The Season of "Mardi Gras Float Riders" Shoulders

· · · These little ladies – my hens,  have little to worry about when Mardi Gras comes around.  However, if we lived just a little south of here they would probably be an integral part of the chicken run or “Courir de Mardi Gras.”

Happy Mardi Gras!

Physical Therapists and Orthopedists all over the Greater New Orleans area know that they will be seeing many patients with sore shoulders after their annual rides on Mardi Gras Floats. 

            Throw Me Something Mister! 

A little self –care goes a long way

While throwing beads, practice stopping the activity as soon as you feel discomfort in your shoulder and rest for about 30 seconds.  This will allow your shoulder to recover.  A good habit to get in is actually stretching your shoulder blades together with your hands clasped behind you – 3-5 reps with 3 second holds. 

If you have rested about 5 days and are still suffering with a painful shoulder you can actually try a commonly prescribed McKenzie exercise for shoulder mechanical pain.  This exercise is called shoulder extension in standing.  Place your affected arm behind you with the palm facing up by internally rotating your shoulder.  Stretch in this position to the end range.  You can hold this stretch for 30 seconds or perform sets of 10 – 15 repetitions.  As with any exercise if it makes your pain worse or obstructs motion – don’t do it and see a McKenzie practitioner. 

A great friend of mine, Joel Laing, Dip. MDT a physiotherapist from Melbourne Australia, a great mate, has a you tube video with some more helpful tips.

Reference:
McKenzie, Robin, Grant Watson, and Robert Lindsay. Treat Your Own Shoulder. Raumati Beach, N.Z.: Spinal Publications New Zealand, 2009. Print.