United Brachial Plexus Network

Has any one used this to keep the upper traps from initiating movement? I saw my OT last night and we might try this maybe on Friday, we ran out of time last night, she had to pick up her daughter and we were already late.

My upper traps try to do all the work when I try to lift my arm up so we might try the kineseo tape to prevent that muscle from kicking in. That might give me better range because I will be better able to use the right muscles.

Just eyeballing it (we didn't actually measure) actively I am at just under 90 degrees when I lift my arm up. If we start lift it up I am able to hold at about 110 degrees. That means since I can hold at 110 that it is possible actively I just need to do more therapy at home. But 110 active would give me enough range to reach the top of my head and even my left ear. That is what my OT told me any way. That would be pretty cool. It does involve a lot of therapy and some pretty painful stretches. My scapula that sticks out is so sensitive (I can not even wear an underwire bra because it hurts me) and we need to stretch and massage that to get it to loosen up. That would also be in hopes of better active range.

A lot going on with my therapy right now. I hope it gives me a least a little something noticible soon.

Amy,
I know your upper traps are supposed to do some of the work for you scapula being able to upwardly rotate when you lift your arm up. Actually, I'm in OT school right now and my kinesiology professor(who is an OT) was also drilling into us that upper trap, lower trap, and you serratus anterior(rib cage muscle) were responsible for upward rotation of your scapula and your anterior deltoid muscle(muscle that draps your shoulder) does a lot of work to lift your arm up. I would ask your OT what muscles she thinks you are really weak in besides your traps and try to strengthen them if you can!
Becky

Becky,
I am also going for OT, although I just finished my freshman year in college so I have a way to go.

The reason we are trying the tape on the upper trap is because I try to use all that muscle with upward motion and because of that it is restricting my range a lot. So hopefully by getting the upper trp to relax my deltiod will start working. Thats one of the bigger goals, the other is to reduce pain. The traps are too strong and every thing else is pretty weak.

On a side note, I definitely figured out how to use the rib cage muscle, man was that sore yesterday. Now If only I could get my deltiod to work with me, that would be great!

I got taped today, so far it feels pretty good, I will have to do my therapy later and see if it is actually making a difference. I hope it makes the difference we are looking for so that I can work on strengthening my deltiod so I can get some more over head range, that would be so cool.

thanks for responding,
Amy 19 ROBPI from MN

Don't mean to freak anyone out but I had this problem and saw Dr. Nath during a trip to Houston - another specialist he knew shot my pecs and lats (not traps) with botox to shut them up for 3 months. When they come back on line they act normally. The condition is called co-contracting when they respond abnormally like this.
Anyways, have made loads of progress since then.
Suzy