Massage Tutorial: Subscapularis (rotator cuff, deep tissue)

[@TheBeautyBeginners]

I love having my subscap worked on. I sustained a shoulder injury 7 years ago and after all the PT, massage therapy, and chiro visits I finally had someone work on my subscap and it helped SO much. Gonna share this with them. :)

[@vanessachampion5695]

This is absolutely effective! You show it so fantastically! There are massage therapists AND even massage instructos who go into the axillary region harsh and rough! They don't sink in slowly and wait patiently for those taut muscles to soften. You have such a patient and intelligent approach! Very very excellent job! Thank you for the demonstration....😀😀

[@vanessachampion5695]

instructos = instructors

[@MassageSloth]

Thanks so much for the kind words, Vanessa!

[@Hobby_Collector]

This video is so perfect! thank you! my girlfriend has been dealing with an injury in what seemed to be her shoulder and back for a year and a half due to overworking at a summer camp. after seeing over 20 doctors and each of them having different opinions on what could be the cause an ER doc pressed on this muscle which lead me to you and BOOM she is healed now thank you so much!

[@MassageSloth]

That's great news!

[@kraigdeydey9493]

I just want to say this guys the real deal not only did he start his intro very proffessional an told us very cleary about the important part of shoulder pain true legend

[@Anrahs34]

Thank you!! I have a client with strong indication of subscapularis issues and I haven't performed on this muscle in a while. I'm excited now, thank you for your knowledge.

[@justicegirl1028]

I am not a massage therapist, but I stumbled across your videos a while back and I've been watching ever since. In teaching therapists about your techniques, you've also managed to teach me a lot about my own posture and body mechanics. Keep up the good work!

[@ΠαντεληςΤσιπας]

justicegirl1028 μ

[@rblightchild]

what i like about your videos is that you show angles so i can see exactly what you are doing and you move like a sloth! youve slowed me down alot. every movement connects and means something or has a purpose. with my table lower ive actually been able to save my body from alot of pain. thanks again

[@dinametaweh6431]

Thanks to your self massage my own shoulder is much better. Your attitude is right in line with my own. Loving your tutorials!

[@tedtrash]

Very nice demonstration of technique. Treatment of the subscapularis, when indicated, willl often create a dramatic improvement to shoulder range of motion and activities of daily living. I noticed you have a client who is impairment free for the demonstration. It would be worth adding that clients with advanced adaptive shortening of the subscapularis will often have a great deal of apprehension and will be unwilling to abduct and externally rotate the arm, even if you have done all the necessary preliminary work in prone as you show here. Generally, if there is no history of trauma to non-contractile tissue in or around the glenohumeral joint, the client will be capable of adopting the arm position with little discomfort at that point, if the arm is moved passively. To convince them, I use a progressive rythmical mobilization starting with very low amplitude holding the wrist and elbow to keep the movement very smooth, timing the cadence with whatever music is in the room, if any. It helps if you have done a differential assessment prior to massage and have shown the client that they have much less pain on passive ROM testing - at the same time ruling out non-contractile tissue. Anyway, it is a long winded and minor point, but I have recently encountered my most advanced case requiring this treatment in 10 years as an RMT. Please let me take the time to say that it is refreshing to see videos posted by someone who really knows what he is doing, taking the time to let tissues respond and communicating that to other massage therapists. Also, stay lazy - and pain free!

[@monicalee9053]

Your videos are so helpful and educational. I love how you name all of the muscles, and boney areas involved with these techniques. I've been searching for new techniques for a long time, and sort of gave up, not being able to find in depth information. I recently came across one of your videos, and am excited and grateful to find much of what I've been looking for! I've been a massage therapist for several years. Unfortunately, I'm in an area that is difficult, at best, to find any local classes to continue my education, and deepen my techniques/practice. So far, your videos are exactly what I've been wanting to see and learn. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and time!

[@MassageSloth]

+Monica Lee That's really great to hear, Monica! I appreciate the specific feedback, and that you took the time to comment. Let me know if there are ever any topics you'd like to see covered. Thanks!

