{"id":75819,"date":"2021-09-12T06:22:57","date_gmt":"2021-09-12T06:22:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.soothe.com\/?page_id=75819"},"modified":"2024-07-15T17:08:46","modified_gmt":"2024-07-15T17:08:46","slug":"best-massage-for-shoulder-pain","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.soothe.com\/q-and-a\/best-massage-for-shoulder-pain\/","title":{"rendered":"Shoulder Massage: Best Massage for Shoulder Pain"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Shoulder Massage: Best Massage for Shoulder Pain<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Question:

<\/strong>I was a baseball pitcher in high school and college, but I hadn\u2019t really played as an adult until about a month ago when my office started a rec league softball team. I pitched our first game with no problems, but after the second game my shoulder started killing me. I don\u2019t think I injured it during the game \u2013 or if I did, I didn\u2019t notice anything out of the ordinary. It didn\u2019t really start hurting until the next morning, but since then it hasn\u2019t stopped. A work buddy recommended I get a massage, but I\u2019m more than a little skeptical. Can massage really help my shoulder pain? And what would be the best type of massage to ask for?

Answer:<\/strong><\/p>

Massage may be able to ease your shoulder pain, depending on the cause. In fact, medical research has shown that patients get better results from massage therapy than from acupuncture or traditional physical therapy exercises, when it comes to relieving shoulder pain.[1]<\/sup><\/p>

You mentioned that you don\u2019t recall injuring your shoulder during the game \u2013 that may indicate that the pain is more from a generalized strain or overuse, rather than an acute injury. For an acute injury, seeing a doctor would be your best first course of action. You could ask about massage, and your doctor could tell you if they thought you\u2019d benefit or whether massage would exacerbate your condition or cause further injury.<\/p>

There\u2019s another possibility. If you hadn\u2019t pitched in awhile, your muscles may have had a hard time recovering, and that may be the cause for your shoulder pain. The pitching motion makes unique demands on your shoulders. If you\u2019ve had a shoulder injury in the past, you may also have some scar tissue that\u2019s causing inflammation and pain. If you\u2019ve had a previous injury, it\u2019s a good idea to have a doctor check it out \u2013 although you should still be good to go for a gentle massage.<\/p>

If this is your first massage, you might want to start with a Swedish massage. Swedish massage is going to be more gentle than other types of massage, so it\u2019s suitable for beginners. Swedish massages use a circular technique and kneading to apply pressure to the muscles. This technique is recommended by Carrington College, a massage therapy school, for relieving shoulder pain.[2]<\/sup>To get the best results, you\u2019ll want to schedule weekly massage sessions for at least four to six weeks.<\/p>

After a few sessions of Swedish massage, however, you may decide that you want to go deeper. Talk to your massage therapist about a deep tissue massage focusing on your shoulder. Deep tissue massage focuses on specific trigger points \u2013 muscle knots that cause that nagging shoulder pain.[3]
<\/sup><\/p>

References:<\/strong><\/p>

[1]<\/sup> Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine: \u201cMassage Therapy for Neck and Shoulder Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis,\u201d <\/em>https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3600270\/.<\/p>

[2]<\/sup> Carrington College: \u201cHow to Relieve Neck and Shoulder Pain with Stretches and Massage,\u201d <\/em>https:\/\/carrington.edu\/blog\/student-tips\/health\/how-to-relive-neck-shoulder-pain-with-stretches-massage\/.<\/p>

[3]<\/sup> Pain Science: \u201cMassage Therapy for Shoulder Pain,\u201d <\/em>https:\/\/www.painscience.com\/articles\/spot-14-infraspinatus.php.

You Might Be Interested In These, As Well:
<\/strong>
Looking for a way to relax and bond with your partner? A couples massage<\/a> might be exactly what you need.

