Fitness for repetitive stress injuries to shoulders

[notyoueither]

I have a friend who works in a hospital. Part of the job involves holding heavyish objects in a static position for extended periods of time. She also works the machine that goes BING!

She is experiencing difficulties in her shoulders from the repeated stress and strain.

For a number of reasons, including what she does at the hospital, she has what I describe as a fatalistic view. Her problems seem small compared to her patients and she just puts up with it.

I've looked at the Google and see a lot of crap and a lot more about wrists and forearms. I turn to the experts of Apolyton for advice and abuse.

What could be done to alleviate pain and help avoid further injury? I'd love to get her to a gym, but that may not be easy. If I could offer a carrot, she might go.

Sorry, Felch. Dope is not an option. She is frequently tested. They are fussy about the BING! operators.

[Berzerker]

Do some weight training, I think when muscles get weak (literally or compared to nearby muscles) the body gets out of alignment. For example, I play golf so my shoulders get plenty of work but I still get pain in my right shoulder every once in a while that disappears after a set or 2 of reverse rows, thats all it takes to re-align my shoulder for a few months. If she's got shoulder pain I suggest various lifting designed to hit all the muscles, from push ups and reverse rows to shoulder shrugs etc. Is she old enough for arthritis?

[Kuciwalker]

Is there a Canadian OSHA?

[notyoueither]

There are provincial OHS regulations and regulators.

I'm not sure if this is covered. I would imagine that it being a hospital they do what they can, but when it comes to a person's life or being in an awkward position for a period of time the person's life wins the coin flip.

[Al B. Sure!]

Look up rotator cuff exercises, many of which can be done with no weight or very light weights (like 1lb for a female). You didn't give enough information to determine what sort of problems she's having but it's very common to have rotator cuff issues.

One good one is to have her stand with her head, back, and heels against a wall and her arms perpendicular to her body, with elbows bent such that the back of her hand, her forearms, and 'outside' (when in a normal arms at your side position you take on 99% of the time) of her upper arm is also against the wall. She will then, maintaining as much bodily contact with the wall as possible, raise her arms slowly and unbend her elbows such that her arms will be outstretched over her head but still against the wall. Bring them back down and repeat a few times. It's harder than it seems.

[Lorizael]

Microsoft has hospitals?

[Lorizael]

Come on, AS, don't use your woman as a visual aid in Poly posts.

[Al B. Sure!]

What?

[Lorizael]

I was attempting to employ the art of humor.

[MOBIUS]

I have a friend who works in a hospital. Part of the job involves holding heavyish objects in a static position for extended periods of time. She also works the machine that goes BING!

She is experiencing difficulties in her shoulders from the repeated stress and strain.

For a number of reasons, including what she does at the hospital, she has what I describe as a fatalistic view. Her problems seem small compared to her patients and she just puts up with it.

I've looked at the Google and see a lot of crap and a lot more about wrists and forearms. I turn to the experts of Apolyton for advice and abuse.

What could be done to alleviate pain and help avoid further injury? I'd love to get her to a gym, but that may not be easy. If I could offer a carrot, she might go.

Sorry, Felch. Dope is not an option. She is frequently tested. They are fussy about the BING! operators.

My expert opinion is that she needs a table. On wheels.

Case Closed!

[notyoueither]

You didn't give enough information to determine what sort of problems she's having but it's very common to have rotator cuff issues.

I think it's the tendons that run down the shoulders are very tense. It's almost as if they are knotted.

[Vanguard]

Swimming.

[Krill]

See the GP and get a referal to a physiotherapist.

[Docfeelgood]

need to check if it is "other". ect. gallbladder, heart, lungs. FYI ,I'm no doctor.

[MOBIUS]

A ****ing table for ****'s sake!

Why do you muppets have to insist on making things so complicated!?

I suppose a techy/geeky solution would be one of those exoskeleton arm thingies that cameramen etc use...