Date: 20.11.18

Location: Plymouth Marjon University

Total amount of hours: 21

A female client aged 19 has complaints about pain within her right shoulder after kayaking for long periods of time throughout the day. The pain in her shoulder is making this activity more difficult.

After completing a postural assessment, it was clear that the right shoulder was raised higher than the left. This could be due to a tightness of the upper trapezius muscle. Treatment began with a light effleurage before moving to petrissage. After massage the client claimed to have a decrease in pain, however there still seemed to be a limit in range of movement at the neck and shoulder. Muscular energy techniques were then applied to try and improve this and normalise joint motion.

To use this technique, the client rotated their head by trying to touch the shoulder with their ear, this helped to assess the client’s current range of movement at the neck. A force was then applied to the upper trapezius muscle as they touched their shoulder with their ear, the client was then asked to stretch their neck by rotating their head to the opposite shoulder. This was then repeated 4-5 times.

After applying these techniques, the clients range of motion was then tested again to assess whether the muscular energy techniques had affected this. The client was able to rotate the head and elevate the shoulder much more easily than before the session had begun.

Completing a shoulder assessment before providing treatment will help to determine whether there are any problems with the clients shoulder within the joint, muscle or ligament.