You don\u2019t have to play tennis to get tennis elbow. Learn how a massage can help with tennis elbow<\/a> discomfort.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Ready to book your massage?<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBook A Massage<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Shoulder Massage: Best Massage for Shoulder Pain Share on facebook Facebook Share on twitter Twitter Share on linkedin LinkedIn Share on reddit Reddit Question: I was a baseball pitcher in high school and college, but I hadn\u2019t really played as an adult until about a month ago when my office started a rec league softball […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":75683,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_elementor_edit_mode":"builder","_elementor_template_type":"wp-page","_elementor_data":"[{\"id\":\"3b4ab23d\",\"elType\":\"section\",\"settings\":{\"eael_parallax_layers_list\":[]},\"elements\":[{\"id\":\"5581d378\",\"elType\":\"column\",\"settings\":{\"_column_size\":100,\"_inline_size\":null},\"elements\":[],\"isInner\":false}],\"isInner\":false},{\"id\":\"6d1477b0\",\"elType\":\"section\",\"settings\":{\"eael_parallax_layers_list\":[]},\"elements\":[{\"id\":\"6265440c\",\"elType\":\"column\",\"settings\":{\"_column_size\":100,\"_inline_size\":null},\"elements\":[{\"id\":\"13e585fa\",\"elType\":\"widget\",\"settings\":{\"title\":\"Shoulder Massage: Best Massage for Shoulder Pain\",\"header_size\":\"h1\",\"align\":\"center\",\"title_color\":\"#14316C\",\"typography_typography\":\"custom\",\"typography_font_family\":\"Poppins\",\"typography_font_size\":{\"unit\":\"px\",\"size\":30,\"sizes\":[]},\"typography_font_weight\":\"600\",\"eael_tooltip_section_content\":\"I am a tooltip\",\"eael_ext_content_protection_password_placeholder\":\"Enter Password\",\"eael_ext_content_protection_password_submit_btn_txt\":\"Submit\",\"eael_ext_content_protection_password_incorrect_message\":\"Password does not match.\"},\"elements\":[],\"widgetType\":\"heading\"},{\"id\":\"3caa341c\",\"elType\":\"widget\",\"settings\":{\"eael_tooltip_section_content\":\"I am a tooltip\",\"eael_ext_content_protection_password_placeholder\":\"Enter Password\",\"eael_ext_content_protection_password_submit_btn_txt\":\"Submit\",\"eael_ext_content_protection_password_incorrect_message\":\"Password does not match.\"},\"elements\":[],\"widgetType\":\"spacer\"}],\"isInner\":false}],\"isInner\":false},{\"id\":\"2a9936b2\",\"elType\":\"section\",\"settings\":{\"eael_parallax_layers_list\":[]},\"elements\":[{\"id\":\"4b9424fe\",\"elType\":\"column\",\"settings\":{\"_column_size\":100,\"_inline_size\":null},\"elements\":[{\"id\":\"499eddad\",\"elType\":\"widget\",\"settings\":{\"text\":\"Divider\",\"eael_tooltip_section_content\":\"I am a tooltip\",\"eael_ext_content_protection_password_placeholder\":\"Enter Password\",\"eael_ext_content_protection_password_submit_btn_txt\":\"Submit\",\"eael_ext_content_protection_password_incorrect_message\":\"Password does not match.\"},\"elements\":[],\"widgetType\":\"divider\"}],\"isInner\":false}],\"isInner\":false},{\"id\":\"6a56a2ef\",\"elType\":\"section\",\"settings\":{\"eael_parallax_layers_list\":[]},\"elements\":[{\"id\":\"105acdad\",\"elType\":\"column\",\"settings\":{\"_column_size\":100,\"_inline_size\":null},\"elements\":[{\"id\":\"4e68f3c1\",\"elType\":\"widget\",\"settings\":{\"share_buttons\":[{\"_id\":\"177a087\"},{\"button\":\"twitter\",\"_id\":\"821e691\"},{\"button\":\"linkedin\",\"_id\":\"280d314\"},{\"_id\":\"8f9e41a\",\"button\":\"reddit\"}],\"alignment\":\"left\",\"eael_tooltip_section_content\":\"I am a tooltip\",\"eael_ext_content_protection_password_placeholder\":\"Enter Password\",\"eael_ext_content_protection_password_submit_btn_txt\":\"Submit\",\"eael_ext_content_protection_password_incorrect_message\":\"Password does not match.\"},\"elements\":[],\"widgetType\":\"share-buttons\"}],\"isInner\":false}],\"isInner\":false},{\"id\":\"4879ca6e\",\"elType\":\"section\",\"settings\":{\"eael_parallax_layers_list\":[],\"structure\":\"22\"},\"elements\":[{\"id\":\"687fdd14\",\"elType\":\"column\",\"settings\":{\"_column_size\":66,\"_inline_size\":null},\"elements\":[{\"id\":\"347a0b0a\",\"elType\":\"widget\",\"settings\":{\"editor\":\"

