B.J. called for an appointment for his shoulder. "Been hurting since an accident about two years ago. I'm calling on a referral from a friend who said you may be able to help. Never thought about massage, always thought I couldn't afford it." My reply: "Therapeutic massage is a little understood aspect of medicine, and if more doctors were aware of its application, there wouldn't be enough massage therapists to take care of everyone who would benefit from it's use. No other medical application spends the amount of time with a patient that a massage therapist does. When you take into consideration the knowledge and the time spent, the cost is minimal." "Good point", he replied.

B.J.'s right shoulder was indeed tight. After about five minutes of working the neck muscles that wouldn't release, the muscles beneath the collar bone were checked and B.J. commented that there was pain. These are the muscles around the first rib which can go into spasm, tightening neck and shoulder muscles. Using a release position, the muscles relaxed, and as they did, so did B.J.'s shoulder. Afterward, his neck muscles relaxed more easily also.

"My doctor told me massage wouldn't work on my shoulder because the tight muscles can't be reached with massage." There are many ways to release neck and shoulder muscles that some doctors are apparently unaware of, and being unaware, they do their patients an injustice by giving them incorrect information. All of the chest, neck, back, and shoulder muscles may be released if the proper positional release method is used. The mid-back may be the most difficult if the client is elderly or incapacitated because of limited range of motion. Otherwise, a generally healthy, flexible body can be arranged to release the greater majority of muscular spasms.

B.J. later commented that now that he knew what therapeutic massage could do, he couldn't afford not to have it. "I've had that shoulder pain for two years! I can't believe it's gone. Next time I come into town, I'm calling you!"

Merida J. Raines is the owner of Wind In Her Hair, LLC whose mission is to guide you into your own inner journey to health, success, and self-fulfillment by helping you to develop your awareness of subtle energies and awakening to and trusting your intuition.