The Trouble with My Shoulders

So, I have fallen arches. I have had them all of my life. I never thought they would have such an impact on my health.

My left foot's arch does not match the right foot's arch. I deduce that this probably causes significant imbalances in my knees, hips, and, yes, you guessed it, my shoulders. Not to mention the various muscle imbalances that would typically come along with such symmetrically-challenged feet. So, maybe, it is the competitive swimming as a teen combined the asymmetric arches that play such a big part in my dislocating shoulders.

My Shoulders Dislocate My shoulders dislocate--or, I probably should say, they used to come out of their socket quite often. Twice I remember the extreme shoulder trauma when I was very relaxed. One time the shoulder became dislodged after a shoulder after I received a relaxing massage--hence my deep-seated aversion for massages.

I can recall reading about various positive effects of massage in triathlon and cycling literature. I still do not fully understand how massage works. I still have a hard time being able to gauge the value a deep-tissue massage (for example) would add to my recovery from exercise. I wonder how effective a deep-tissue massage would be for someone that also lifts weights. Perhaps massage is more necessary for those that pursue the cardio end endurance of the fitness spectrum; not the strength and power end of the fitness spectrum.

Why Relax? I imagine relaxation to be the reason most people seek a masseuse. I am not much for relaxing, either. I prefer to use a float tank than to "relax" from a massage.

Now, this particular part of my fitness journey is significantly different than the one before. I am not on my bike 200+ miles per week right now. I do not run 20-30 miles per week, either. I have come to understand quite a few aspects of peripheral health services: certain health-related services are often very complimentary to one another. For example, I can see how a massage might be useful for increasing blood flow that is essential for muscle recovery. Then again, so would a visit to a chiropractor or acupuncturist. I have experienced noticeable improvements from visits to chiropractors and acupuncturists. Not so much from a masseuse.

My shoulder remedy I decided to start with my feet. I purchased relatively inexpensive orthopedic inserts thinking that this would be the right decision for helping me get more aligned.

Two days after wearing the inserts, I decided to get a foot massage. I was hoping that the massage would increase the blood flow to my feet, speeding up the recovery process that would help strengthen my foot muscles. Well, after the foot massage, the masseuse suggested I get a quick back massage. I naturally declined. I explained that I had an issue with my shoulders dislocating and that if my back muscles relaxed, it would disturb the tension that my shoulders needed for stability. The masseuse was persistent, and I kept insisting that I did not need a back massage. The funny thing is that I felt that by declining the massage, I would ensure that I would not have buyer's remorse. Instead, though, I think I ended up wishing I had taken up on the offer for a back massage.

A few days later, I was walking through the same mall and happened to see the same guy, and he suggested I sit down in the massage chair. He remembered me and understood my shoulder issues. I ended up sitting in the chair, and I remember that most of the massage focussed on my lats. It was rather quick.

It was a few minutes, and I was up and back walking in the mall. I noticed one thing right away, though: my biceps felt terrific, and I do not even remember getting my biceps massaged. I also noticed that this pain in my left shoulder had gone away. In retrospect, I probably should have held off on getting the orthopedic inserts until after I got the back massage. Because now, I don't know which one gets the credit for the gains!

I guess I cannot complain. Whether it is from the shoe inserts, the exercise, or the massage, I am seeing progress. After I think about it a little more, the fact that I would experience some sort of improvement was always inevitable. More important than knowing precisely where the gains come from is the fact that I am taking actions to improve an aspect of my being. I guess it is hard not to get at least a little bit better when we do things that are good for us.