Question:

<\\\/strong>I was a baseball pitcher in high school and college, but I hadn\\u2019t really played as an adult until about a month ago when my office started a rec league softball team. I pitched our first game with no problems, but after the second game my shoulder started killing me. I don\\u2019t think I injured it during the game \\u2013 or if I did, I didn\\u2019t notice anything out of the ordinary. It didn\\u2019t really start hurting until the next morning, but since then it hasn\\u2019t stopped. A work buddy recommended I get a massage, but I\\u2019m more than a little skeptical. Can massage really help my shoulder pain? And what would be the best type of massage to ask for?

Answer:<\\\/strong><\\\/p>

Massage may be able to ease your shoulder pain, depending on the cause. In fact, medical research has shown that patients get better results from massage therapy than from acupuncture or traditional physical therapy exercises, when it comes to relieving shoulder pain.[1]<\\\/sup><\\\/p>

You mentioned that you don\\u2019t recall injuring your shoulder during the game \\u2013 that may indicate that the pain is more from a generalized strain or overuse, rather than an acute injury. For an acute injury, seeing a doctor would be your best first course of action. You could ask about massage, and your doctor could tell you if they thought you\\u2019d benefit or whether massage would exacerbate your condition or cause further injury.<\\\/p>

There\\u2019s another possibility. If you hadn\\u2019t pitched in awhile, your muscles may have had a hard time recovering, and that may be the cause for your shoulder pain. The pitching motion makes unique demands on your shoulders. If you\\u2019ve had a shoulder injury in the past, you may also have some scar tissue that\\u2019s causing inflammation and pain. If you\\u2019ve had a previous injury, it\\u2019s a good idea to have a doctor check it out \\u2013 although you should still be good to go for a gentle massage.<\\\/p>

If this is your first massage, you might want to start with a Swedish massage. Swedish massage is going to be more gentle than other types of massage, so it\\u2019s suitable for beginners. Swedish massages use a circular technique and kneading to apply pressure to the muscles. This technique is recommended by Carrington College, a massage therapy school, for relieving shoulder pain.[2]<\\\/sup>To get the best results, you\\u2019ll want to schedule weekly massage sessions for at least four to six weeks.<\\\/p>

After a few sessions of Swedish massage, however, you may decide that you want to go deeper. Talk to your massage therapist about a deep tissue massage focusing on your shoulder. Deep tissue massage focuses on specific trigger points \\u2013 muscle knots that cause that nagging shoulder pain.[3]
<\\\/sup><\\\/p>

References:<\\\/strong><\\\/p>

[1]<\\\/sup> Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine: \\u201cMassage Therapy for Neck and Shoulder Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis,\\u201d <\\\/em>https:\\\/\\\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\\\/pmc\\\/articles\\\/PMC3600270\\\/.<\\\/p>

[2]<\\\/sup> Carrington College: \\u201cHow to Relieve Neck and Shoulder Pain with Stretches and Massage,\\u201d <\\\/em>https:\\\/\\\/carrington.edu\\\/blog\\\/student-tips\\\/health\\\/how-to-relive-neck-shoulder-pain-with-stretches-massage\\\/.<\\\/p>

[3]<\\\/sup> Pain Science: \\u201cMassage Therapy for Shoulder Pain,\\u201d <\\\/em>https:\\\/\\\/www.painscience.com\\\/articles\\\/spot-14-infraspinatus.php.

