If you’re dealing with wrist pain, elbow pain, or shoulder pain, I want you to pause before blaming the joint. Now most people immediately
assume something is “wrong” with the shoulder or that their elbow is damaged. However oftentimes, the real issue isn’t the joint at all rather It’s the soft tissue around it, specifically your biceps and triceps.
Here’s a fun fact most people don’t know: if a muscle isn’t used properly for more than about three hours, it can begin to adhere to the tissues around it. Muscles are designed to slide and glide over neighboring structures. That sliding and gliding is what allows us to enjoy smooth, pain-free movement. However when we sit, grip or scroll too long, or move with poor mechanics, those tissues start to stick. Instead of our layers moving fluidly, they bind together. And when that happens, your joints are forced to compensate.
Your biceps and triceps both cross the elbow and influence shoulder mechanics. If they lose mobility, your wrist mechanics, elbow tracking all change. Your shoulder? they start overworking. Over time your body pays the price. Inflammation builds up. Weakness develops. Range of motion decreases. And suddenly you’re thinking you need a brace or an injection when what you may actually need is better tissue mobility.
Home Remedy:
One simple thing you can do at home is stretch the triceps properly.
- Lift your arm overhead and bend it so your hand drops behind your back. Use your opposite hand to gently guide the stretch.
- Next, take a finger and press into the middle of the triceps while you bend. You should feel a deep elongation through the back of the arm.
That stretch isn’t just about flexibility, it’s about restoring the muscle’s ability to move independently from the tissues around it.
Our Solutions:
If adhesions are more stubborn, this is where Shockwave therapy can be incredibly helpful. Shockwave takes about five minutes, is done once a week for six to eight weeks, and works by breaking up adhesions while stimulating a localized healing response. It increases circulation and encourages those stuck layers to move again. Another option is cupping therapy, which uses suction to lift the tissue, separate adhered layers, and improve blood flow.
Before you assume your joint is failing you, make sure your muscles are doing their job. Muscles are meant to move. They’re meant to glide. When they stop, pain shows up. Restore the glide, restore the function — and very often, the pain decreases. Your body isn’t broken. It might just be stuck.
So if you’re interested in trying out our solutions, book a session with me with your preferred time and date. Remember, your health is the greatest investment you can make.