SportsRehabExpert.com Manual Therapy Technique of the Week - Soft Tissue Releases for the Subscapularis, Lat, and Teres Major

Joe Heiler PT, CSCS

In this episode I'll demonstrate soft tissue releases for the subscapularis, lat, and teres major using Graston Technique that are easy on the patient and on your hands. These muscles are often implicated in shoulder mobility limitations into flexion and external rotation especially after a surgery or trauma so great techniques to learn.

Of course I'm realizing now that I only actually showed the subscapularis release. To get at the teres major and lat you would just need to drop a little more inferior with the instrument and pin those tissues through the same range of motion.

I also realize most of you don't use Graston Technique but you can use a number of 'hands-on' techniques to address these muscles. I show a pin and stretch technique in the video that can be quite successful (I won't call it Active Release Technique since I'm not trained in it, but it is similar). For muscles like the teres major and lat I tend to use more of a pincer grip to treat the trigger point but I still really like using motion to complete the release.

Be sure to pre- and post-test to know that the release has improved range of motion and then follow up with motor control training to lock in the new range.