You Might Be Interested In These, As Well:
<\\\/strong>
Looking for a way to relax and bond with your partner? A couples massage<\\\/a> might be exactly what you need.

You don\\u2019t have to play tennis to get tennis elbow. Learn how a massage can help with tennis elbow<\\\/a> discomfort.<\\\/p>\",\"text_color\":\"#020202\",\"typography_typography\":\"custom\",\"typography_font_family\":\"Poppins\",\"typography_font_weight\":\"400\",\"eael_tooltip_section_content\":\"I am a tooltip\",\"eael_ext_content_protection_password_placeholder\":\"Enter Password\",\"eael_ext_content_protection_password_submit_btn_txt\":\"Submit\",\"eael_ext_content_protection_password_incorrect_message\":\"Password does not match.\"},\"elements\":[],\"widgetType\":\"text-editor\"}],\"isInner\":false},{\"id\":\"776d97c3\",\"elType\":\"column\",\"settings\":{\"_column_size\":33,\"_inline_size\":null},\"elements\":[{\"id\":\"5e6164cd\",\"elType\":\"widget\",\"settings\":{\"editor\":\"

Ready to book your massage?<\\\/p>\",\"typography_typography\":\"custom\",\"typography_font_family\":\"Poppins\",\"typography_font_size\":{\"unit\":\"px\",\"size\":17,\"sizes\":[]},\"typography_font_weight\":\"400\",\"eael_tooltip_section_content\":\"I am a tooltip\",\"eael_ext_content_protection_password_placeholder\":\"Enter Password\",\"eael_ext_content_protection_password_submit_btn_txt\":\"Submit\",\"eael_ext_content_protection_password_incorrect_message\":\"Password does not match.\"},\"elements\":[],\"widgetType\":\"text-editor\"},{\"id\":\"5ccad209\",\"elType\":\"widget\",\"settings\":{\"text\":\"Book A Massage\",\"align\":\"center\",\"typography_typography\":\"custom\",\"typography_font_family\":\"Poppins\",\"typography_font_size\":{\"unit\":\"px\",\"size\":18,\"sizes\":[]},\"typography_font_weight\":\"600\",\"typography_line_height\":{\"unit\":\"px\",\"size\":22,\"sizes\":[]},\"background_color\":\"#F58266\",\"border_radius\":{\"unit\":\"px\",\"top\":\"50\",\"right\":\"50\",\"bottom\":\"50\",\"left\":\"50\",\"isLinked\":true},\"eael_tooltip_section_content\":\"I am a tooltip\",\"eael_ext_content_protection_password_placeholder\":\"Enter Password\",\"eael_ext_content_protection_password_submit_btn_txt\":\"Submit\",\"eael_ext_content_protection_password_incorrect_message\":\"Password does not match.\",\"link\":{\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.soothe.com\\\/booking\",\"is_external\":\"\",\"nofollow\":\"\",\"custom_attributes\":\"\"}},\"elements\":[],\"widgetType\":\"button\"}],\"isInner\":false}],\"isInner\":false}]","_elementor_page_settings":{"eael_ext_toc_title":"Table of Contents"},"_elementor_conditions":[]},"class_list":["post-75819","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","entry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.soothe.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/75819","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.soothe.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.soothe.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.soothe.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.soothe.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=75819"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.soothe.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/75819\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.soothe.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/75683"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.soothe.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=75819"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}