[@ΠαντεληςΤσιπας]

Massage Sloth 6

[@countrysamurai]

I love it that there are fellow professionals who are so knowledgable and willing to pass on knowledge to help others learn. These vids are so straight forward and easy to follow. I am currently enrolled in Massage School (Half way through clinic) and can't wait to begin my career helping others through touch. I spent 6 years as a PT Tech in a Las Vegas Hospital doing every possible treatment and modality from Med/Surg Telemetry to Wound Care and everything in between. I only had limited experience in PEDS. I love helping others but making them feel good is the ultimate reward. PT was amazing and I loved it but involved much pain for my patients.

[@countrysamurai]

I am sorry...an Honorable mention for Rachel is necessary. She is a great client and wow...she is so very attractive. I know...my professionalism slipped a little.

[@LillyLigaya]

6 years later and your channel is still giving me good content to revisit!

[@danpinard929]

Thank you! Youre a great teacher, I love your videos! This is an uncomfortable spot to work both for therapist and client and you make it look so easy and help me feel more confident in performing this technique! 👍🏽

[@MassageSloth]

Thanks Dan!

[@amrashraf9559]

@@MassageSlothwhat can i do at home to relieve the stress for this subscapularis ?

[@geovykenny]

Great!! Loved it. Very knowledgeable! I am just starting massage therapy school, I will be seeing more of your videos. Thank you

[@SIMACHYAHI224]

I have Tendinosis in my subscapularis and it’s causing me intense pain I’ve had it for two years from a car accident and it’s causing my arm to decrease in mobility and numbness in the shoulder blade on the surface of my skin and down my arm. So watching helps me to find out why my shoulder is so chronic in pain.

[@happyarcher66]

This is a really informative tutorial. I've been looking for other methods of treatment for a patient who is over 60 and a former plasterer with symptoms of adhesive capsulitis - thankfully it's not quite that bad yet but if left it will definitely end up a frozen shoulder. After 2 treatments he's already got greater rom but I've been struggling to find a more effective treatment of the subscap, as I believe this is the culprit and cause of the stiffness and lack of movement through the rotator cuff. Thank you :)

[@beautiful1gg]

you are so knowledgable.... I hope one day to be like you. i watched other vids... they are BS... my clients luv you as much as I do.

[@MassageSloth]

Quanii Beautiful1q Ha, thank you so much, Quanii :)

[@carolejackson8357]

nice demo regarding access to subscap. good teaching Style clarifying each step.

[@AnnyTheMs]

Thanks! other videos don't really gave me a good knowledge but your videos gave me full detail explanation! thanks for the good knowledge and awesome method 👌

[@aimeemayor]

Thank you for sharing. Great way to work the subscapularis. I'm definitely going to first practice, then use these techniques!

[@susanwachter6217]

I need this! good anatomy teaching- I like the sandwich similie🙂 nice and gentle massage techniques, surely this will help many with subscapularis issues...thanks

[@symak8216]

Such a great way of explaining things :)

[@emoosemoose]

I always learn so much from watching your videos ~ definitely helping me in my own practice. Thanks for taking the time to make these and keep 'em coming. :)

[@BirdSong_01]

Thank you! Great info I hope my massage therapist watches this 🙏🏻

[@cortesislandvacation]

Another great video! I am so impressed. The internet needs you. I mean, we do. I wonder if you would consider doing a video about how the nervous system is affected/integrated/supported via massage therapy?

[@MassageSloth]

Thanks so much Cortes! I try to touch on that a little in various videos, but I think you're right that it could use a video of its own.

[@Wemorethanjustrock]

Wow is this great 😍‼️. Subscap is one tricky bugger.

[@celam4]

This was so helpful and informative. Thank you.

[@MrAcujin92009]

I work on the Subscap a lot, with needles as well. Really nice technique. You are way more cautious than I would be, lol...

[@plemongrass]

your video's are really amazing... thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and experience in such a wonderful way!

[@NicoleBrass]

Thanks for the videos. Much more informative than massage school!! What about active/passive pin and stretch on subscap? Thanks and keep the video education going!

[@MassageSloth]

I think a pin and stretch would be great, especially with broad, gentle contact. Thanks Nicole!

[@denisetappmacmt880]

I love how you actually wait for the tissue to move before advancing. I keep seeing people demonstrate this and other releases moving so fast and with too much pressure. I do a lot of these releases for chiropractic patients. I do treat a lot of older patients but I do have a couple very muscular (professional weight lifter, body builder). Do you have any advice for access these deeper muscles through such thick muscularity? Also any advice on scar tissue manipulation for a torn ligament and torn tendon in the shoulder? BTW, It is so relaxing and easy to learn from you!

