Not quite a month ago I wrote a post about raking leaves and waking up the next day with pain at my shoulder blade.  I was able to relieve it after a few minutes of exercise.  Well.... it came back after a weekend of hovering over my computer.
This time I had a different strategy:  address the tension in my neck and pectoralis minor.
Due to the attachment on the coracoid process of the scapula, tension in the pec can pull the scapula forward lifting the bottom edge away from the body, potentially creating dysfunction for the entire shoulder girdle.
I was inspired by Jill Miller's YogaTune Up® Blog on the pec minor. So I share with you pics from my 2 minutes of myofascial work with a tennis ball, and "bam" no more pain!  I used a tennis ball for this, but I recommend the high grip rubber of the Yoga Tune Up massage balls.

I felt good all day!  Until I woke up the next morning and there it was again: pain in my left shoulder blade!  This time I released my pec minor AND added the ball release to the muscles at my neck just above my clavicle.  Five minutes later, no pain!   Check out how I did it by watching this video on the right. The video on the left is a another great way to get into the pec minor.

Sucking in the stomach
Pulling in the gut to “look” slimmer freezes and shuts down the diaphragm, not to mention increases pressure in the cavities above and below.    Read more about sucking in here:  So my client learned how to breathe.

Tension in the pelvic floor
All muscles need to be able to contract and relax optimally.  When the pelvis is out in front, the muscles in the pelvic floor are held in a shortened position.  When there is increased pressure in the abdomen and pelvic cavities from sucking in, the pelvic floor muscles try to create balance by increasing contraction to maintain continence.  Chronic tension means decreased blood flow, decreased oxygen, decreased waste removal = potential for pain signals.  So, my client learned how to relax her pelvic floor.

Very shortly my client returned to the clinic with noticeable improvements:

Within a week she felt less heaviness and pressure in her vaginal area.  She felt pressure only with heavy lifting. She possessed the education to continue her home program from the initial visit and we added gluteal strengthening to her program.  

Two weeks later she returned to clinic reporting continued improvement.  She was able to walk and perform yard work without any discomfort!  She had a follow up visit with her midwife who reported upon exam significant reduction of prolapse!  She was given additional functional movement reeducation for her home program.  I will follow up with her in a month and more than likely discharge treatment.   

Moral of the story is this:  if you feel pressure or heaviness in your vaginal area postpartum (or at any time),  get it taken care of, go see a pelvic health physical therapist.  Or contact me for more information!