Are you an Athlete with shoulder pain? The posterior capsule of the shoulder is often scarred/adhered in overhead throwing athletes. A tight/stiff posterior capsule can lead to a loss in internal rotation and trigger points in this area can refer pain throughout the deltoid (shoulder) and down the triceps area (back of upper arm). This makes it a potential differential diagnosis to the C5 nerve root impeachment.
The posterior shoulder capsule encloses the back portion of the shoulder joint. The shoulder capsule provides passive stability to the shoulder.
Stand next to a wall and place a tennis ball on the wall at shoulder height. Push the posterior portion of your shoulder into the ball to hold it in place.
- With the tennis ball pinned between your shoulder and the wall, roll it back and forth. It may be the easiest to work in small sections at a time rather than trying to cross the whole area with each roll.
- Roll for 30–60 seconds, and then switch sides.
- To increase the intensity, pull your arm across your body using your opposite arm.