Relieving Stress In the Subclavicus To Help Reduce Risk Of Swimmer’s Shoulder

By Dr. G. John Mullen

SANTA CLARA, California, October 9. I’ve written extensively about the shoulder and shoulder injuries previously. For more reading on the shoulder, consider reading the following posts:

SORE SHOULDERS? TRY THIS
Norcal Coaches’ Clinic
The Push-Up Plus: A Solution To Abnormal Swimmer’s Posture And Shoulder Weakness
Swimmer’s Shoulder – USA Swimming
Swimmer’s Shoulder Program Part I
Guide to Swimmer’s Shoulder, Part II
Guide to Swimmer’s Shoulder, Part III Muscle Timing

Most of these posts discuss “swimmer’s shoulder,” the most common injury at the shoulder for swimmers. However, other injuries occur, like acromioclavicular (AC) injuries. During AC injuries, the subclavius muscle is overused, trying to limit motion at the AC joint. The subclavius simply means under (sub) the clavicle (collar bone).

Luckily, simple self manual techniques can alleviate an overactive subclavius muscle, improving its strength and helping protect the shoulder from excessive stress. Here’s a self-myofascial release procedure to help relieve the stress:

Directions:

With your thumb, apply a vertical and posterior force directly under the collar bone (clavicle). Move the thumb slowly on this muscle, across the entire clavicle. If tender, move slower, sometimes stopping on extremely tender areas. Perform this exercise for 2 – 3 minutes.

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use