes twice a day.

When the scalene muscles are injured, they will stimulate and compress the dorsal scapular nerve, causing the same pain as when the rhomboid muscles are injured, which is pain on the inner edge of the scapula. Use your fingertips to find the tender spot on the anterior side of the neck on the same side, and massage it laterally after finding it.

Pain inside shoulder blade

The pain inside the shoulder blade is caused by damage to the serratus posterior muscle. Breathing hard after exercise will cause damage to the serratus posterior muscle. After the injury, it will cause pain inside the shoulder blade, and the pain will be aggravated when breathing hard.

Because the lateral head of the posterior serratus muscle is attached to the rib inside the scapula, the scapula must be moved forward during massage to massage it. Lie on the side of the bed with the affected side outside and the affected arm hanging down. Ask your family to press on the inner edge of the scapula to find the tender point. Once found, move it horizontally to massage. Massage each painful point for two minutes, twice a day.

TCM treatment for shoulder blade pain

There are many reasons for shoulder blade pain. It is necessary to combine the four examinations and treat according to the syndrome differentiation. The full name of frozen shoulder is periarthritis of shoulder. It is generally caused by insufficient qi and blood, cold and blood stagnation. It is also called frozen shoulder. People under the age of fifty are not called frozen shoulder. This kind of disease in young people is called shoulder tendonitis syndrome.

The main symptoms are stiffness and adhesion of muscles around the shoulder blade, limited lifting, abduction and extension of the upper limbs, and sometimes severe pain, which is worse at night and less during the day. It is very painful. Mild cases can heal on their own, but severe cases should be treated in time.

Treatment methods: Acupuncture, physical therapy, massage, injection and drug treatment.

Traditional Chinese medicine adopts hot ironing method: 30g of Radix Tougu, 15g of Safflower, 15g of Cinnamon Twig, 30g of Herba Lycopodii, 15g of Turmeric, 30g of Radix Dipsaci, 30g of Green Salt. Except for the green salt, mix the above medicines with the coarse powder and salt, put them in two bags, heat and iron the affected area in turns, once a day, one hour each time. It is forbidden for those with trauma and dermatitis.