Glad this shed some light on it! As far as forward head posture, it's a fine thing to try to be more aware of your posture as you go through your day, but trying to force yourself to stand in a military posture (and then shaming yourself when it starts to hurt and you stop) is a good path to frustration. Be mindful of your posture, but mostly rely on stretching and strengthening for long-term changes. Best of luck!

Nancy Marquez Great, let me know how it goes! Finding the right depth and duration is a process of trial and error, especially at first. I highly recommend taking a myofascial class when you next get the chance, just know that we sometimes say weird things :)

Alisa Tierney Glad to be of service, thanks Alisa!

Much appreciated, Andrea!

Thanks so much, Sara!

I really appreciate the kind words, and I'm continually grateful that my philosophy resonates out there. Thanks for watching, and let me know if there are videos you'd like to see!

Smile Fitness Exeter - Personal Training, Biomechanics Coach and Massage Therapy Much appreciated!

Glad to help, and thanks so much for the kind and thoughtful comment!

In so much pain!

That's really nice of you to work on your daughter! She may also benefit from a stretching and strengthening regimen from a physical therapist, and as always, if her pain persists or worsens, I do recommend seeing a doctor. Best of luck!

WHAT ABOUT YOU? YOU KNOW ZUMA🐍

@@anawahid2509 zumakabilang buhay 😂😂😂✌️

Just realize that there's a lot you can do yourself! Pain in the rhomboid region has to do with the tug-of-war between front and back (and maybe some shoulder and neck involvement as well). A full-body movement regimen of some sort (weight training, yoga, etc) led by a trained professional could help, and this might even be a job for a physical therapist. They'll be able to give you a customized regimen of stretching and strengthening that can get that nagging pain to gradually decrease in intensity. Best of luck!

Cassandra Breedon Great instructors at the Florida School of Massage, A&P courses at college, and lots of reading! I also taught A&P at a massage school for a while, so that really makes you step up your game. Thanks for the question and for the kind words!

Hydroxoid You can definitely do this type of work while maintaining a constant "flow," you just have to be willing to slow that flow way down for certain deep and meaningful moves. You can return to slightly faster smoothing and warming moves in between, and the change in rhythm can make it all seem new and lovely. If you'd like to incorporate some deeper and more specific techniques into a flowing massage, realize that you can set up each move and finish each move with just a single hand. For instance, while I'm finishing with a stroke down the back, I'll gently move one hand to the next starting position (say, for a steamrolling move across the low back). As that fist is getting into place, the other palm will finish and move to its new starting position. Once I'm done with the two-fisted move, one will gently come out and set up the next move, and so on. I call it "mime hands." See if you can spot it in one of my more general videos. Thanks for the question!

That's a good question, and the answer that I've come to after many years is: The body isn't picky, it can make use of a lot of stimuli, and it can usually adapt. So, while it might seem counterintuitive to strengthen the serratus anterior and pecs when they're already winning this particular tug-of-war, that stimulus could potentially be pain-relieving, and will almost certainly be better than doing nothing (i.e. continuing to be sedentary, or just giving your body the daily stimuli that resulted in pain in the first place). I could easily see the body finding a new state of balance with daily serratus exercises, even strengthening the rhomboids reciprocally. Anything is better than nothing in this case. My preference, keeping in mind that I'm not a physical therapist or trainer, would be for any client with upper back pain to have a broad strength training regimen rather than something so specific. They'd do moves that strengthen their shoulder retractors, yes (rows, pull-ups, etc), but also everything on every other side of that equation. They'd press forward, they'd press up, they'd do core work, and even lower body work. With time the nervous system would use this information to find a more comfortable resting tone, rhomboids and the shoulder protractors would both gain mass, and the rhomboids would almost certainly be left happier and less stressed out. This is just my working theory, btw, but it makes sense to me based on how many seemingly contradictory physical therapy and massage therapy regimens seem to get good results. The body figures it out.