[@MassageSloth]

Thanks Denise! I actually find that this work is a little easier with clients with more muscular definition; their axillary region is more muscle and less adipose tissue, and I can tend to work medially without other tissue pushing me out. That said, it can present a challenge when trying to "sandwich" the scapula between fingers and thumb. If the teres muscles are big enough, it can be hard to work on anything but them! For these situations, I find it useful to have the client move their arm into abduction, exposing the axilla. From there I can use doubled-up fingertips (think two "spear hands," one atop the other) and press down toward the table and their subscapular fossa. You may want to have them slowly rotate the arm around the axis of the humerus (it will look like they're tossing a football); bringing in active engagement tends to intensify the experience, and make it more effective. I actually treat scar tissue just like anything else. I stay within the client's pressure tolerance, and I try to reduce sensitivity and encourage ROM as I work. I don't worry about breaking up the scar tissue (it's tougher than the tissue surrounding it), but rather try to convince the nervous system that so much stretch inhibition and sensitivity isn't needed. Basically, I use slow myofascial strokes and active client engagement to give them a weekly reminder that the healing is over, so function can return.

[@jeremiahcollins5155]

Yes! I've been doing almost the exact techniques, and some. Like, when the client is supine, from the opposite shoulder, my superior hand/forearm goes down over traps and neck. While inferior hand goes down infraspin. And going far enough to come up respectively cupping and lifting the shoulder while curling under the ledge of lateral border of the scapula, and using the lift for space so I can go gently into sub scap. Would be fun to make a video share.

[@MassageSloth]

I would love to see a video of that in action!

[@kallmekiller]

great video! and also, blue canary in the outlet by the lightswitch!

[@MassageSloth]

Haha, glad someone spotted that!

[@floydbuchanan9348]

I love the squared away sleeves there, Ian!

[@MassageSloth]

+Floyd Buchanan Finally, some recognition for my sleeves! Those take work, people.

[@michellealvermann1377]

Very helpful.. I always have a hard time getting under the scapula

[@h5y]

Excellent video sir!

[@vincentmartinez8442]

Thank you Ian! Very helpful as always

[@lorrancourts3055]

big thankyou from a student!

[@jessicamartinez735]

Love watching your videos!

[@suhseal]

i asked my masseuse for subscap work and woo dog! it is sensitive.. but really good for my shoulder's range of motion.

[@MassageSloth]

Nice! Just realize this muscle doesn't need a ton of stimulus in order to chill out, so feel free to ask them to hold back a bit on pressure. But hey, more ROM is a great outcome!

[@wayneostler5532]

Love the technique Massage Sloth...

[@YOYO-ew8mp]

thank you I've just found why my supraspinatus has caused me so much pain. Tried what you said on unpainful side 1st, was ok did think much of it, then did it on my painful side and nearly hit the roof. Now just have to get lazy nhs physio to do some work on it! wish me luck!

[@riculfriculfson7243]

Now looking forward to doing this one

[@ditsytheoneandonly7930]

Another great video!

[@UniqueMasterpiece927]

Great video once again! Thank you so much. I do have one question though: are there any tips for working subscap on larger clients?

[@MassageSloth]

UniQueMaSterPiecE1 It would definitely make the first technique more difficult. The second and third techniques should still be about the same; while there will be extra adipose tissue bordering the axilla, the skin of the axillary region itself should still be fairly thin and accessible. All of that said, I still tend to do the first technique (the "scapula sandwich") on larger clients. Even if I'm not able to make solid contact with the subscapular fossa, it is still helpful to smoosh the fascia on both sides of the scapula. This method feels least invasive to me. You'll still be compressing subscapularis to some extent, especially as it emerges from the axilla. Good question! Thanks for your comments :-)

[@menolito1]

Great video again! Thank you!

[@CryptoConnoisseur345]

Holy shit man you cleaned up since your TOS video! Awesome

[@mc1428]

Thank you Ian!!!!

[@ShelliG]

Some pictures or a model might be helpful for non-practitioners (like me) but very helpful

[@MassageSloth]

I'll be incorporating more diagrams in the future, definitely. Thanks for the feedback!

