Samuel F. Getty D.C  Shoulder Girdle  Self Help Pages

Note:The Shoulder girdle is a very complex area and is intimately related to pain in the shoulder, midback, neck, and upper arm.

Four factors greatly influence the shoulder girdle:           

1) Posture

2) Shoulder movement patterns

3) Stress and muscle tension

4) Breathing pattern

Postures    

The following animation reviews plumb alignment of the shoulder and common postures that can create shoulder pain.

Shoulder Posture

http://drgettyandphotos.com/shoulder/WB%20Shoulder-girdle-posture-601.gif

Shoulder Movement Patterns

This animation reviews muscles of the shoulder girdle and how the shoulder blade moves when different muscles are contracted or held tense.

Shoulder Girdle Muscles

http://drgettyandphotos.com/shoulder/WB-girdle-muscles-501.gif

The following animation reviews incorrect movement of the shoulder girdle.

Shoulder Movement Patterns

http://drgettyandphotos.com/shoulder/WB%20Shoulder-girdle-hiking-503.gif

Stress and Tension

This animation reviews "flight or fight" response and how muscle tension and breathing is affected by "flight or fight" and opposing "rest/digest" response.

Stress and Tension

http://drgettyandphotos.com/shoulder/WB-stress-and-breathing.gif

Breathing

Reviewed in this animation are correct and incorrect breathing patterns.                   Breathing exercises are reviewed.

Breathing Patterns

http://drgettyandphotos.com/shoulder/WB%20breathing-3.gif

Shoulder Girdle Stretches

Two low tech stretches are presented in this animation. These stretches are designed to stretch and relax commonly tight muscles in the upper shoulder girdle.

Shoulder Girdle Stretches

http://drgettyandphotos.com/shoulder/WB%20bruggers-sitting-serr-+-631%20II.gif

Individual Handouts These are photos that take a while to down load,controls to enlarge view will appear if you rest the cursor over the image

Belly Breathing http://drgettyandphotos.com//shoulder/Breathing supine.jpg

Bruggers and Breathing http://drgettyandphotos.com//shoulder/Bruggers and Breathing.jpg

 Bruggers and Serratus plus http://drgettyandphotos.com//shoulder/bruggers and serratus plus a.jpg