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Old 10-14-2006, 03:16 PM
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johannakat johannakat is offline
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Location: Los Angeles, CA
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johannakat johannakat is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 894
15 yr Member
Default Sharon Butler's Tape Test

An Excerpt from her Thoracic outlet syndrome treatment book:



The Tape Trick is a very simple and low cost way to find out if you are
unconsciously raising your shoulders and perpetually irritating the nerves,
muscles and connective tissues of your neck, shoulders and arms. Here’s
how to do it:

Go to the pharmacy and purchase a roll of non-stretchy bandage tape
that is 1/2 inch in width. Avoid paper tape as it tears too easily. Good old
fashioned bandage tape that is found on the metal roll is a great one to
choose. Tear off a piece that is 12 inches long. Now go find a friend to
help you.

The Tape Trick works best if you do it on one shoulder at a time. Pick the
side of your body that has the most severe symptoms of repetitive strain
injury. If you can’t tell which side is worse, then pick the side that is your
more dominant side. For right handers, that would be your right side.
Have the friend stand next to you, looking at your side. Remove your
shirt. Ladies, it is very important to slip your bra strap off of your
shoulder. Make sure that your shoulders are down and relaxed and that
you are looking straight ahead. Have your friend apply the tape to the
bare skin of your shoulder, in the same direction that a bra strap would
go, with half of the tape extending to the front onto your chest, and the
other half extending down your back onto the back of your shoulder. For
ladies it is important that the tape is not applied in the exact same area
where your bra strap lies because your body has become somewhat
unconscious to feeling pressure in that spot. Instead, have your friend
apply the tape about 1/2 inch closer to your neck.

Now your job is to get dressed and go about your normal daily activities.
If you raise your shoulders at all, the tape will pull on your skin, alerting
you to the fact that you are raising your shoulders. It is important to try
to recognize when and under what circumstances you are habitually
raising your shoulders. By recognizing when you are engaging in this
unconscious activity, you can choose to change it, and relieve your body
of untold amounts of unnecessary strain and compression.
Freely share this Tape Trick with all your friends and colleagues so they
can be on the road to less pain and stress too!
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