[@matrix3817]

excellent tutorial! thank you!

[@keiseiki]

Great video! I’m going to start using this today. Do you think it’s ok for a patient with Thoracic outlet syndrome or Subscapularis to use a sauna? Any thoughts?

[@slavadubov1361]

Ian!!!! Where are you? We are missing you and your great videos! :)

[@MassageSloth]

+Слава Ко I'll be back soon :) For real this time!

[@slavadubov1361]

Great! I hope you are OK! Merry Christmas and Happy new year! :)

[@michellealvermann1377]

Could you do a video on rotator cuff problems

[@MassageSloth]

I've got a reeaally old and scuffed one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oZ-Up6yBoctggbM That's high on the list to be redone, so thanks for the reminder 🙂

[@tracyfanning5059]

Have you ever run into issues of clients, especially female whom are more endowed, that don't like the technique when you lift the g/h off the table at the same time working on the back? Of course I understand that if the client isn't comfortable with it then stop, but how would it be addressed?

[@MassageSloth]

Tracy Fanning Hi Tracy! I've never encountered someone stating that they don't like the mobilization, but I do get many clients who seem unable to "let go" of their shoulder girdle. Sometimes I'll give those people a verbal cue (have them tense up their shoulder and release it), but I'll often just back off for that session. Sometimes it takes many sessions before there's enough implicit trust for them to "give" me their neck, shoulder, etc. I figure that I can still accomplish a lot until then. Good question!

[@Cassiehope888]

hey massage sloth..missing your vids!

[@talofek2976]

more please on the area of the subscapularis please

[@italianjock63]

where can I get this massage. I had subscapularis surgery 10 month ago. but its always sore. especially crossing arm over chest

[@sarakellerer-pirklbauer9586]

GREAT VIDEO, Thank you!

[@yogablossom100]

Thank you for sharing so much with us! Bless you!

[@JM-nf4rj]

Hey, any tips for (twice) dislocated shoulder of 23yo male? How to reinforce my rotator cuff? I'm quite stuck here on one spot, going nowhere. More than year since the second dislocation (second came after a month since the first), wasn't rehabilitated properly, shoulder seems to be out of lign. I guess I need it to be stronger and more stiff than it's now..

[@TheBarva1]

does it have a connection ro chest I had a tear many years ago

[@frankfromupstateny3796]

Good video...very complete....nice

[@sandyszemenyei3985]

Really helpful. Thanks

[@harsh1822]

what is focal infra substance tear? and can it be repaired without surgery!?

[@mitchede4921]

fucking awesome, great presentation and clear instruction

[@michaeldooley5331]

What is your experience and opinion on clients with fraying or partial tears of subscapularis and long head of biceps tendons opting for massage and or strengthening instead of expecting surgery some day. A very loaded question, but I am a very desperate man. I have already undergone two very disappointing labrum repairs this year on each shoulder, now I have this issue. Thanks!

[@MassageSloth]

Sorry about missing this, Michael! I do think that rehab/massage for partial rotator cuff tears is a reasonable strategy, especially with regular monitoring by your orthopedist or sports doctor. Here's a relevant review of the literature: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4827371/ Prolonged conservative treatment seems to be a well-founded way of proceeding. I hope you're well!

[@beautiful1gg]

Where are you?? I miss ur vids

[@rblightchild]

my clients love when i work subscap, i feel its essential. the second to the last move looked complicated, but the last one i do often, except once in sink into pit i bring their arm over their body and touch their hand to their opposite shoulder . do you think thats a good stretch? or am i over doing. thanks.

[@MassageSloth]

+Rasheedah Bilal-Sanders That sounds like a great way of doing it! Just keep in mind that if the client is using any muscular effort to keep their arm in place, subscap will likely be recruited to assist. That's not necessarily a negative (working on muscles while they activate can be a useful strategy), but just something to be aware of. Thanks for your comments!