@@MassageSloth Thank you very much for the detailed answer!

joseph lee Hey Joe! I'm definitely down to show more techniques for taking pressure off the wrists, but can you tell me a bit more about it? What do you mean by "back of palm"? Where are you feeling the pain, and during what parts of the move? For instance, you might feel it when your wrist gets to an extreme angle of extension, or it might get worse as you reach the low back, etc. Feel free to message me if you'd prefer, I'd like to hear some specifics. For now, consider using a supported palm more often (kzfaq.info/get/bejne/hpdpeLGguse7e6c.html), and try bracing your wrist when you're using your open fist at an angle that causes pain. To do this, just wrap the other hand around the wrist gently but firmly. You're not trying to force it to stay in place, just offering a little support. I'll have a video on open fist use this coming Monday. Keep an eye out for opportunities to use your forearms/elbows as well! Good luck, and let me know how it goes.

What were the symptoms of the growth?

@@rebeccakellogg3948 You could see the thing even when I was fully clothed.

Upper back and shoulder pain can absolutely reduce and even disappear over time, if the body receives the right inputs. That can be massage, but it can also be in the form of more frequent breaks at work, improved desk ergonomics, implementing a yoga or strength training regimen, etc. If you're waiting for something to heal, just realize that the body is likely structurally sound and stable (and so its job is done), but the sensitivity and pain can stick around because the body thinks you need tightness and sensitivity. You can prove that it can loosen up by moving in new ways or changing some habits. This can be self-directed, but you might benefit from a few visits with a physical therapist or occupational therapist for a customized regimen of stretching and strengthening. Best of luck!

sp44113 If you're ever near the Florida panhandle, I'm always looking for models :) I mostly use my friends, and I fear that one day they'll hold an intervention and make me stop. Sorry to hear that you're in pain, best of luck!

sp44113 exactly!!! I’m doing the same thing. Looks like he nailed it. I need to find someone to do this for me. I’m in horrible pain.

+singwisevocals Thank you! I'm down in Pensacola, Florida... which is usually pretty far away from people :) If you can't see me, good luck on your quest!

Massage Sloth I live in Daphne, I would love to come see you. Im a LMT as well.

Kara McIlwain It'd be great to see you, Kara! You can find me at www.painfreepensacola.com

same here 🙃 I feel same pain only when I walk or do physical activity for more than an hour

+Dina Metaweh Hi Dina! A medical evaluation may be necessary, especially if the symptoms persist or grow worse. In the mean time, some gentle "ironing out" or the pecs and rotator cuff may be helpful. Don't worry about working with the joint itself, just try to encourage the muscles that surround it to chill out. Here's my rotator cuff video: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/odRhqdx80cyRe4U.html Best of luck!

In most cases I have some jojoba oil applied. I kind of... forgot to mention this in a lot of older videos 😩

@@MassageSloth Haha no worries, i was just curious. I also wanted to say thank you for your videos. I've been a LMT since 2013, stopped practicing for a few years, and recently started a new job as a MT again. It's been so incredibly helpful to have someone like you who posts content like this for someone like me who has struggled to get back into massage again. It can be overwhelming: all of the muscles ( O, I and A of them all), anatomy, physiology, etc is a lot at times, but your demo's and knowledge is very straight forward and has been such a huge help for me. Thank you so much. Edit: typo

@@Ooccoo31 Ah, that's so good to hear, Maddie! Congrats on getting back to it, and glad to have helped 🤗

Tracie Hoenig Ah, great question! I've been saying it for so long that I forgot that I made it up. By steamrolling an area, I just mean slowly smoothing it out. This can be with a lot of pressure or a little, but it should be broad. I do this to work with the broad sheets of fascia rather than any particular muscle. By angling the technique (about 45 degrees rather than directly down), it involves a bit of skin stretching as well. By patiently "ironing out" the myofascia like this, you can warm and soften large areas. It feels good, and it can be a good warm-up for more specific techniques. Thanks for commenting!

marijka ter morsche Good question! I need to start including this in more videos. I use a bit of jojoba oil or shea butter. A little goes a long way, and they provide excellent "grip" when you use less. That said, I veer over to the Swedish side of things regularly, and jojoba works great for the faster work.

