2019 Montana State Convention

Orthopedic Massage for Shoulder: Opening the thoracic cage: the shoulder connection

Description:

            This two day hands on class explores the connection between the diaphragm and thoracic cage and dysfunction throughout the upper body in particular the shoulder. Participants will learn methods to address shoulder issues by first addressing the thoracic cage and diaphragm.

Day One:Assessment of breathing, posture and the relationship between boney structures like the clavicle and fascial planes will allow participants to see restriction through this region. Recognizing the various connections throughout the thoracic cage will allow for the planning of sessions accordingly. Focused work will include myofascial, movement, specific friction and mobilization techniques to release the diaphragm, muscles and fascia throughout the thoracic cage and abdominal cavity looking at their impact on shoulder and clavicular issues.

Day Two: Will address specific conditions affecting the shoulder. Advanced assessment techniques including special orthopedic tests will be demonstrated and practiced. A combined approach using myofascial techniques, active and passive movement and deep tissue work will be applied specifically to address common shoulder conditions such as rotator cuff injuries, pec minor syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome and shoulder impingement syndrome. We will look at ways to determine if our work is effective and how we can document changes in our clients.

Lee Stang

Board Certified:
Lee Stang is a Nationally Board Certified, NC and CT licensed Massage Therapist. She is dedicated to providing the highest quality of bodywork to meet the diverse and individual needs of clients. Owning Bridges To Health since 1995 Lee’s work has grown to specialize on facilitating recovery following injury, trauma or surgeries and pain reduction. A graduate of the CT Center for Massage Therapy she specializes in Orthopedic Massage, Myofascial release, Functional Assessment and Sports Massage. She brings advanced assessment skills to her work with clients in order to best meet individual needs.

Certifications:
Lee holds Board Certification from the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. She holds advance certifications in Orthopedic Massage from the Orthopedic Massage Education and Research Institute and obtained advanced training in Sports Massage and Myofascial Release.

Sports Massage:
Lee has extensive experience working with athletes of all levels. She is currently a Core Massage Therapist for the Women’s Tennis Association and travels extensively on the women’s professional tennis tour. She has traveled with the US National Powerlifting Team and was a Massage Therapist at Olympic or Paralympic Games in Salt Lake City, Greece, London and was selected for the Rio Games. She has worked with professional WNBA basketball and NCAA collegiate basketball in state and at the NCAA National Championships.

Teaching:
In addition to working in the clinical setting Lee has been an instructor of massage for over 20 years. She was an instructor at the CT Center for Massage Therapy for 18 years teaching clinical massage, sports massage and anatomy and physiology. She owns Bridges To Health Seminars (website link: www.bridgestohealthseminars.com) and provides continuing education for massage therapist throughout the country. Her seminars are dynamic, innovative, fun and provide therapists with techniques they can learn one day and incorporate into their practice the next.

Awards:
Lee has received the following national awards from the American Massage Therapy Association: National Meritorious Award, National Sports Massage Achiever Award, and National Government Relations Award. She received the Connecticut Sports Massage Therapist and Community Service Awards.

With a long history in health care Lee states that “Massage Therapy is one of the most exciting and rewarding professions to be involved with. The benefits of massage are remarkable, and truly vary with each client I work with. I enjoy assisting someone in becoming more aware of their body and to move toward a healthier and pain free active life. It is a profession that has given me the opportunity to work with: elite athletes at the top of the tennis world and at the Olympics/Paralympics Games; Firefighters, Police and other first responders at Ground Zero following 911 and Boston following the bombings; the recovering cancer patient following her bilateral mastectomy; the newborn with torticollis. The opportunities are endless and the impact of massage can be remarkable.”