Elbow and Deep Shoulder Pain?
Supraspinatus Muscle
Do you have deep shoulder pain with pain that also focuses on the outside of the elbow? If so, you might have trigger points in the supraspinatus muscle. This tiny muscle sits in the upper channel of the shoulder blade above the spine of the shoulder blade. The supraspinatus is part of the rotator cuff which is made up of the 4 rotator cuff muscles pictured above. Massage therapists call them the “SITS” muscles: supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis. Their main job is to keep the head of the humerus (upper arm bone) in the shoulder joint.
The pain is usually described as traveling into the shoulder. It is common for people who work with their arms elevated to have this type of shoulder pain. It is also common to hear a clicking sound in your shoulder when
you raise your arm fully to the side. If you have myofascial trigger points in this muscle, you will probably have a hard time brushing your hair and teeth or shaving and also have pain during sports activities like serving a tennis ball.
Cause of this elbow and shoulder pain
Carrying something heavy by your side such as a suitcase or a large dog that pulls you on your walk are a couple of things that can activate trigger points. The people that will have this type of shoulder pain most often are painters, violinists, pianists, and rock climbers. Injuries like a supraspinatus tendon rupture can activate these trigger points.
Symptoms of Supraspinatus Pain
If you have trigger points in your supraspinatus muscle, your arm and shoulder will hurt when you try to bring your arm up to your side parallel to the floor. It will hurt with activities like painting, combing your hair, or also serving a tennis ball. You want to be sure to get these 
trigger points treated right away because if you wait it could impair your range of motion and lead to a frozen shoulder.
Other Diagnosis That Could Have The Same Symptoms
Rotator Cuff Tendonitis
Rotator Cuff Tears
Arthritis
Shoulder Joint Bone Spurs
Shoulder Dislocation
Cervical Disc Injuries
Clavicular Injuries
Infraspinatus Syndrome
Other injuries to the rotator cuff tendons
Please visit your doctor to rule out any of the above diagnoses. Your doctor will likely prescribe physical therapy and massage before resorting to a more serious treatment. They will perform diagnostic testing like x-rays, ultrasound, and possibly an MRI, for instance.
Treatment for shoulder and elbow pain
If you think you may have a tear in your rotator cuff muscles, the supraspinatus should not be stretched. Treatment can include deep tissue massage. Avoid carrying a heavy object like a briefcase and do not lift things overhead. Also, drop the arms occasionally when doing things like putting curlers in your hair so the blood can flow back into the muscle which will help your elbow and shoulder pain.
Body Ache Escape Massage Center can treat shoulder pain with massage! We specialize in releasing myofascial trigger points! We are located in Pickerington, Ohio just east of Columbus near Canal Winchester and Reynoldsburg. Give us a call to schedule your appointment or click the schedule now button to schedule online! 614-604-6358
We help you feel better for life, not just an hour.
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