Massage Sloth thanx :) im currently doing a myofascial release course and exploring this....I am being taught to not use anything, but to get that glide that I see in your videos I thought you possibly do...I will give it a go :)

marijka ter morsche I see! My advice would be to start out with minimal or no lubrication while you're still learning from a teacher that does this. You'll get a different appreciation for the work, and you'll learn a way of approaching the tissue that most other massage therapists can't do. Start adding more oil and other techniques once you feel like bending the rules a bit :) Good luck!

thanx :)

Massage Sloth I’m allergic to oils & lotions. I have to moisturize my damp skin with Vaseline brand petroleum jelly. 🤷‍♀️

I can't be exactly sure, but a muscle could be getting tweaked. This could be rhomboid, or one of the other nearby muscles (intercostals, erector spinae). So, I can't say exactly why, but I do recommend either modifying that exercise, or replacing it with another pulling movement (cable rows, pull downs, etc). This change is best made under the guidance of a well-qualified trainer. In the mean time, give your injury some time to heal, and consider seeing a doctor if your pain persists or worsens. Best of luck!

This can be a slipped disc

The rhomboids are made to extend, often in prolonged and even bombastic movements (think pitching or boxing, both of which involve rather violent protraction of the shoulder blade). Massage therapy itself basically involves doing a partial plank for an hour at a time (at least the way I do it), as do a lot of crafts and manual labor jobs. So, keep all that in mind when I say this: Lots of protraction is normal, but the solution isn't more protraction. Basically, if you're doing a lot of work/exercise with your arms thrust forward, you won't find relief for your aches and pains by doing *more* stretching of your rhomboids. Instead, keep doing your planks and cat cows and bag work, but make sure you're also doing some shoulder retraction. Make sure you're doing pull-ups/pull-downs and rows. Make sure you're stretching your pecs and rotators cuffs (I discuss some good ways to approach that here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/d9mTrZWozdPHqqc.html). Forget about targeting the rhomboids, and just make sure your stretching and strengthening regimen is balanced and varied, and you'll avoid a lot of pain. That said, if you've got upper back pain that persists or worsens, do see your doctor for a referral to a physical therapist. Sometimes nothing beats a customized regimen.

@@MassageSloth Wow! Thank you for this thoughtful response. Makes a lot of sense. Very much appreciated 😀

Quin Mayunga Great question. While some instructors emphasize the direction of the stroke, they seem to do so out of the belief that we can convince the tissue to go one way and stay there. This assumes that we're making structural changes, an idea that isn't borne out by research. It's more likely that, by way of prolonged stretch of the myofascia, we're convincing the nervous system to reduce tone and sensitivity. I'm not convinced that the direction of stretch has any effect on that, but I'm willing to be wrong. Thanks for commenting!

Abhijat Bhanot how is it now?

This can be a pain due to slipped disc .

+Joseph Tosti Good question! I'm trying to get better at mentioning this in my videos, but my brain is terrible at staying on script. I use a small amount of jojoba oil, usually a nickel sized pool in my palm. Not enough to create a visible oil slick, but enough to keep me moving. If I feel like moving quickly (more of a myofascial Swedish), I'll apply some more.

Hi Angela, in my experience this upper back pain tends to be persistent unless some changes are made. That can mean simple things like standing up and moving more often at work, some brief daily stretches, or a new gym regimen. What exact changes need to be made vary from person to person. You can try implementing some changes yourself (following a brief yoga routine in the mornings, etc), but it can help to see a professional. That could mean a personal trainer, yoga instructor, massage therapist, or physical therapist. I recommend seeing your doctor if this pain persists or worsens, or if it's interfering with your life. Best of luck!

Is it gone now?

I talk about my reasoning here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/eq15nqyGxJemnqc.html I like it because I get to use nice straight arms and let gravity do most of the work. For anyone trying a low table, I advice easing into it and listening to your body!

Cindy L the explanation is what makes the video. It’s why we come.