Shoulder injuries are as common in swimming as concussions are in rugby. Swimmers and coaches often choose to ignore these injuries since there is no simple cure. After 14 years of ignoring shoulder pain, I recently decided to do something about it- something that doesn't involve knives. The Graston Technique is a non-invasive procedure that is saving my shoulder.
My years of suffering in the pool were caused by repeated tearing of two muscles in my rotator's cuff. The muscles healed themselves by growing a disorganized network of scar tissue, leaving a swolen jumble of muscle. This caused impingement, a pinching sensation, every time I moved my shoulder, making swimming almost intolerable. Enter Graston. The Graston technique rubs down the scar tissue, leaving healthy muscle tissue and returning the shoulder to a moveable, reduced-pain state.
I learned about this technique online and visited Washington Park Chiropractic to see if my wreck of a shoulder could be saved. Apparently, if I had visited 14 years ago when the pain started, my shoulder could have been salvaged in just a session or two. However, given the severity of my injury, Dr. Lisa Goodman predicted it would take close to 10 sessions.
The first procedure was mostly painless. Dr. Goodman took small metal tools and rubbed back and forth to dissolve the scar tissue. I immediately had a "bruise" on my shoulder and upper back where capilaries had broken. After two sessions, I realized that I could move my shoulder much better than I had been able to in the past decade. Now, about 7 treatments later, my shoulder can handle every day tasks like carrying groceries, and swimming is almost pain free.
Surgery can be painful and expensive, but the Graston technique is an effective way to improve mobility and reduce pain in injured shoulders. Follow this link to Washington Park Chiropractic to see if you are a candidate for the Graston Technique.
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