Ruud Vuijsters, PT Practice of Pain Management

09/01/2026

Clinic will be closed on Monday
September 7-2026 in observance of
Labor Day 🇺🇸

09/01/2026

Good Morning and Happy September Y’all 😎
Please know that regardless how much pain, there will be blessings in disguise.
Keep the faith and believe 🙏🏻
Wishing everyone a marvelous day!

08/24/2026

Amazing 🧠

08/21/2026

08/20/2026

PAIN ON TOP OF YOUR SHOULDER WHEN YOU REACH ACROSS YOUR BODY? LOOK AT THIS SMALL JOINT.

Shoulder pain is often blamed on the Rotator Cuff.
But if the pain sits very specifically on the TOP of the shoulder, another structure deserves attention:
the **Acromioclavicular Joint — AC Joint.**
This small joint is where the end of your clavicle meets the acromion of the scapula.

**The Hidden Mechanics**
The AC Joint helps the shoulder girdle move as the scapula and clavicle coordinate during arm motion.
When you bring your arm across your chest, the mechanics change around this small joint.
If the AC Joint is irritated, that movement may reproduce a very localized pain directly over the top of the shoulder.
Common patterns can include:
• pain directly over the AC Joint
• tenderness at the end of the collarbone
• pain when reaching across the chest
• discomfort with pressing or pushing movements
• symptoms during lifting or overhead activity
• pain after a previous fall onto the shoulder
But top-of-shoulder pain does NOT automatically prove an AC Joint problem.
Rotator Cuff disorders, cervical referral, Subacromial Pain, and other shoulder structures can create overlapping symptoms.
That is why clinicians do not rely on one movement alone.
An Orthopedic, Sports Medicine, or Physical Therapy evaluation may compare the exact pain location, shoulder range of motion, strength, tenderness, history of trauma, and several clinical tests.
X-rays can be useful when arthritis, previous injury, or structural AC Joint changes are suspected.
Many AC Joint problems are initially managed conservatively with appropriate activity modification and progressive rehabilitation.
Treatment should match the actual diagnosis rather than treating every painful shoulder as a Rotator Cuff problem.
**The shoulder is a large region.
Sometimes the pain comes from one very small joint sitting right on top of it.**

08/19/2026

The key to aging powerfully starts with the choices you make today.
Eating nutritious foods, staying active, getting enough sleep, managing stress, and avoiding harmful vices all contribute to a healthier, more vibrant life as you age.
Taking care of your mental and physical health now helps build a strong foundation for the future, allowing you to enjoy your later years with energy and independence.
Remember, every positive choice you make today shapes the quality of your life tomorrow.

The choice is yours to make...

08/19/2026

Good morning and Happy HumpDay!
Wishing everyone an amazing day 🤗

08/18/2026

The Quadratus Lumborum.

08/17/2026

WHY DOES YOUR HAND TINGLE WHEN YOUR ARM GOES OVERHEAD?

You reach overhead...

Your arm stays there for a few seconds.

Then—

Tingling starts traveling toward your hand.

Lower your arm?

It may ease.

Raise it again?

The sensation returns.

But the problem may involve a narrow passage between your neck, chest, and upper limb.

THE ANATOMY

One important structure is the **Brachial Plexus**.

This network of nerves travels from the lower cervical and upper thoracic region toward the shoulder and arm.

Along its route, the nerves pass through spaces between muscles, the first rib, and the clavicle.

THE BIOMECHANICS

During certain overhead positions:

1️⃣ the shoulder girdle elevates

2️⃣ the clavicle and first rib change their relative position

3️⃣ the tissues surrounding the neurovascular bundle are placed under different mechanical demands

In some people, irritation or compression within this region can contribute to **Thoracic Outlet Syndrome** and produce arm or hand symptoms.

WHEN TO PAY ATTENTION

Persistent numbness, progressive weakness, hand discoloration or swelling, severe symptoms, or symptoms that consistently worsen with arm position should be medically evaluated.

THE TAKEAWAY

Sometimes tingling in your hand isn't starting in your hand.

The nerve pathway can travel through a tight anatomical corridor between your neck, chest, and shoulder before reaching your arm.