Case Study: From Stiff Shoulders to Sun Salutations: How Laurie Got His Flow Back

miliunaiteasta
Jun 10
3 min read

Meet Laurie — a 47-year-old CEO who starts most mornings with yoga. Between running a company and staying active, he’s always made time for movement. But a few months ago, something changed.

While travelling for work, Laurie lugged around heavy bags through airports and hotel lobbies. It didn’t feel like much at the time — no dramatic injury, no sharp pain. Just a bit of stiffness in his left shoulder. He brushed it off.

But weeks passed, and that stiffness turned into something more persistent.

When Shoulder Pain Starts to Interfere

Two months later, Laurie was still struggling with shoulder pain — a deep ache radiating into the deltoid area. Overhead movements became uncomfortable. Yoga poses like child’s pose and downward dog, which once brought relief, now triggered pain. Simple things like lifting or reaching to cook were becoming difficult.

Frustrated and unsure what was going on, Laurie reached out for physiotherapy support.

Assessment: No Red Flags, But Clear Limitations

Laurie had no neck pain, no pins and needles, no red flags, and no significant past medical history. But he was definitely limited.

He had reduced active range of motion in his left shoulder:

Flexion & Abduction: 110°
External Rotation: 45°
Hand Behind Back (HBB): Only reaching to his back pocket
Pain: Intermittent, up to 7/10 on the pain scale
Muscle strength: 4/5 in flexion, abduction, and external rotation — all painful
Irritability: Symptoms could linger for 60–90 minutes after aggravating activity

It was clear Laurie was dealing with Rotator Cuff-Related Shoulder Pain (RCRSP) — a common condition often caused by repetitive strain, poor load management, or muscular imbalance.

The Plan: Education, Mobility, and Strength

We began by helping Laurie understand what was happening in his shoulder — and more importantly, what wasn’t. There was no tear or structural damage. His pain was likely related to overuse, muscular tightness, and irritation of the rotator cuff tendons.

His treatment plan included:

✅ Education about shoulder loading and movement

✅ Gentle mobility exercises to improve range of motion

✅ Trigger point therapy to release muscular tension

✅ Rotator cuff strengthening with resistance bands

Laurie was determined to return to yoga, and his main goal was specific: to comfortably hold child’s pose and downward dog for at least 30 seconds.

Week 1: Small Wins

Just one week in, Laurie noticed progress. His range of motion improved:

Flexion & Abduction: Increased to 140°
External Rotation: 55°
Pain: Dropped to a maximum of 5/10
Irritability: Slightly reduced

We reviewed his exercise programme and introduced gentle progressions. The shoulder was moving better, and Laurie felt more in control.

Week 3: Big Strides

By week three, things were looking even better:

Flexion & Abduction: Up to 170°
External Rotation: Full range
HBB: Now reaching the lower back
Pain: Reduced to 0–3/10 and less frequent
Irritability: Now only lasted around 30 minutes

He could now move into child’s pose and downward dog — though holding the position was still a challenge. We pushed on, progressing mobility and strength work as tolerated.

Week 5: Back to the Mat

By week five, Laurie had regained full, pain-free range of motion in his shoulder. His pain levels had dropped to 0–2/10 and rarely lingered. He could comfortably hold his yoga poses for 15 seconds — a major milestone.

Strength exercises were still a bit tough, but he was managing well. We reviewed his programme, encouraged consistency, and agreed to follow up again in two weeks. Discharge was in sight.

The Exercises That Made a Difference

Laurie’s tailored home programme included:

Mobility drills for shoulder flexion, abduction, external rotation, and HBB
Resistance band exercises for rotator cuff activation
Progressed to scapular plane resisted movements
Education around pacing and activity modification

The Takeaway

Laurie’s story is a great reminder that:

Pain doesn’t always mean damage
Overuse and load mismanagement can sneak up on anyone
Targeted rehab and education can lead to real, lasting change

With the right guidance and a structured approach, Laurie didn’t just reduce his pain — he got his freedom back. Now, he’s back on the mat, doing what he loves.