Question
I read a 7/30/2010 question from Ian titled "sore shoulder - overhead lifting".  Basically, the way he described his problem fits my symptoms. He had problems with presses during weight lifting and I have problems pushing my garage door up with the similar motion.  For probably four or five years I have had to make something pop in my left shoulder to free it to move in certain directions.  If I didn't do that there would have been pain.  About two years I began experiencing limited movement even when I didn't have to "get things lined up".  Simple things such as not being able to wipe the sweat from my left eye brow with my tee shirt sleeve or to reach the right side of my neck with the fingers of my left hand when reaching around the back of my neck.  I have been to a surgeon and after looking at x-rays he gave me an injection and a prescription for PT.  I have been going to PT for almost ten weeks and have gotten about a 30-40 per cent increase in movement.  The PT says the angles he measures are almost normal, but they are not necessarily real life motions, at least not the press motion.  I read your two write-ups at somatics.com on weights and recovery from injury but if you could give me further recommendation for recovery I would appreciate it.  One more bit of information that I should mention is that I successfully recovered from a frozen left shoulder in 1990 by going to PT, and I broke my left collar bone in 1998.  My age is 71 and I am in good health, am retired, and maintain 12 acres. Thanks, Tom

Answer

Lawrence Gold Somatics  

Hanna Somatic Educatio   Hi, Tom

Sounds like the array of shoulder movements you need exist in the program, Disproving the Myth of Aging.  http://somatics.com/page7-cat_audio.htm

Your collar bone fracture sounds like the culprit; contractions would form all around the collar bone and shoulder blade to immobilize your collar bone.  If your neck muscles are involved, as may indeed be so, you'll need certain somatic exercises found elsewhere -- but let's first see if the basic program will do.

If you want personal assistance, practitioners exist worldwide who use clinical somatic education techniques. http://somatics.com/practitioners.htm