I took my 2nd round of tape off two days ago. My shoulder was a bit less unstable but as soon as I took the tape off, my muscles running along the scapula up to the neck went into spasm.
Today was PT and Mat had been at a seminar over the weekend. I love this PT place because they are big on Continuing Education. It's fun to see them trying out the new techniques and assessment tools they learn. So I got a functional assessment first thing. He had me bend and move in certain ways and actually looked for where I was tight/restricted, not where I was too flexible. Always knew my hamstrings and calves were tight and my neck is chronic, but I didn't know that my neck stiffness is worse than the average person.
The seminar instructor said that in order to deal with instability issues, you have to deal with mobility issues first. We had not looked at me as having mobility issues other than HYPERmobility. Now that it is obvious my neck is very problematic, my PT is going after that problem. He also thinks that what we do with the neck might help with tightness further down my body (legs). This idea comes from over-stimulation of the nerves in the neck area taking over the impulses that are supposed to go to the legs, I think.
We proceeded from the assessment to the table for more taping. Interestingly, he taped the areas I had felt needed taping. His thinking is that the shoulder instability is actually from problems with the shoulder blade being too loose. I have an unusually small set of wings, I mean scapula, but plenty of room for big muscle spasms! He taped a right triangle on my back. A length of tape from the top of my shoulder almost to my C7/T1 vertebrae, 90 degrees to a length of tape running straight down my back alongside my spine. The connector stretches from the top of my shoulder, across my scapula, and connects with the other tape at about T11.
The first try didn't last more than 20 minutes before it pulled off from the bottom (closest to my butt). Fortunately, I was still at the gym and he was free for a few minutes to re-tape. This one is still holding.
I have muscle spasms but not as bad as before AND my shoulder feels stable. The added bonus is that the tape pulls my posture into better alignment and I can breathe! The true test is how I sleep tonight.
More tomorrow!
Showing posts with label joint stabilization. Show all posts
Showing posts with label joint stabilization. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Adventures in Joint Taping #2
I'm avoiding the tons of housework I have to do for overnight guests arriving later today. I'm not feeling good and waiting for my meds to kick in. Perfect time for a post!
I went to see my PT on Thursday, two days after the first shoulder taping. The 1st tape stuck really well and I had only taken it off that morning in the shower. I learned a trick too - instead of pulling the tape up, which pulls my skin up, I start the tape by pulling up but then push the skin down to release it from the tape. Both less painful and less traumatic to my skin. My skin did surprisingly well.
I explained to Mat that the tape helped a lot but one of the strips (in front) could have been tighter. I also mentioned that it felt like my shoulder blade was pulling up and my shoulder was falling forward - would it make sense to tape my shoulder blade down too. He said my feedback made perfect sense and we'd proceed with taping the shoulder again that day. So, back to the ultrasound (the thing turned off for a few minutes making the 7 minute session into a 12 min one!), e-stim and ice. Taping occurred just after the ultrasound.
Mat put tape in the same two places as before but tighter and then added a strip that went diagonal from my shoulder all the was past my shoulder blade almost to my spine. It felt weird at first but definitely provided the stability I was lacking last time.
Next was the e-stim and ice. I had the tech turn the stim up higher this time. While I was lying there, I realized why one spot where the sticky "nipple" was placed last time hurt so much - it was directly on an acupuncture spot! Lung 1. They didn't put the lead on the same place this time so no pain. I got to relax there for 15 minutes. My neck hurt and I had to ask for a rolled towel to put under it, despite the pillow I was on. Much better.
Two days later and I feel so much better. My taped shoulder has brought my arm up about 1/2 inch! I definitely feel the squishiness of the right shoulder now, though that one is not as problematic. I think now that my hormones are shifting back to normal, my left shoulder should tighten up again. I'm not interested in pulling this tape off so I'll wait until it starts coming off of its own accord. Yes, I can shower with it - I'm not going to be stinky just for some tape! :)
I went to see my PT on Thursday, two days after the first shoulder taping. The 1st tape stuck really well and I had only taken it off that morning in the shower. I learned a trick too - instead of pulling the tape up, which pulls my skin up, I start the tape by pulling up but then push the skin down to release it from the tape. Both less painful and less traumatic to my skin. My skin did surprisingly well.
I explained to Mat that the tape helped a lot but one of the strips (in front) could have been tighter. I also mentioned that it felt like my shoulder blade was pulling up and my shoulder was falling forward - would it make sense to tape my shoulder blade down too. He said my feedback made perfect sense and we'd proceed with taping the shoulder again that day. So, back to the ultrasound (the thing turned off for a few minutes making the 7 minute session into a 12 min one!), e-stim and ice. Taping occurred just after the ultrasound.
Mat put tape in the same two places as before but tighter and then added a strip that went diagonal from my shoulder all the was past my shoulder blade almost to my spine. It felt weird at first but definitely provided the stability I was lacking last time.
Next was the e-stim and ice. I had the tech turn the stim up higher this time. While I was lying there, I realized why one spot where the sticky "nipple" was placed last time hurt so much - it was directly on an acupuncture spot! Lung 1. They didn't put the lead on the same place this time so no pain. I got to relax there for 15 minutes. My neck hurt and I had to ask for a rolled towel to put under it, despite the pillow I was on. Much better.
Two days later and I feel so much better. My taped shoulder has brought my arm up about 1/2 inch! I definitely feel the squishiness of the right shoulder now, though that one is not as problematic. I think now that my hormones are shifting back to normal, my left shoulder should tighten up again. I'm not interested in pulling this tape off so I'll wait until it starts coming off of its own accord. Yes, I can shower with it - I'm not going to be stinky just for some tape! :)
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