29/03/2026
From Restricted Movement to Full Performance: Lola’s Shoulder Recovery
Shoulder mobility is crucial in sports that demand repeated overhead movement, and cricket is a perfect example. When Lola first came in for a sports massage, she was struggling with significant restriction in her shoulder movement, which was affecting both her training and her confidence on the field.
Before Treatment: Limited Range and Resistance
Prior to the massage session, Lola’s shoulders showed clear signs of muscular tightness and resistance. During a simple range-of-motion test, she was only able to raise her arms about halfway before experiencing stiffness and restriction.
This is common in athletes who perform repetitive overhead movements such as bowling, throwing, or batting. Over time, muscles around the deltoids, rotator cuff, rhomboids, and upper trapezius can become tight and overloaded. When this happens, the body naturally limits movement to protect the joint.
For Lola, this meant:
Reduced overhead range of motion
Tightness around the shoulders and upper back
Difficulty fully extending the arms without resistance
Performance being affected during cricket
The Sports Massage Approach
The treatment focused on releasing tension around the shoulder joint and restoring normal muscle function.
Techniques used included:
Deep tissue sports massage on the deltoids and upper trapezius
Trigger point release to reduce built-up muscular tension
Gua Sha metal scraping across the shoulder and upper back muscles
Mobility testing and movement reassessment
The Gua Sha metal scraping technique was used to gently scrape across the muscle fibres. This helps to:
Break down adhesions within the soft tissue
Increase blood flow to the area
Reduce muscle tightness
Improve tissue mobility
Encourage a greater range of movement
This technique is particularly effective for athletes with overworked shoulders and upper back muscles.
After Treatment: Full Range Restored
Following the treatment, Lola’s shoulder mobility improved dramatically. When reassessing her movement, she was able to raise her arms fully overhead with a complete range of motion, without the resistance she previously experienced.
The combination of deep tissue work and Gua Sha metal scraping helped release the muscular restrictions that were limiting her movement.
Results included:
Full overhead movement restored
Reduced muscle tension
Improved shoulder mobility
Better functional movement for sport
Back to Cricket
With her shoulder mobility restored, Lola can now return to cricket with improved movement and confidence. Maintaining good shoulder mobility is essential for performance and also helps reduce the risk of future injury.
