Did you know that left handed brick layers are in demand? Me neither. Apparently when you lay bricks you either push the line or pull the line. If you’re right handed it’s easier to push the line, and not so easy if you have to pull. Left handed brickies find it easier to pull.
It’s genuinely amazing what you pick up from exploring peoples injuries 😊👍🏻
Today I had a bricklayer come to clinic. They’d been having shoulder pain, and it particularly hurt when they performed certain actions – predominantly those involved in trowling (cement and plaster) and when turning a steering wheel with one hand.
When we examined the area we found the mid portion of the long head biceps overactive, and the latissimus dorsi, teres major, teres minor and medial triceps all under active.
We also found the proximal portion of the medial deltoid overactive and the distal portion of the long head biceps under active (but extremely tight).
What’s fascinating about this case is that two portions of the same muscle were behaving in a different manner (one over active, the other under) in two different movement patterns, but contributing to the same issue. 🤩😍🤩
Mimicking the movements dialed the pain levels right down, but there’s homework to do to cement (🤣 couldn’t resist) the work done on the couch, and then to monitor how things go when doing those movements in real world situations.
Next time we’ll be looking at pronation and supination in the lower arm, as that is a repetitive movement used whilst working too.
An exciting session 👨🏻🎓🧠💪🏻
Image credit PExels free
Experience the difference – A refreshingly different approach to pain and dysfunction, so you can breathe better, move better, to live better.