[@crofton0225]

Sooooo good thank you

[@amyalewine]

Ian, I love your videos and the way you teach. I am a Massage Student right now and I have ran across something I have not found a way to relieve. My friend drives a Transfer Truck for a living and has developed a "Back Mouse" hard knot in the lower area of the back right above the Iliac Crest. He has went to alot of therapist including me and hasn't found a way to remove this. Do you have a video about this condition or have you heard of it? Peace

[@MassageSloth]

+amyalewine Hi Amy, yep, I've encountered the back mouse phenomenon plenty of times, and it's not something that we can fix. Because it's a mound of connective tissue, it's much too tough to be massaged away (and trying to do so would likely just cause further inflammation). A doctor might be able to help. While you can't get rid of the mouse, you may be able to help with the pain! These are typically asymptomatic, so it may be a matter of getting the local musculature to chill out. Leave the mouse itself alone, and iron out anything that may be pulling on that thoracolumbar fascia and the sacroiliac region: The glutes, external hip rotators, QL, and the spinal erectors. Just think "soothing" rather than "fixing," and expect it to take several sessions. It's fine to work deep, just stay well within his pain tolerance. Let me know how it goes!

[@amyalewine]

Massage Sloth Thank you for the great advice. I am a student and my teacher has never dealt with the situation. I have been watching your videos and now I tell people in my class to watch in order to learn what I truly feel is valuable and goes far beyond a relaxation massage. Thank You for what you do. You are healing the world one person at a time. Peace

[@wyattkane]

Not a bad thing, but you sound a lot like like Owen Wilson. Which is awesome.

[@TravelinArt-y2f]

So for self massage, can't be afraid to dig in the pit?

[@MassageSloth]

Yep. My favorite teacher described it as finding the "darkest, stinkiest part" of the armpit and pressing in, a phrase that I think I used in this self-massage video for the area: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6Wpdp2JgJ6Ybtk

[@dinametaweh6431]

Once you are in what are you doing besides waiting for melting?

[@MassageSloth]

+Dina Metaweh "Waiting" is really the crux of it. Especially when it comes to seldom-touched muscles like subscap, I find that mere contact can accomplish a lot. Some movement can feel good and provide new and interesting stimulus, as can active engagement from the client. I feel that anything more aggressive than that ( like stripping, frictioning, etc) can be too much for these sensitive areas. So basically, make contact, wait around, and exit as considerately as you entered. Thanks for the question!

[@claudialezama1669]

perfect thanks !!!!!

[@kho5610]

잘 봤어요

[@johnyhansen1362]

so I can understand , this vid was about accessing and palpation not massage

[@MassageSloth]

Johny Hansen You know, in retrospect, I think you're right! I never gave any specific tips about frequency, duration, or anything like that. I think it's because the access itself tends to be my subscap massage. I'll make contact, stick around for a while, and that's pretty much all I want to do there. Similar to other rarely touched muscles like psoas and SCM, I don't have much of an agenda as far as finding trigger points, stripping anything, etc. I'll make the contact, slow down for a while, and then move on. There are definitely more assertive treatments for each of these muscles which I may cover in future videos (but that may be better suited to an in-person class). Thanks for the observation!

[@johnyhansen1362]

thanks for fast reply, also i was gonna ask when if ever will you consider making a vid on Longus Coli muscle ? lots of whiplash clients would benefit from treating properly this muscle...thanks

[@MassageSloth]

Johny Hansen It's a good idea, but not something I'd feel comfortable putting on KZbin. While slow, gentle work in the anterior neck is low-risk, I would prefer that info to be passed along in hands-on courses. I wouldn't want someone frictioning the carotid, for instance :)

[@johnyhansen1362]

I agree..and also appreciate guys of your calibre who bother to reply most of their viewers..keep those postings coming. I also want to mention that most of us MTs learn more from vids like this than what we learned in college. just saying..

[@dailysolve]

HAAAAAAAI

[@sylvester7571]

Technique 1 - far too much pressure on the thumbs Technique 2 - really bad posture. Ouch!

[@MassageSloth]

Sylvester In technique 1, you can use as much or as little pressure as you like. Notice how the thumbs are in line with the wrist, which is a relatively stress-free position for them. As always, listen to your body. In technique 2, I've got my elbow resting on my hip, taking the weight of my upper body. Yes, it leaves me in a flexed position, but I'm also not having to do any work. If I were to stay upright, I'd have to use my back muscles to support my weight, and I'd have to "muscle" the shoulder downward instead of using the rocking of my body. If you'd like to learn more about my body mechanics, see this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/enisnHyLlJZ1pNU

[@AtticTapes14]

A WOMAN SHOULD MASSAGE A FEMALE