Occupational therapists address the rehabilitation of your arms and your trunk in many settings. When you have tension in your neck and shoulder it can significantly affect your independence and cause you severe pain. By using a variety of strategies, your occupational therapist can help alleviate your pain and restore your independence with activities such as bathing, dressing, meal preparation and driving.
Massage
The start of your occupational therapy session should include a selection of massage techniques designed to reduce the pain and muscle tension in your neck and shoulder. A morfam massager can be used, which is a high intensity vibrator that provides joint mobilization as well. Because of the intensity of this device, you can reduce your brain's awareness of your pain, which will result in less perceived pain. This can also help to loosen the muscles and numb the tissues to prepare them for manipulations.
Modalities
Other techniques can be used by your occupational therapist to reduce your pain and stiffness. Infrared, a light therapy and diathermy, a magnetic therapy, can both stimulate circulation, reduce pain and loosen tight muscles. Functional electrical stimulation to the neck and shoulder can normalize tone in all of the muscles surrounding your affected areas, which can reduce referred pain. Ultrasound can be used in a localized area to reduce a specific point of pain.
Trigger Point Release
Trigger point release is a vital component of reducing your muscle tension. By placing her thumb or massage tool end over your tightened muscle fiber, your occupational therapist can force the muscle to relax. This part of your therapy can be quite painful, however it yields significant and immediate reduction in symptoms once your therapist releases the muscle fiber. The entire massage can last for five to 15 minutes as your therapist places approximately 90 seconds of direct pressure on each muscle knot. It is absolutely essential to drink several extra glasses of water after your therapy session to decrease the risk of localized soreness.
Exercise
The completion of your therapy session should include range of motion exercises. As you improve your range of motion, your occupational therapist might also add a strengthening component as well. Common exercises include shoulder shrugs, lifting your arms over your head and out to your side, using a pulley system to stretch your shoulders and moving your neck forward, backward, sideways and in circles to loosen and strengthen the muscles.
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